Chase Elliott secured his first victory of the NASCAR Cup Series season at the Quaker State 400 held last weekend at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Despite several contenders like Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joey Logano failing to finish, Elliott’s performance stood out, ending a 44-race winless streak with a dramatic last-lap pass that thrilled the crowd.

In a recent appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, Elliott discussed the mindset that enabled him to seize the win amid the high-pressure environment of the Atlanta race.

The Driving Strategy Behind Elliott’s Final-Lap Surge

Elliott’s victory in Atlanta was particularly significant, as the hometown driver overcame intense competition to capture his second career win at the reconfigured 1.54-mile quad-oval track. With key assistance from teammate Alex Bowman, Elliott passed Brad Keselowski decisively on the final lap’s first turn and maintained the lead to the finish line.

During the podcast conversation, Elliott reflected on the aggressive tactics he employed throughout the chaotic race. He explained his approach:

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I’ve tried to be that way at more than just Atlanta,

—Chase Elliott

He noted the challenge of balancing aggression and caution, especially in races at Daytona and Talladega, where patience can sometimes be the better tactic. He elaborated on the nature of the Atlanta track, saying:

I think the cool thing about Atlanta was that it wasn’t a death sentence to go three-wide bottom and it not work. Like okay, you know, I’ll fall back in line here in a minute, and I’ll get another shot at it, and if it works, then great, you got two for one. But that’s not just normally the case.

—Chase Elliott

Elliott summarized his mindset by highlighting how the race’s conditions allowed for bold moves without severe consequences:

So, it’s, I think probably, more a product of just the way the racetrack was racing, and the fact that you weren’t signing yourself up for a death sentence if one of those big, bold moves didn’t totally go your way.

—Chase Elliott

Championship Implications Following Elliott’s Atlanta Win

Following his triumph at Atlanta, Chase Elliott now holds 594 points in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. Though this victory has boosted his position, he remains 37 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who currently leads the championship with 631 points. Another close competitor from Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson, also poses a strong challenge in third place.

This latest win not only breaks Elliott’s lengthy drought but also injects fresh momentum as the season advances, positioning him as a serious contender in the tightly contested championship battle.