Chase Elliott won his 20th career victory in the crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta, earning a spot in the playoffs with his first win since April 2024 at Texas. The popular driver from Georgia passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap to claim the top spot.
The race was marred by two major crashes – one early in Stage 2 and another late in the stage. Pole winner Joey Logano was among those affected, while William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie, and Daniel Suarez were also knocked out of the race.
Elliott’s win marked his first at Atlanta since 2022, with a statement from the driver saying, “I’ve never in my whole life, this is unbelievable.” Denny Hamlin suffered damage to his car in one of the crashes, describing it as “total chaos” and noting that many drivers were involved.
The In-Season Challenge, a five-race tournament featuring 32 drivers, played out with several top seeds being eliminated early. The event was marked by unpredictable racing, with some drivers making their way to the final stage while others faltered.
Elliott’s victory earned him a $1 million prize as part of a new media rights deal. He and Keselowski were on the front row before making strategic decisions about pitting for fresh tires late in the race. Elliott ultimately faded, only to make a decisive charge at the end to claim the win.
In related news, the NASCAR Cup Series moves to Chicago for the July 6 Chicago Street Race.
Source: https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/45606607/chase-elliott-outlasts-brad-keselowski-wins-atlanta