Chase Elliott delivered a memorable performance to secure the Chase Elliott Kansas Speedway win, taking the checkered flag in a nail-biting conclusion on Sunday. Racing at Kansas Speedway, Elliott edged ahead in a dramatic finish fueled by a perfectly timed push and strong teamwork, ensuring a hard-fought win that highlighted his team’s persistence and skill.
Elliott Describes the Intense Final Laps and Team Effort
Elliott recounted the race’s concluding moments, emphasizing how a key push and the opening created by the competition allowed him to capitalize. Reflecting on both his team’s effort and his resolve during the closing lap, he expressed gratitude for the victory that resulted from a weekend of preparation and solid execution.
“Everything worked out perfect for me. Had a great push through one and two. That kind of all started with the 6. Big run off of two. Seas kind of parted and just was able to keep my momentum up. That was really it. Obviously, we still had pretty good tires compared to those guys, but what a crazy finish. Hope you all enjoyed that. I certainly did. Really proud of our team. Had a really solid weekend, win or no win. Really nice to qualify really well. We’ll certainly enjoy this, man. This is pretty cool. Just never take this stuff for granted because they’re hard to come by. Learned that the hard way. Always enjoy it. Always appreciate it. … I wasn’t going to lift, so I didn’t know what was going to happen. I figured at the end of the day, it was what it was at that point. We were both wide open corner exit. Wherever I ended up, I ended up. At that point, we were all committed. Yeah, really cool just to be restart and somehow win on a green-and-white checkered. Pretty neat.”
— Chase Elliott, Winner
Hamlin’s Frustration as Victory Slips Away
Denny Hamlin finished a close second and, despite having one of the fastest cars of the competition, faced disappointment in the final laps. Hamlin highlighted struggles with mechanical issues during the crucial run, including steering difficulties and low voltage, which prevented him from converting his performance into a milestone 60th win. His frustrations were compounded by tight racing in the closing corner, especially with car 23, and the elusive nature of the victory.
“Just super disappointing. I wanted it bad. It would have been 60 (wins) for me. The team just did an amazing job with the car, just really, really fast. Gave me everything I needed. Got the restart I needed. Just couldn’t finish it there on the last corner. Obviously got really, really tight with the 23, and it just got real tight and we let the 9 win. Yeah, just mechanical failures and different things have really hindered us in years past, and we had no power steering that last run. Low voltage. Just a lot of things and just couldn’t — just disappointing because I don’t think I’ve ever had a car that good to the competition. Man, I wanted it for my dad. I wanted it for everybody. Just wanted it a little too hard.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Bubba Wallace Earns Third After Early Struggles
Bubba Wallace rounded out the top three, managing to fight back after a challenging start. Having missed the mark on early speed, Wallace commended his team for their work and recognized the effort put forth by every member to maximize their standing by race’s end. In reflecting on late-race events and the intense restart, Wallace talked openly about his mindset and learning from past moments, while noting the significance of scoring much-needed points for his team and Toyota.
“To even have a shot at the win with the way we started, you could have fooled me. We were not good. We missed it on the fire-off speed. I just really appreciate the team. Two years ago I’d probably say something dumb (about Hamlin like) ‘He’s a dumbass for that move. I don’t care if he’s my boss or not.’ But we’re going for the win. I hate that we gave it to Chevrolet there. Toyotas were super fast, and proud to be driving one. I thought it was meant to be, and then it wasn’t. All in all, the positives, though, we were minus 26 coming in — or minus 27 coming in. We’re minus 26 leaving. We gained a point.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
Significance for the Teams and a Look Ahead
This year’s Kansas Speedway event demonstrated the fierce competition among drivers from Chevrolet and Toyota. Elliott’s determined maneuvering at the corner exit, Hamlin’s pursuit of a meaningful milestone for himself and his team, and Wallace’s recovery after a tough start, all underscore the intensity and unpredictability that defines major race events. With teams now focusing on future challenges and drivers eager for redemption and continued momentum, the Kansas finish will resonate within the racing community as a testament to perseverance, teamwork, and the drive for victory.
