Chase Elliott’s Kansas win at Kansas Speedway has stirred dramatic comparisons between racing personalities, highlighting tensions between drivers. On the latest Herm & Schrader podcast, Kenny Wallace framed Elliott’s victory over Denny Hamlin as a symbolic battle of “good vs evil,” underlining the emotional stakes in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Elliott secured the fourth starting position, while Hamlin began the race in second place. Hamlin, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, dominated much of the 273-lap event on the 1.5-mile track, winning both stages and leading 159 laps. However, the race’s outcome shifted dramatically following the final restart, when Hamlin’s collision with his Toyota teammate Bubba Wallace derailed his bid for a sixth win this season.
As the race reached its climax, Bubba Wallace was in the lead, with Hamlin aggressively pursuing him. The contact between the Toyotas opened an opportunity for Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, to seize the win. Kenny Wallace likened the racing dynamics to a classic narrative of heroes and villains, stating,
“So Chase Elliott wins this thing, crowds on their feet. It is like Denny Hamlin is Darth Vader for Vader, right, and Chase is like Huckleberry Finn; it’s good versus evil. They hate Demi Hamlin. And they love Chase.”
— Kenny Wallace, Herm & Schrader podcast co-host
With this triumph, Chase Elliott became the second driver in the Cup Series to secure a spot in the Round of Eight playoffs. Elliott now leads the playoff standings, while Hamlin is positioned fourth, maintaining a buffer of 48 points above the cutoff threshold.
Chase Elliott’s Crew Chief Plans Aggressive Strategy for Charlotte ROVAL
Looking ahead to the Bank of America ROVAL race scheduled for October 5, 2025, Chase Elliott’s crew chief Alan Gustafson revealed plans for an assertive approach during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Gustafson emphasized the team’s improved position compared to previous seasons, which now allows them to adopt a more daring strategy on the challenging 109-lap road course.
Previously, the team had to prioritize accumulating points carefully to stay in playoff contention. This season’s earlier victories have shifted that need, enabling Elliott and his crew to take greater risks without concern for jeopardizing their playoff status. Gustafson explained the new mindset during the discussion,
“So this should be whatever we want to do, right? We don’t have to worry about any of that. And we can, we can shortest stages. We can run into the stages, we can do whatever we want to do, and it’s going to have no impact on the fact we make the transfer the next round this year. So excited about that, and excited for the chance to be aggressive there.”
— Alan Gustafson, Chase Elliott’s crew chief
Last season, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson claimed victory at the ROVAL event, while Elliott finished fifth after starting seventh. With the team’s current momentum, they are optimistic about an aggressive run in the upcoming race, aiming to extend their playoff success further.
Impact of the Kansas Win on the Playoff Race and Rivalries
Chase Elliott’s Kansas win not only propelled him to the top of the playoff standings but also intensified the rivalry narratives within NASCAR. Elliott’s ability to capitalize on the final restart incident between Hamlin and Wallace illustrates the high stakes and unpredictable nature of the sport’s playoff battles. His success has galvanized fan support, drawing sharp contrasts with Denny Hamlin’s perceived antagonist role in this drama.
Hamlin’s incident with teammate Bubba Wallace highlighted the internal competition within Toyota’s teams, complicating the championship chase. With tensions elevated, the Kansas race serves as a pivotal moment that could influence team dynamics and strategies in upcoming playoff rounds. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely as these rivalries unfold on track.
Going forward, Elliott’s confirmed status in the Round of Eight provides him the freedom to experiment and push boundaries in race tactics, as Gustafson described. Meanwhile, other playoff contenders, led by Hamlin, face pressure to close the gap while managing risk carefully. The narratives born from Kansas’ dramatic finish set the stage for an intense remainder of the NASCAR season.
Was Chase beating Denny a case of Good vs. Evil? 👀
The latest Herm & Schrader episode is here—go check it out! 🔥
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YouTube: https://t.co/27na8AR48K@Kenny_Wallace | @KenSchrader pic.twitter.com/gN2AZup6Iz— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) October 1, 2025
