In a dramatic finale at the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, September 28, Chase Elliott secured a last-lap pass to win at Kansas Speedway. Elliott’s comeback from 10th place on the restart culminated in a narrow victory over Denny Hamlin by just 0.069 seconds, marking a significant moment in his season and NASCAR career.
The defining moment came after Bubba Wallace and Hamlin collided in turn 3 on the final lap, creating an opening for Elliott. Taking advantage of the chaos, Elliott surged from the inside in the final turn to overtake Hamlin and snatch the win, which was the 21st of his NASCAR Cup Series career and his second victory this season.
Key Contenders and Final Standings in a Chaotic Race
Despite leading 159 laps and winning the first two stages, Denny Hamlin’s pursuit of his 60th career win was thwarted at the last second. Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace each had opportunities to take the checkered flag during the closing laps, ultimately finishing third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
The race’s top 10 was completed by Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, William Byron, and Shane van Gisbergen, who earned his first top-10 finish on an oval track. The field endured a hectic final segment with multiple cautions and restarts that played a crucial role in the outcome.
Driver Reactions Reflect the Tense and Unpredictable Finale
Chase Elliott described his win as the perfect alignment of factors during the closing laps.
“Everything worked out perfect for me,”
he said to USA Network.
“Had a great push through (turns) 1 and 2 that started with the No. 6 (Keselowski). Good run off of 2, seas kind of parted and I was able to keep my momentum up. What a great finish.”
Bubba Wallace expressed mixed feelings about the final collision that helped Elliott rise to the front.
“Two years ago, I’d probably say something dumb, like he’s a dumbass for that move, I don’t care if he’s my boss or not,”
Wallace admitted.
“But we’re going for the win. Hate that we gave it to Chevrolet there.”
Denny Hamlin shared his disappointment after narrowly missing a milestone victory. “Just super disappointing,” he said.
“It would’ve been 60 (career wins) for me. Team did an amazing job with the car, gave me everything I needed. (I) got the restart I needed, just couldn’t finish it there in the last corner.”
Tyler Reddick reflected on his efforts during the final restart, emphasizing teamwork and competition.
“I tried to give him (Wallace) the best push I could,”
he said.
“I tried to push him, and we just got separated. Obviously, I want to push him out and help him try and win, and then keep the gap closed up and have a shot at it myself.”
Chase Briscoe remarked on the challenging nature of the late-race restarts.
“It was tough with those restarts,”
he explained.
“They’re so circumstantial. You could wind up winning the race, or one bad thing goes your way and you’re running fifth to seventh.”
Christopher Bell shared cautious optimism after the race.
“I honestly don’t know what I could’ve done,”
Bell said of the final laps.
“I’m leaving here feeling pretty satisfied.”
Multiple Cautions and Incidents Shape the Race Dynamics
The event featured several caution flags that affected race strategies and driver positioning. On lap 211, a spin by J.J. Yeley on the frontstretch brought out the yellow flag. The restart on lap 217 was followed by a multi-vehicle wreck involving Noah Gragson, Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and A.J. Allmendinger.
With 15 laps remaining, debris from Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet caused another caution. Later, Carson Hocevar spun on the backstretch with seven laps left, prompting a further yellow flag and sending the race into overtime. In an intense overtime moment, Zane Smith flipped, generating a final caution that led to a wild two-lap shootout to decide the winner.
Implications for the NASCAR Playoffs and Upcoming Events
Chase Elliott’s narrow victory secured him a spot in the Round of 8, becoming the second driver to clinch after Ryan Blaney’s win last week. This progress marks a critical step for Elliott in the playoff battle as the season advances.
The Round of 12 will conclude at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday, October 5, with race coverage set to begin at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network. The outcome at Charlotte will further determine the drivers advancing toward the championship.
