Chase Elliott Charges to Victory at Crash-Filled Atlanta NASCAR Race
HAMPTON, Ga. — Home-state hero Chase Elliott made a thrilling pass on the final lap to overtake Brad Keselowski and claim victory in a chaotic NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta on Saturday night. This marked Elliott’s 20th career win and secured his spot in the NASCAR playoffs.
Elliott, hailing from Dawsonville, Georgia, earned his first win since April 2024 at Texas, and his first at Atlanta since 2022. Reflecting on the victory, Elliott said, “I’ve never in my whole life, this is unbelievable. This is something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
The race was marked by multiple crashes, including a major incident early in Stage 2 that took out several top drivers. Pole sitter Joey Logano, who led the first 36 laps before a rain caution, was among those caught up in the wreck. Other notable drivers involved included William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, and Daniel Suarez.
Logano described the crash as “total chaos,” adding, “Cars were sideways and on the brakes. I got hit from every corner possible.” Denny Hamlin, who also suffered damage in the wreck, said, “Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed.”
This race marked the debut of NASCAR’s new 32-driver In-Season Challenge—a five-race, bracket-style tournament inspired by March Madness. The early elimination of many top seeds, including Hamlin (No. 1 seed) and Chase Briscoe (No. 2 seed), highlighted the unpredictability of the format. Hamlin finished 31st, losing to Ty Dillon, while Briscoe was knocked out in a crash and fell to Noah Gragson in the bracket.
A $1 million prize awaits the tournament winner, which is part of a new media rights deal including TNT.
Late in the race, a caution with 33 laps remaining prompted a strategic decision; both Elliott and Keselowski stayed on track instead of pitting. Elliott initially fell back but launched a decisive late charge to take the lead on the final lap.
Other notable moments included Ryan Blaney’s early exit after a wreck in Stage 1 and Christopher Bell hitting the wall, which ended the stage with Austin Cindric leading. Cindric was later caught in the major crash during Stage 2 that involved Kyle Busch, Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace.
In a close battle for Stage 2 honors, Tyler Reddick narrowly edged Elliott by 0.001 seconds to claim his first stage win of the season.
The weekend faced weather challenges, with lightning and rain delaying Friday’s qualifying and Xfinity race, won by Nick Sanchez. Severe weather warnings on race day led officials to ask fans to briefly leave the stands, though the race ultimately proceeded as planned.
Next up, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Chicago for the Chicago Street Race on July 6.