Chase Elliott Wins Atlanta NASCAR, Moves to Second in Title Race

Chase Elliott broke a 44-race winless streak by passing Brad Keselowski on the final lap to win the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta, marking his 20th career victory and first Atlanta win since 2022. The win propelled Elliott to second place in the Cup Series points standings, just behind teammate William Byron, and secured his spot in the NASCAR playoffs, improving his chances to contend for a second championship after his 2020 title. Elliott celebrated with fans at EchoPark Speedway, describing the moment as surreal and memorable. Teammate Alex Bowman played a crucial role in the victory by pushing Elliott and blocking Keselowski on the final lap, and Elliott expressed his intention to help Bowman qualify for the playoffs as well. Elliott also advanced to the second round of NASCAR's new In-Season Challenge and will face John Hunter Nemechek at the upcoming Chicago Street Race. The win was a significant boost for Hendrick Motorsports, with multiple drivers in strong playoff positions.