HAMPTON, Ga. – In an action-packed NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway, Chase Elliott emerged victorious, clinching his 20th career win on Saturday night. The Dawsonville, Georgia native delighted his home crowd, overtaking Brad Keselowski on the final lap to end a 44-race streak without a win. This victory secures Elliott a much-coveted spot in the NASCAR playoffs, marking his first triumph since the Texas race in April 2024 and his first in Atlanta since 2022.
“This is unbelievable, a moment I’ll cherish forever,” Elliott declared after the exhilarating finish. Keselowski managed to secure second place, while Alex Bowman, Elliott’s teammate from Hendrick Motorsports, finished third, quickly followed by Tyler Reddick. Bowman’s well-timed maneuver provided a crucial block against Keselowski, aiding Elliott’s last-lap pass.
“The 48 and 9 just teamed up against me near the end,” Keselowski remarked about Bowman and Elliott’s teamwork. Elliott celebrated his win by climbing into the stands to share the excitement with his loyal fans. Bowman added, “I’m thrilled for the 9 team; it’s a significant win for him at home. Happy to see a Hendrick car in the victory lane, though I wish it was ours.”
The race was characterized by crashes, the second of which occurred early in Stage 2, sending several top-tier drivers out of the competition. After leading the initial 36 laps, pole-winner Joey Logano was caught in a chaotic scene triggered by light rain that demanded caution. Other notable drivers caught in the mass collision included William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, and Daniel Suarez. “I’m not sure how it all started but it was total bedlam out there,” Logano commented, reflecting on the widespread havoc.
Denny Hamlin, also impacted by the crash, stated, “Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed.” This race marked the start of the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a novel bracket-style tournament exclusive to EchoPark Speedway, previously named Atlanta Motor Speedway. The cascade of high-profile drivers eliminated early on highlighted the risks associated with NASCAR’s March Madness-style format. Among the earliest fallouts were the top two seeds.
Ranked as the tournament’s number one seed, Hamlin finished 31st, defeated by Ty Dillon, who crossed the finish line eighth. Similarly, second-seed Chase Briscoe, fresh off a victory at Pocono Raceway, clashed and succumbed to Noah Gragson in the tournament. Offering a lucrative $1 million prize, this event is a focal point of a fresh media agreement featuring TNT.
In the final stretch with 33 laps to the finish, Elliott and Keselowski led but faced a strategic decision during a caution: pit for new tires or remain in position. Opting to stay on track, Elliott dropped back but launched a decisive comeback, ultimately contending for the lead at the race’s critical conclusion.
In an unexpected twist, Ryan Blaney, initially the race’s favorite, and others succumbed to late-stage crashes. Christopher Bell’s contact with the wall triggered a major crash, ending Stage 1, with Cindric at the lead. This was shortly followed by a more severe crash early in Stage 2, involving notable names like Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace.
A nail-biting finish ensued in Stage 2, as Tyler Reddick edged past Elliott by a mere .001 seconds, marking a competitive phase among drivers yet to claim either a stage or overall victory this season.
Unpredictable weather, featuring lightning and rain, posed challenges, delaying Friday’s qualifying and the Xfinity race, ultimately won by Nick Sanchez. Despite more severe weather threats on race day, pre-race activities were smoothly conducted after fans temporarily evacuated the stands as a safety precaution.
Looking ahead, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Chicago Street Race, slated for Sunday, July 6, continuing the thrilling season with intense racing action.