HAMPTON, Ga. — Chase Elliott couldn’t have asked for a more perfect venue to clinch a much-needed victory.
Applause erupted when Elliott, a local favorite, overtook Brad Keselowski on the last lap, concluding a 44-race dry spell by securing the NASCAR Cup Series win at Atlanta on Saturday night.
The triumph marked Elliott’s 20th career victory and vaulted him to second position in the Cup Series points standings, giving him a prime opportunity to regain his status in NASCAR’s elite race after initially claiming the championship back in 2020.
With this pivotal win since April 2024 in Texas, Elliott secured a position in the NASCAR playoffs. He reflected on the victory as a significant career milestone, further enriched by the loud cheers of fans exclaiming “Chase! Chase! Chase!”
Being a native of Dawsonville, Georgia, Elliott joined the excited crowd at EchoPark Speedway, once known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, to revel in the celebration.
“It was genuinely a surreal experience,” Elliott expressed. “It’s a moment I’ll cherish forever… Winning under the Saturday night lights after a long gap and moving up in the playoffs, that’s something special.”
This win marked his first victory at Atlanta since 2022.
Elliott accumulated 594 points, trailing by 37 points behind William Byron, his teammate from Hendrick Motorsports, who sits at 631. Another Hendrick driver, Kyle Larson, is ranked third.
Alex Bowman, part of the Hendrick team, was instrumental in Elliott’s incredible comeback victory. Bowman pushed Elliott forward and then helped fend off Keselowski on the final lap, finishing third.
“I’m thrilled for the 9 team,” Bowman said. “Winning in his hometown is massive. … Proud that a Hendrick car took the victory, though I wished it were us.”
Elliott conveyed his intention to assist Bowman in joining the other Hendrick racers in the playoffs as gratitude for his support.
“I recognize he provided a fantastic push,” Elliott mentioned. “And remember his attempt against Brad to secure second place, which in turn aided me tremendously.
“Yes, those are certainly moments that stick with you.”
Moving forward to the second phase of NASCAR’s innovative In-Season Challenge, a knockout-style tournament, Elliott will face John Hunter Nemechek in the upcoming Chicago Street Race next Sunday.
A $1 million reward awaits, and thanks to wrecks in Atlanta that sidelined Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, Elliott’s odds have significantly improved.
While Elliott isn’t the first in his family to chase a million-dollar bonus, he follows in the footsteps of his father, Bill Elliott, who in 1985, earned the Winston Million after winning at three of the circuit’s prestigious races, thus being dubbed “Million Dollar Bill.”
Now, Elliott is well-positioned to vie for a modern-day million-dollar honor.
“Claiming that prize would undoubtedly be amazing, and here’s hopeful it turns out well,” Chase Elliott remarked.
Previously, Elliott faced a victory drought due to surgery from a left leg tibia fracture incurred in a 2023 snowboarding mishap, causing him to miss six races. He credits his enduring crew chief, Alan Gustafson, with helping sustain his belief and winning spirit during recovery.
Gustafson noted that clinching this race was pertinent for the 2025 playoff ambitions more than just breaking the winless run.
“The points scenario was intense leading up to the playoffs,” Gustafson acknowledged. “That was the crucial matter. Among all the competing cars, none had achieved a win. Securing a buffer was essential.”
Saturday’s victory was Elliott’s third straight top-five finish.
“When you scale the peak and manage to stand atop with someone, it’s a remarkable feat, isn’t it?” Elliott reflected. “Something that (Gustafson) and I will always treasure as something we accomplished together.
“For me, conquering that summit with the same comrades from the first time and knowing we never gave up on each other is profoundly meaningful. It’s an invaluable part of the journey for me.”