Chase Elliott ended a 44-race winless streak by winning a thrilling NASCAR Cup race at his hometown track in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the chaos throughout the race, Elliott managed to make a dramatic final lap pass, securing his victory and becoming the 12th different winner of the 2025 season. His Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet sustained only minor damage—a driver’s door “doughnut”—showcasing Elliott’s skill and the team’s resilience. “What a crazy race,” Elliott reflected afterward, expressing his disbelief and excitement over the win.
Tyler Reddick finished in fourth place with Eric Jones right behind him in fifth. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Zane Smith, Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, and Carson Hocevar rounded out the top 10. During the final 92 laps on a green flag, Elliott and his Hendrick teammate Bowman led the pack. Notable moments included Shane Van Gisbergen’s wild spin after contact with Tai Gibbs, leading to a pit stop for repairs and loss of laps. As the race neared its end, a key yellow flag allowed some leaders like Bowman, Elliott, and Keselowski to stay out rather than pit, although fuel strategies proved less critical than expected. In the closing laps, an intense battle for the lead unfolded, with Elliott timing his moves perfectly to clinch the win, marking his 20th career Cup Series victory.
The earlier stages featured nonstop excitement interrupted by a brief 20-minute delay caused by a light shower. A significant wreck involving 23 cars during Stage 2 resulted in a red flag and knocked out several competitors, including Paul Menard, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and William Byron. After the restart, the field was smaller and the competition fierce, culminating in Tyler Reddick narrowly winning Stage 2 by just 0.001 seconds over Elliott.
Fan Take: This victory is a huge moment for Chase Elliott, revitalizing one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers and adding fresh excitement to the 2025 season. For fans, the race showcased NASCAR’s unpredictability and drama, promising a thrilling playoff ahead and captivating storylines for the sport.
