HAMPTON, Ga. — Chase Elliott delivered a storybook ending underneath the lights at EchoPark Speedway, capturing a dramatic victory at his house monitor in Saturday evening’s Quaker State 400.
In entrance of an energized Georgia crowd, the Dawsonville, Ga., native surged to the entrance with a last-lap move of Brad Keselowski to take the checkered flag, incomes his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Collection season and punching his ticket to the playoffs.
Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, specifically designed by Kids’s Healthcare of Atlanta affected person Rhealynn, added an emotional layer to the already dramatic night. Beginning fifteenth, Elliott methodically labored his method by the sector, surviving a race stuffed with 46 lead adjustments and 10 cautions to assert the second Atlanta win of his profession.
“That is unbelievable,” mentioned Elliott in entrance of the roaring crowd. “The entire playing cards fell in the precise locations within the final couple of laps,” mentioned Elliott. “What a loopy race. It was wild from my seat, however I’m glad we acquired to run that factor on the market to the top.”
The chaos started early, with Joey Logano dominating the primary 48 laps earlier than a weather-delayed pink flag shook issues up. When the race resumed, Austin Cindric edged teammate Logano to take the Stage 1 win. Stage 2 was marred by a large crash that collected high contenders like Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Logano and Daniel Suárez, whereas Reddick narrowly beat Elliott to the road. Elliott, unfazed, stored digging.
Within the remaining stage, Elliott cycled to the entrance on pit technique, battling with Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman and Keselowski in a restart-heavy dash to the end. Zane Smith briefly took the lead with 11 laps to go, however Keselowski regained management with 5 laps remaining — till Elliott pounced on the ultimate lap.
As the highest duo took the white flag and raced to Flip 1, Keselowski threw blocks excessive and low, making an attempt to guard the lead, however Elliott discovered a gap to the within. As the sector roared out of Flip 2, Elliott cleared the pack and held the benefit again to the end line first, delivering a storybook ending for the Georgia-born driver on his house turf. The gang erupted as Elliott accomplished his victory lap, celebrating a hard-fought win.
With Elliott’s final lap move, Keselowki, who led a race-high of 41 laps, settled for second.
“I simply acquired doubled up on. The 48 and 9 vehicles had been in a position to get collectively proper when it mattered and labored collectively,” mentioned Keselowski. “One-on-one, I may take them, however two-on-one it was simply greater than I had. It was a aggressive day (for the RFK staff), we’re not in all places we need to be, however we’re benefiting from our alternatives.”
Elliott’s teammate Alex Bowman fought his method into third late.
“I wanted to steer later. Whoever was up entrance felt like a sitting duck there on the finish,” mentioned Bowman. “I want it had been us in Victory Lane, we had a extremely quick Ally 48, however I’m tremendous happy with the No. 9 staff and joyful a Hendrick automobile acquired it finished. Simply gotta carry on digging.”
Tyler Reddick piloted his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota to fourth place.
“I simply wanted to be smarter with my transfer on the No. 6, they acquired us shuffled too far again to have the ability to battle really for the win,” mentioned Reddick. “Disappointing for positive, however good to get some playoff factors. An increasing number of new winners, however we’ve to discover a solution to get to Victory Lane.”
Erik Jones rounded out the highest 5, bouncing again from a late-race spin.“It was an incredible end, however we simply wanted some extra time. I used to be choosing them off and making strikes, making the most of it, and making an attempt to remain in line, however we simply ran out of time,” Jones mentioned. “We had been getting up there and in competition with these guys after spinning, however happy with the day, we made some adjustments to the automobile and got here again from a few wrecks, so a high 5 is a fairly good day.”
As fireworks lit up the Georgia sky, Elliott celebrated his second profession win at EchoPark Speedway, making a daring assertion on the midway level of the 2025 season.
