1 year ago
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Associated Press
Jun 29, 2025, 12:01 AM ET
HAMPTON, Ga. -- Home-state favourite Chase Elliott passed Brad Keselowski connected the last thigh and won the crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series astatine Atlanta connected Saturday nighttime for his 20th vocation victory.
Elliott, the fashionable operator from Dawsonville, Georgia, earned a spot successful the NASCAR playoffs with his archetypal triumph since April 2024 astatine Texas. It was his archetypal triumph successful Atlanta since 2022.
"I've ne'er successful my full life, this is unbelievable," Elliott said. "This is thing I'll retrieve the remainder of my life."
The race's 2nd clang aboriginal successful Stage 2 took retired galore of the sport's biggest names and near others with damaged cars. Pole-winner Joey Logano, who led the archetypal 36 laps earlier airy rainfall forced the archetypal caution, was among the galore drivers caught up successful the large crash.
Among others knocked retired of the race: William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie and Daniel Suarez.
"It wrecked the full field," Logano said. "I inactive don't cognize precisely however it started ... but it was full chaos. Cars were sideways and connected the brakes. I got deed from each country possible."
Added Denny Hamlin, who suffered harm to his Toyota successful the crash: "Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed."
The Atlanta contention astatine EchoPark Speedway, formerly known arsenic Atlanta Motor Speedway, was the debut of the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament.
The parade of highly regarded drivers to beryllium knocked retired truthful aboriginal successful the contention showed the perils of trying to prime NASCAR winners connected a March Madness-style bracket sheet. The apical 2 seeds were among the aboriginal casualties.
Hamlin, the No. 1 effect successful the tournament, finished 31st and mislaid to Ty Dillon, who finished eighth.
Chase Briscoe, who held disconnected Hamlin for his archetypal triumph for Joe Gibbs Racing past week astatine Pocono Raceway, was the No. 2 effect earlier being knocked retired successful a clang and losing to Noah Gragson successful the tournament.
A $1 cardinal prize awaits the victor arsenic portion of a caller media rights woody that includes TNT.
Elliott and Keselowski were connected the beforehand enactment erstwhile a caution with 33 laps to spell forced a determination connected whether to pit for caller tires. Both stayed connected the way and Elliott faded pursuing the restart until making his decisive complaint astatine the precise end.
Bracket busters
Ryan Blaney, the contention favourite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, was knocked retired connected a wreck precocious successful the archetypal stage. Christopher Bell deed the wall, triggering the clang that ended the signifier with Cindric successful the lead.
Cindric was progressive successful the bigger clang aboriginal successful Stage 2. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace were among others progressive successful the crash.
Photo finish
Tyler Reddick bushed Elliott to the decorativeness enactment by .001 seconds to triumph Stage 2 successful a conflict betwixt drivers looking for some their archetypal signifier triumph and wide triumph of the season.
Weather woes
Lightning and rainfall delayed qualifying Friday and the Xfinity contention won by Nick Sanchez precocious Friday night. More lightning and rainfall threatened Saturday night's race. Fans were encouraged to permission the stands astir 90 minutes earlier the contention owed to terrible upwind successful the country but were allowed to instrumentality arsenic pre-race were conducted arsenic planned.
Up next
The Cup Series moves to Chicago for the Chicago Street Race connected Sunday, July 6.
