Chase Elliott, the NASCAR Cup Series victor at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, addressed the controversy around his last-lap collision with Denny Hamlin, asserting that the Denny Hamlin last-lap contact did not affect the race’s outcome. The incident, which transpired in the final moments, left Elliott undisturbed about the competition and focused only on his own performance.
Elliott Describes Final-Lap Incident with Hamlin
During the post-race press conference, Elliott spoke candidly about the dramatic on-track interaction with Hamlin, providing insight into how events unfolded.
“Yeah, we did make contact off of (turn) four,”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner. He recounted the closeness of their battle, stating,
“We were pretty much door to door, the best I can remember.”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner.
Elliott further analyzed the situation, explaining,
“I was coming on the bottom with a pretty good head of steam. I think he saw me coming, and he was just trying to cover my run. I think he was a little late to the party.”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner. Elliott was clear in his assessment that the minor contact was inconsequential, as neither his winning position nor Denny Hamlin’s second place were altered as a result.
“It was no harm, no foul,”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner, reflected. He added his confidence that Hamlin would share the same perspective,
“I’m very confident (Hamlin) would tell you the same thing.”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner.
Elliott Focused on His Own Race Amid Other Drivers’ Moves
Addressing Hamlin’s separate last-lap encounter with Bubba Wallace, Elliott refrained from making detailed comments, focusing instead on his own race craft. He remarked on his moment of decision during the tense final stretch:
“Honestly, probably not fair for me to comment. I was coming down the back, and yes, I was right behind them. Once I saw that they were fixing to ship it in there, my eyes went to where I needed to go, so I quit watching them.”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner.
This moment allowed Elliott, piloting his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, to seize an opportunity by moving inside while Hamlin and Wallace were preoccupied. He described the precise maneuver necessary to secure the win:
“I knew I had to paint that white line really precisely — it’s a pretty small window,”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner, shared.
“I don’t know how wide that white line is, but it’s not very big.”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner.
Securing the Win and Looking Ahead
As the decisive moments played out, Elliott concentrated on his car placement, distancing himself from the distractions unfolding nearby.
“I knew I had to get my lefts (left side tires) on it, so my eyes went there, and I have no idea what happened with them,”
Chase Elliott, Race Winner.
With his Kansas Speedway win, Elliott clinched an automatic advancement to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. This result frees him from pressure heading into the upcoming challenging event at the Charlotte Roval, the only road course left in the series’ postseason run. Denny Hamlin last-lap contact, though dramatic, ultimately had no bearing on the race’s standings, allowing Elliott to shift focus entirely to upcoming playoff challenges alongside key figures like Bubba Wallace.
