Chase Elliott seized a dramatic victory in double overtime at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, escaping a late-race chaos to notch his second triumph of the NASCAR Cup Series season. The Chase Elliott Kansas Speedway win unfolded after Toyota drivers dominated but failed to close, ultimately shifting the playoff picture with only a few rounds left.
A Day Dominated by Toyota Until Late Drama Unfolds
For much of the Hollywood Casino 400, Toyota’s presence was undeniable, as their drivers combined to lead 235 laps out of 273. Denny Hamlin, the all-time winningest driver at Kansas Speedway, cruised through both stages to maximize points and seemed poised for a fifth career win at the track. However, a late caution with 15 laps to go disrupted the No. 11 team’s strong run. A costly pit incident dropped Hamlin five places, introducing fresh uncertainty as overtime loomed.
On the restart, Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace — both in Toyotas — sat on the front row. The initial overtime attempt saw Wallace lose traction in Turns 3 and 4, while Zane Smith‘s contact with the wall caused his car to ride atop the barrier and flip, escalating the chaos and triggering a second overtime.
Double Overtime: Wallace Leads, Elliott Pounces
As second overtime arrived, Tyler Reddick, representing 23XI Racing, delivered a crucial bump to Bubba Wallace, giving him a shot at retaining the lead. Behind them, Denny Hamlin surged to second as the white flag waved, but ongoing power-steering issues complicated his charge. On the final corners, Hamlin squeezed Wallace, making contact with the outside wall as Chase Elliott, who had restarted tenth on fresh Goodyear tires, rocketed by on the inside. Elliott then made incidental contact with Hamlin and powered ahead, securing the win as the field crossed the finish line.
The live reaction to the frenetic final lap promptly circulated among fans and commentators:
“Obviously got really, really tight with [Wallace], and it just got real tight and we let [Elliott] win.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Mixed Emotions on Pit Road After a Costly Loss for Toyota
Hamlin, visibly frustrated after representing one of the fastest cars all afternoon and aiming for his 60th career victory, reflected on a missed opportunity during his NBC Sports interview:
“Just super disappointing, I wanted it bad. It would have been [win number] 60 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.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace — who once again found himself in contention at Kansas, the site of his maiden Cup win in 2022 — voiced his own frustrations to NBC and group of reporters:
“Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb,”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
“[Hamlin is] 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.
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
“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 27 coming in. We’re minus 26 leaving. We gained a point.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
Wallace, now 10th in the playoff standings and 26 points behind Joey Logano, lost out on a guaranteed spot in the Round of 8. His path to advancement will be more difficult as the cutoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL approaches — a road course, which has been a historic weakness for him despite recent progress. Logano, for his part, managed only a 21st-place finish after a challenging weekend but earned valuable stage points to aid his playoff cause.
“It’s unfortunate. I was excited to race Denny for the win and we gave [Elliott] the win,”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
“That’s what is frustrating the most. We couldn’t get Toyota to Victory Lane.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
Toyota’s Internal Dynamics and Recent History
Wallace specifically reflected on the internal culture among Toyota teams, asserting respect is fundamental even when racing at the limit:
“Toyota drivers race hard each week, but we respect each other,”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
“There is a fine line that gets crossed and you have to understand that.”
— Bubba Wallace, Driver
This outcome comes just days after Toyota’s drivers at Joe Gibbs Racing met to address in-team competition, following Ty Gibbs‘ aggressive moves against Hamlin and Bell the prior weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Through five playoff events this year, Toyota’s performance remains dominant, with the manufacturer leading 1,124 of 1,681 laps, or about 67 percent overall. At Kansas, Hamlin himself accounted for a race-high 159 laps led, breaking his personal record for a 1.5-mile track and surpassing 16,000 laps led in his Cup Series career — an all-time achievement for just twelve drivers in history.
Elliott Secures Place in Next Playoff Round
For Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports, the win is more than a trophy — it guarantees his spot in the next round of the playoffs for a second straight year and marks the team’s first multi-win campaign since 2022. Elliott credited his circumstances and a fortuitous break as the field scrambled on the final lap:
“Everything worked out perfect for me,”
— Chase Elliott, Driver
“Had a great push through [Turns] 1 and 2. That kind of all started with [Brad Keselowski] Big run off of 2. Seas kind of parted and just was able to keep my momentum up. That was really it.”
— Chase Elliott, Driver
What the Kansas Speedway Finish Means for the Playoff Race
Chase Elliott’s Kansas Speedway win adds new complexity to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, especially amid recent friction and negotiations among Toyota teams at Joe Gibbs Racing. As the contenders head to the unpredictable Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL for the critical cutoff race, the fight for the Round of 8 intensifies — with Elliott secure, Wallace hunting for points, and Hamlin hoping for redemption after a bitter defeat at a track where he’s made history.
THIS FINAL LAP WAS INSANE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/g9ctVJ1TPx
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025
