Chase Elliott captured a dramatic victory at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 28, making a last-lap move for the win and locking in his place in the Round of 8, underlining his Chase Elliott Kansas win. The finish unfolded amid chaos, with late-race incidents and a clutch maneuver that secured Elliott’s advancement in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Late-Race Drama Leads to Thrilling Victory
During the final moments of the race at Kansas Speedway, Elliott restarted 10th but surged forward as Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin came into contact in turn 3. Taking advantage of the opening on the inside through turn 4, Elliott pulled ahead of Hamlin to win by a margin of 0.069 seconds. This marked Elliott’s 21st Cup Series win and his second of the current season. He joined Ryan Blaney as the second driver to secure a coveted spot in the playoff Round of 8. Elliott edged out a group of contenders, including Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace, who finished second through fifth.
The top ten was completed by Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, and Shane van Gisbergen, who celebrated his first-ever top-10 finish on an oval.
Reflecting on his winning move, Elliott said,
“Everything worked out perfect for me,”
Chase Elliott, Driver. He added,
“Had a great push through (turns) 1 and 2 that started with the No. 6 (Keselowski). Good run off of 2, seas kind of parted and I was able to keep my momentum up. What a great finish.”
Chase Elliott, Driver.
Hamlin’s Strong Run Ends with Heartbreak
Denny Hamlin looked poised for victory after claiming the first two stages and leading 159 laps. However, his pursuit of a milestone 60th career Cup win slipped away in the final lap chaos.
Expressing his disappointment, Hamlin stated,
“It would’ve been 60 (career wins) for me. Team did an amazing job with the car, gave me everything I needed. (I) got the restart I needed, just couldn’t finish it there in the last corner.”
Denny Hamlin, Driver.
Restarts and Wrecks Shape the Outcome
As the finish drew near, Tyler Reddick tried to aid Bubba Wallace during a decisive restart but the bid fell short. Reddick explained,
“I tried to give him (Wallace) the best push I could,”
Tyler Reddick, Driver, and further commented,
“I tried to push him, and we just got separated. Obviously, I want to push him out and help him try and win, and then keep the gap closed up and have a shot at it myself.”
Tyler Reddick, Driver.
Chase Briscoe noted the unpredictability that marked the closing laps. He shared,
“It was tough with those restarts,”
Chase Briscoe, Driver, adding,
“They’re so circumstantial. You could wind up winning the race, or one bad thing goes your way and you’re running fifth to seventh.”
Chase Briscoe, Driver.
A series of yellow flags and wrecks further stirred the field. A spin by J.J. Yeley on Lap 211 and a significant crash on the following restart involved Noah Gragson, Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and A.J. Allmendinger. Additional incidents included debris from Kyle Busch’s car with 15 laps remaining, leading to another caution, and Carson Hocevar’s spin with seven laps left, setting up a final flurry of restarts.
Overtime provided the most dramatic moment when Zane Smith flipped, triggering the last caution. In the wild two-lap shootout, Elliott made the decisive move to the front, with the remaining playoff contenders in hot pursuit.
Playoff Picture and What’s Next
The Hollywood Casino 400’s results proved pivotal as drivers jockeyed for position in the championship hunt. The Round of 12 will come to a close at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on October 5. Coverage of this crucial race begins at 3 p.m. ET, with everything to play for as the field narrows further.
With high stakes and emotions running high at Kansas, key drivers like Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Christopher Bell have significantly shaped the playoff narrative. The intense competition and unpredictable finishes highlight the ongoing excitement in the NASCAR Cup Series, as the action moves to Charlotte for the next decisive event.
