Chase Elliott claimed a dramatic victory at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, clinching the Hollywood Casino 400 and advancing to the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8. This Chase Elliott Kansas Speedway victory was his second of the 2025 season and his first in the playoffs, guaranteeing him a spot in the next round with Ryan Blaney.
Elliott Capitalizes on Last-Lap Chaos
The conclusion of the race was packed with intensity as Elliott, who started the overtime segment in eighth, found himself in prime position after a heated battle between Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace. As Hamlin collided with Wallace, both drivers lost momentum, presenting Elliott a rare opportunity. He swiftly maneuvered past, seizing the lead and holding it to the finish line.
Asked about his vantage point during the altercation between Hamlin and Wallace, Elliott shared thoughts on his approach during those tense moments:
“Honestly, probably not fair for me to comment, like, I was coming down the back, and yes, I was right behind them. Once I saw they were fixing to ship it in there, my eyes went where I needed to go, so I quit watching them.”
– Chase Elliott, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion
“I just knew I had to paint the white line really precise; it’s a pretty small window…so my eyes went there and I have no idea what happened with them,” he further explained.
– Chase Elliott, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion
Top Finishers and Race Standouts
Denny Hamlin, missing the milestone of a 60th Cup win, crossed the line in second place. He was closely followed by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe, filling out the third and fourth positions. Bubba Wallace overcame the late incident to finish fifth, marking his fifth top-five result this season and reflecting the competitive strength of his team through the playoffs.
Teamwork and Tire Strategy Boost Elliott’s Win
A critical factor in Elliott’s win was the strategy by his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports crew, who executed a final pit stop that gave him four fresh tires with 12 laps remaining. Elliott was the only racer among the top five finishers with new tires as the race entered overtime, giving him a clear advantage to challenge for the win.
“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.”
– Chase Elliott, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion
Starting from the fourth position, Elliott worked through the field and used a well-timed move initiated by Brad Keselowski’s push off turn two, allowing him to stay in contention until that decisive surge in overtime. He reflected on the sequence that led to victory:
Everything worked out perfect for me,” Elliott told NBC Sports. “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, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion
Looking Ahead to the Charlotte ROVAL
With this victory, Elliott secures his position in the Round of 8 and turns his focus to the upcoming Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. The next playoff event is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, and will be broadcast live on USA, with radio coverage via PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Fans anticipate whether Elliott, teammates such as Ryan Blaney, and contenders like Hamlin and Wallace will continue their strong playoff form on the challenging road course.
Elliott’s win adds another chapter to his storied career and intensifies the playoff battle, as each race shapes the path to the season finale and the NASCAR Cup Series crown.
“I have no idea what happened with them, I’m sorry” @chaseelliott on his thoughts about what he saw as the bottom lane opened up after the contact between Hamlin and Wallace. pic.twitter.com/PNpOQYXf5v
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 29, 2025
