Chase Elliott surged to the front during an intense two-lap overtime shootout on Sunday to claim victory in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. This race marked the middle event of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 playoffs, and Elliott’s win earned him advancement to the Round of 8.
Key Moments and On-Track Action Define the Race
The race featured two notable cautions, including a dramatic incident where Zane Smith’s No. 38 Ford rode the wall in Turns 3 and 4 on two wheels before flipping over twice. Coming into the final laps, Elliott moved up from fifth position and engaged in close door-to-door racing with the leader, Denny Hamlin, who was maneuvering Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 car up the track.
In a thrilling finish, Elliott crossed the finish line first by a margin of 0.609 seconds over Hamlin, securing his second win of the season. The top five was rounded out by Hamlin’s Toyota teammates Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe, along with Wallace.
Race Developments and Stage Highlights
Starting from the pole position, Chase Briscoe initially led the race until Hamlin took over. Kyle Larson also became a strong contender, leading when Cody Ware’s No. 51 Ford experienced a tire failure and crashed into the wall on Lap 56, causing the race’s first caution.
Despite running on older tires compared to the Hendrick Motorsports cars of Larson and Elliott, Hamlin held his position in the No. 11 Toyota to win the top segment points by finishing ahead of Larson, Elliott, Bell, and Ross Chastain.
The second stage included a single caution due to a collision between Ryan Preece and John Hunter Nemechek on the front stretch. Christopher Bell took the lead early in this stage and led by a narrow margin at Lap 120. Hamlin then overtook Bell to claim his sixth stage win of the season by a slim margin of about three-tenths of a second.
Late-Race Battles and Cautions Affect Final Outcome
With 94 laps remaining, Elliott and Hamlin battled closely side-by-side down the backstretch, with Elliott eventually edging ahead to the lead as Bell stayed close behind. One of the most significant incidents unfolded on the Lap 51 restart at Turn 1, where the Team Penske Fords driven by Joey Logano and Austin Cindric collided, sending Cindric’s No. 2 car into the wall.
In the final laps, Hamlin appeared poised for victory with a one-second lead over Bell. However, with 15 laps remaining, a caution for debris on the track shortened the race. During the pit stop, Hamlin’s jackman encountered issues, causing Hamlin to restart in sixth place while Bell took the lead. This sequence opened the door for Elliott’s late charge.
Implications of Elliott’s Victory for the Championship Round
Chase Elliott’s win at the Hollywood Casino 400 not only highlights his skill on a challenging 1.5-mile track but also advances him to the next playoff round where competition intensifies. By edging out Hamlin, Elliott joins the select group of drivers continuing their quest for the NASCAR Cup Series championship as the Round of 8 approaches.
