Chase Elliott Rises From The Ashes Of NASCAR Wreckage To Win Atlanta Thriller In Final Lap Duel

HAMPTON, Ga. – In a race defined by destruction, unpredictable turns, and shattered playoff dreams, it was Chase Elliott who emerged from the smoke and sparks to deliver an unforgettable hometown triumph at the newly renamed EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta.

The Georgia native pulled off a stunning final-lap pass on Brad Keselowski to secure his 20th career NASCAR Cup Series victory on a crash-filled Saturday night. For Elliott, who hails from Dawsonville and carries the weight of his father Bill Elliott’s legacy, this win was more than just a checkered flag — it was a deeply personal moment years in the making.

“I’ve never in my whole life… this is unbelievable,” a visibly emotional Elliott said in victory lane. “This is something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

This victory not only ended Elliott’s winless drought since April 2024 but also locked him into the NASCAR playoffs. And fittingly, it happened in front of his home crowd, in the same state where he first fell in love with racing.

The Night the Brackets Exploded

Saturday’s race wasn’t just another stop on the Cup Series schedule. It marked the debut of NASCAR’s much-hyped In-Season Challenge — a five-race, March Madness-style bracket tournament featuring 32 drivers, complete with head-to-head matchups and a $1 million prize on the line.

But the format’s debut may go down more for its chaos than clarity. The aggressive competition and unpredictable nature of pack racing on the high banks of Atlanta quickly turned the tournament into a demolition derby.

Among the casualties? The top two seeds — Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe — were knocked out in dramatic fashion before they even had a chance to settle into a rhythm. Hamlin, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, finished a dismal 31st after being caught in a massive pileup during Stage 2. Briscoe, who had just notched his first victory for Joe Gibbs Racing a week earlier at Pocono, was eliminated by Noah Gragson after a separate incident left his car crippled.

“It wrecked the whole field,” said Joey Logano, who won the pole and led the opening 36 laps before becoming another victim in the early melee. “I still don’t know exactly how it started. Cars were just sideways, on the brakes — and I got hit from every direction possible.”

When the Wheels Came Off

The defining feature of Saturday’s race was the sheer volume of carnage. Drivers were seemingly unable to complete a clean stretch of laps without something triggering a crash. The second stage, in particular, resembled a war zone more than a racetrack.

It began with a relatively minor collision involving Christopher Bell and the wall. But that contact spiraled into a bigger incident, as cars behind scrambled to avoid the slowing Bell. The result? A catastrophic chain reaction that took out a staggering number of top contenders, including William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Daniel Suarez, and Corey LaJoie.

Even veteran drivers like Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace, and Hamlin were caught in the aftermath, their cars either damaged beyond repair or limping along underpowered.

“Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed,” Hamlin summed up succinctly.

The madness prompted a flurry of pit stops and strategic gambles, forcing teams to make quick adjustments in the face of dwindling car counts and fluctuating weather.

Weather Adds to the Drama

As if the racing carnage wasn’t enough, Mother Nature also threw a wrench into the proceedings.

Friday’s qualifying session and the Xfinity Series race — won by Nick Sanchez — were delayed due to lightning and heavy rain. That same storm system threatened Saturday night’s Cup Series race, leading officials to briefly evacuate the grandstands about 90 minutes before the green flag.

Although fans were eventually allowed to return and the race started as scheduled, the lingering threat of more bad weather added a layer of urgency and unpredictability. At any moment, teams knew the skies could open again and potentially end the race prematurely.

But when the checkered flag finally waved after 260 laps, the storm clouds had held off — and the real tempest had played out on the track itself.

A Wild Ending to a Wild Race

In a race this volatile, it’s only fitting that the finish came down to a dramatic final-lap showdown.

With 33 laps to go, a caution threw the leaders into a high-stakes strategic conundrum: pit for fresh tires or stay out to preserve track position? Elliott and Keselowski both chose the latter, rolling the dice with worn rubber as others gambled on grip.

Initially, the strategy seemed to backfire. Elliott dropped back slightly on the restart, as drivers with fresh tires surged past. But as the laps dwindled, the 2020 Cup champion found his rhythm. Like a predator biding his time, he steadily reeled Keselowski back in.

With the white flag waving and the roar of the hometown crowd in his ears, Elliott made his move — diving to the inside and clearing Keselowski off Turn 4 in a masterful maneuver.

It was a perfectly timed pass, a bold yet calculated decision that sealed a memorable win in front of thousands of Georgia fans who had stuck through rain, delays, and destruction to witness their hero take the checkered flag.

Stage Battles and Bracket Heartbreaks

While the main event belonged to Elliott, the earlier stages of the race delivered fireworks of their own.

Tyler Reddick edged Elliott by a microscopic .001 seconds to win Stage 2, marking his first stage win of the season. The margin was so razor-thin that even the scoring monitors took a moment to process it.

Earlier, Cindric led the field at the end of Stage 1 — a moment that would be short-lived as he was swallowed in the chaos of Stage 2’s massive crash.

Ironically, some of the bracket’s lowest seeds fared the best. Ty Dillon, who upset top-seeded Hamlin, finished an impressive eighth — a much-needed boost for a driver whose 2025 season had been relatively quiet. Gragson, who bested Briscoe, also advanced, giving underdogs a rare chance to shine in NASCAR’s version of a bracket buster.

Source: Chase Elliott outlasts Brad Keselowski, wins in Atlanta

Looking Ahead

The series now heads north to Chicago for the much-anticipated Chicago Street Race on July 6. Last year’s street course debut brought its own set of challenges — wet pavement, tight corners, and narrow escape routes — and with the new tournament in full swing, there’s little reason to expect anything less than organized chaos.

But for now, all eyes remain on Chase Elliott. The hometown boy turned national star reminded everyone why he remains one of NASCAR’s most beloved drivers. In a season of rule changes, new formats, and rising tempers, Elliott brought the sport back to its roots — speed, skill, and sheer heart.

As he celebrated under the lights, fireworks lit the Georgia sky, and a familiar siren blared from Dawsonville’s famed pool hall — a sound that echoes with every Chase Elliott victory.

For Elliott, the win may count as just one in the record books, but in the hearts of Georgia race fans, it meant everything.