HAMPTON, Ga. — Chase Elliott captured a dramatic late-race victory Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway, ending a 44-race winless stretch and clinching a crucial playoff berth for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series. The Dawsonville, Georgia native delivered an electrifying last-lap pass under the lights in front of his hometown crowd, securing a memorable win that energized fans and solidified his postseason spot.

After several near-misses, Elliott finally returned to Victory Lane at his home track, where fans erupted in celebration as fireworks lit up the sky. The 2020 Cup champion’s emotional reaction marked a rare departure from his usually reserved demeanor, reflecting the significance of this milestone moment.

Overcoming a Lengthy Winless Spell Amid Strong Contention

Leading into Atlanta, Elliott’s most recent victory had come in April 2024 at Texas Motor Speedway. Since then, he had consistently posted strong finishes, including thirteen top-five results and seventeen consecutive races inside the top 20, but race wins had eluded him despite being a frequent contender.

His performance at Atlanta began from a 15th-place qualifying position, but his competitiveness and late-race strategy put him in position to secure the victory and lock in a playoffs slot without relying on points alone. Prior to the race, Elliott stood comfortably above the elimination threshold but lacked a win on the season, making the playoffs far from automatic.

Recent momentum had been building; Elliott led laps at Michigan International Speedway, finished third in Mexico City, and earned a fifth-place result the previous week at Pocono Raceway. The Atlanta victory crowned this streak of form with a much-needed breakthrough.

Teammate Collaboration and Key Rivalries Shape the Final Battle

The race featured intense competition not only between Chevrolet teams but also with RFK Racing’s Ford drivers Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, both seeking their first wins of the season and playoff clinches. Elliott and teammate Alex Bowman, who also entered the weekend without a victory but above the playoff cut line, navigated early race incidents and positioned themselves to compete at the front.

Throughout the late stages, the battle for dominance was fierce, with Keselowski, Buescher, Elliott, and Bowman collectively leading 134 laps and exchanging positions through drafting maneuvers. The group’s shared mastery of Atlanta’s high-speed 1.54-mile track underscored their determination to secure victories and postseason safety.

Bowman credited their combined effort for the strong showing.

“You’re just trying to keep your momentum going,”

Bowman said.

“It wasn’t really like an HMS thing. I was gonna push whoever the car was immediately in front of me, and just so happened that it was Chase.”

—Alex Bowman, Driver

Hendrick Motorsports president Jeff Andrews acknowledged Bowman’s crucial role in Elliott’s success, emphasizing the strength of their package and teamwork.

“We’re probably not sitting here without Alex Bowman and the move he made there and the teammate that he was tonight, so just really proud of him and Blake (Harris, No. 48 crew chief) for the car they had,”

Andrews said.

“But, you know, ultimately, when you have fast race cars like that, it was kind of clear to us early on that we had a lot of speed in our cars, and you just want to be able to see that through.”

—Jeff Andrews, Hendrick Motorsports President

Team Effort Strengthens Hendrick Motorsports’ Playoff Position

The strong performances of Hendrick Motorsports drivers have bolstered the team’s presence near the top of the 2025 points standings. Alongside Elliott’s triumph, William Byron and Kyle Larson have also recorded wins this year, occupying the top three standings positions and effectively securing their playoff qualifications.

Bowman currently sits 15th in the playoff rankings, with a 39-point margin above the elimination threshold, thanks in part to his strong finish in Atlanta that boosted his overall standing.

For Elliott, the win marked another chapter in his partnership with crew chief Alan Gustafson, a collaboration that spans nearly a decade and includes their 2020 championship. This bond has been key in navigating the ups and downs of recent seasons, including the previous failure to make the playoffs two years ago.

Elliott reflected on the importance of his team’s continuity.

“A large part of our group has been the same since I got here,”

he shared.

“Obviously, Alan and I have been working together for 10 years now. There have been some personnel changes here and there. Totally understand that. When you’re fortunate enough to climb the mountain and be able to stand at the top of the mountain with someone, that’s an incredible achievement, right? That’s something that he and I will always cherish and remember that we did that together, right?”

“Since then, we have failed to climb that mountain again like we want. We have fallen off of it a few times. For me, it’s really, really important to climb that mountain with the same people that we did the first time and know that we never quit on each other. That’s just a really important piece of the puzzle for me.”

—Chase Elliott, Driver

Elliott’s Mentality and Motivation Propel the Team Forward

Breaking the long winless streak at Atlanta also demonstrated the team’s resilience and refusal to give up, qualities that Elliott believes are fundamental to sustained success in NASCAR. His focus remains on consistent performance and relevance in every race weekend.

“I think that, for me, satisfaction and showing up on a weekend is: Were we relevant? Were we in contention? Do we actually have a shot? Are we up there with pace and doing the right things?”

Elliott explained.

“I just believe that in this sport, if you’re doing all those right things, A, that’s something to be proud of, and B, if you’re doing them regularly, you’re going to get your turn. And I thought tonight was a great example of that.”

—Chase Elliott, Driver

Looking Ahead: Momentum Builds as Regular Season Winds Down

With eight regular-season races remaining, Elliott aims to build on this momentum, refining his approach to secure additional victories and strengthen his hold on a deep playoff run. His victory at EchoPark Speedway serves not just as an isolated success but as a foundation for what could become a pivotal stretch in his 2025 campaign.

Reflecting on the team’s effort and attitude, Elliott noted the dedication and unity that have fueled their endurance.

“I’m just really proud of all of our guys for … just showing up every week and having great attitudes,”

he said.

“Just doing everything in their power to put the car, the product on the race track that they do, the effort they put in going over the wall, the way Alan brings intensity to the race track, calling races, meetings, making sure he’s getting everything out of me. It’s all right there.”

“We have such a good, talented group of people that are motivated, good people away from the race track, too. You can’t quit on that.”

—Chase Elliott, Driver