HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) Chase Elliott, the home-state favorite, won the chaotic NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta on Saturday night, passing Brad Keselowski on the last lap to record his 20th career victory.
With his first win since April 2024 at Texas, Elliott, the well-liked racer from Dawsonville, Georgia, secured a spot in the NASCAR playoffs. He hadn’t triumphed in Atlanta since 2022.
This is extraordinary, something I’ve never experienced in my entire life, Elliott added. I will never forget this for the rest of my life.
Keselowski came in second, followed by Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman, Elliott’s teammate from Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. After Elliott made a last-lap pass, Bowman assisted in blocking Keselowski.
In reference to Bowman and Elliott, Keselowski stated, “The 48 and 9 just got together.” They managed to double-team me in the end.
After breaking a 44-race winless drought, Elliott climbed into the stands to join in the celebration with the crowd.
Bowman stated, “I’m happy for the 9 team.” In his hometown, it’s a significant victory for him. Having a Hendrick vehicle in victory lane makes me happy. I wish we were involved.
Many of the biggest names in the sport were eliminated in the race’s second crash early in Stage 2, while other drivers’ cars were damaged. Several drivers were involved in the major collision, including pole-winner Joey Logano, who led the first 36 laps before light rain prompted the first caution.
The following people were eliminated from the race: Daniel Suarez, Corey LaJoie, Josh Berry, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, and William Byron.
Logano claimed that it destroyed the entire field. It was complete anarchy, though I’m still not sure how it began. Vehicles were braked and sideways. I was struck from every angle.
Denny Hamlin, whose Toyota was damaged in the collision, was added: Some zigged. A few zagged. Most of them crashed.
The 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style competition, made its debut in the Atlanta race at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The dangers of attempting to predict NASCAR winners on a bracket sheet akin to March Madness were demonstrated by the parade of highly respected drivers eliminated so early in the race. Among the first casualties were the top two seeds.
The tournament’s top seed, Hamlin, lost to eighth-place finisher Ty Dillon after finishing 31st.
Prior to being eliminated in a collision and losing to Noah Gragson in the tournament, Chase Briscoe, the No. 2 seed, fought off Hamlin for his maiden victory for Joe Gibbs Racing last week at Pocono Raceway.
As part of a new media rights agreement that includes TNT, the winner will receive a $1 million reward.
With 33 laps remaining, a yellow required Elliott and Keselowski, who were on the front row, to decide whether to pit for new tires. Elliott lagged after the restart until making his final, decisive assault, but both remained on the track.
Bracket busters
Late in the opening stage, Ryan Blaney, the race favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, was knocked out on an accident. Cindric was in the lead until Christopher Bell struck the wall, causing the crash that ended the stage.
Early in Stage 2, Cindric was a part of the larger collision. Among those involved in the collision were Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch.
Photo finish
In a fight between drivers seeking their first stage victory and season-long victory, Tyler Reddick defeated Elliott by.001 seconds to win Stage 2.
Weather woes
Rain and lightning postponed Friday’s qualifying and Nick Sanchez’s victory in the Xfinity race late Friday evening. The race on Saturday night was threatened by more lightning and rain. Due to the terrible weather in the vicinity, fans were advised to leave the stands approximately ninety minutes prior to the race; nevertheless, they were permitted to return once pre-race activities proceeded according to schedule.
Up next
On Sunday, July 6, the Cup Series travels to Chicago for the Chicago Street Race.
