Chase Elliott hit the inside wall after getting loose late in the first stage of the NASCAR Charlotte race on May 24. It ended the day for Elliott, who finished sixth in the race in 2025.

The backstretch crash, which came with 11 laps to go in the first stage, brought out the third caution in the Coca-Cola 600.

Elliott tried to maintain control of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, but it eventually got away from him. He was running 16th at the time and had been in contention throughout the race.

Elliott already has two wins in 2026 — at Martinsville on March 29 and at Texas on May 3.

Michael McDowell took the lead on the restart with five laps to go. Kyle Larson went on to win the eventful first stage.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chase Elliott crashes out early in NASCAR Charlotte race, Coca-Cola 600