Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

Chase Elliott is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion and currently the 2022 title leader. But finally scoring a dramatic victory Sunday afternoon at his home track – Atlanta Motor Speedway – in front of a vocal and adoring home crowd ranks right up there as far as he’s concerned.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag ahead of Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey Chevrolet, under caution to win the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet led a race best 96 of the 260 laps and held off a charging field to win Sunday’s Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart, ultimately securing the trophy when the caution flag came out in the closing portion of the frenzied final lap.

Corey LaJoie, who was dueling it out with Elliott on that last lap, brought out that caution after hitting the wall on the backstretch in a final attempt to pull alongside and pass Elliott for what would have also been a popular first career NASCAR Cup Series victory for the well-liked LaJoie.

“This one’s up there for sure, to win at your home track is a real big deal I think to any race car driver,’’ said Elliott, 26, of nearby Dawsonville, Ga. “I watched a lot of guys do it over the years, Jimmie [Johnson] out in California. We haven’t really had a very good run here, so I felt like today was a good opportunity for us.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“I’m just so proud. This is obviously home for me and home to a lot of great fans who made a lot of noise today. Couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

Obviously disappointed not to earn the victory, but not disheartened, LaJoie said he was encouraged by the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team’s work on Sunday and boosted by the confidence of being in position to win late in a race.

“Closest I’ve ever been, for sure that was fun’’ LaJoie said. “I’m proud of my guys at Spire and everyone whose helped us out.

“I made my move and it didn’t work out, and the siren is ringing in Dawsonville (Ga.) unfortunately,’’ LaJoie said referencing the famed Dawsonville (Ga.) Pool Room where the owners ring a bell to celebrate each of Elliott’s victories.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Milestone Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Jockey Chevrolet, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Wabash Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

With 27 lead changes among 12 drivers and 13 caution periods, it was an eventful day on the newly reconfigured and re-paved Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 1.54-mile track. And there was plenty of drama from the hometown kid winning his series-best third race of the year to several dust-ups among popular drivers.

Ross Chastain, who had a busy day on track and was part of a couple of those incidents, rallied to finish runner-up to Elliott.

“I hated that I took the best car here and I tore it up a couple times, but yeah, it’s incredible,’’ Chastain said of rebounding to score his fifth top two finish of the season.

“Hats off to Chevrolet and Trackhouse for bringing this fast of a Jockey Chevrolet to be able to come back.  Our road crew and pit crew did an awesome job to rebound through all the damage repair and we had a shot and I got inside of the 9 [Elliott] coming off [turn] 2 coming to the checkered and the caution came out.”

Corey LaJoie, driver of the #7 Raze Energy Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

After being collected in a nine-car accident just before the race’s mid-point, Chastain worked his way forward again only to make contact with veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin as the two were running in the top 10 late in the race. The pair have had run-ins previously this season and Hamlin, whose car was badly damaged, was not happy after the race.

“Everyone has different tolerance levels and as you all know, I’ve reached my peak,’’ Hamlin said.

Team Penske rookie Austin Cindric – winner of the season opening Daytona 500 – finished third, with Petty GMS Motorsports’ Erik Jones and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Chastain’s Trackhouse Racing teammate Daniel Suarez was sixth, followed by Justin Haley, Aric Almirola, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top 10.

With the victory, Elliott extended his championship lead over Blaney to 47 points. Chastain is now third, 50 points behind Elliott.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to competition next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with the Ambetter 301 on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Stewart-Haas Racing driver Aric Almirola is the defending race winner.

Interviews:

NCS Winners Press Conference – Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) –

NCS Winners Press Conference – Alan Gustafson (Crew Chief No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) – 

NCS Winners Press Conference – Rick Hendrick (Team Owner, Hendrick Motorsports) and Jeff Gordon (Vice Chairman, Hendrick Motorsports) – 

NASCAR Cup Series Race – 53rd Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Hampton, Georgia

Sunday, July 10, 2022

               1. (1)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 260.

               2. (2)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 260.

               3. (5)  Austin Cindric #, Ford, 260.

               4. (25)  Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 260.

               5. (6)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 260.

               6. (7)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 260.

               7. (24)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 260.

               8. (22)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 260.

               9. (18)  Cole Custer, Ford, 260.

               10. (27)  Harrison Burton #, Ford, 260.

               11. (9)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 260.

               12. (10)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 260.

               13. (3)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 260.

               14. (32)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 260.

               15. (12)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 260.

               16. (14)  Chase Briscoe, Ford, 260.

               17. (28)  Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 260.

               18. (31)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 260.

               19. (15)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 260.

               20. (19)  Kyle Busch, Toyota, 260.

               21. (30)  Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 260.

               22. (21)  Kurt Busch, Toyota, Accident, 259.

               23. (34)  Cody Ware, Ford, 259.

               24. (36)  Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 259.

               25. (16)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 259.

               26. (17)  Joey Logano, Ford, DVP, 252.

               27. (33)  Garrett Smithley(i), Ford, 252.

               28. (23)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, DVP, 174.

               29. (4)  Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, Accident, 170.

               30. (13)  William Byron, Chevrolet, Accident, 170.

               31. (20)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, Engine, 162.

               32. (8)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, DVP, 160.

               33. (11)  Chris Buescher, Ford, Accident, 107.

               34. (29)  Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, Suspension, 91.

               35. (26)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 90.

               36. (35)  BJ McLeod(i), Ford, Accident, 77.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  118.754 mph.

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 22 Mins, 18 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Under Caution Seconds.

Caution Flags:  13 for 64 laps

Lead Changes:  27 among 12 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   R. Chastain 1;C. Elliott 2;R. Chastain 3-21;D. Hamlin 22-23;R. Blaney 24;C. Elliott 25-50;R. Blaney 51;C. Elliott 52-63;T. Reddick 64-69;M. Truex Jr. 70-86;C. Elliott 87-94;H. Burton # 95-98;R. Stenhouse Jr. 99-100;H. Burton # 101-105;W. Byron 106-146;T. Reddick 147-153;C. Elliott 154-162;A. Cindric # 163-169;E. Jones 170-179;R. Chastain 180-191;C. LaJoie 192-201;C. Elliott 202;C. LaJoie 203-204;C. Elliott 205-241;M. Truex Jr. 242-251;C. LaJoie 252-258;C. Elliott 259-260.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Chase Elliott 8 times for 96 laps; William Byron 1 time for 41 laps; Ross Chastain 3 times for 32 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 2 times for 27 laps; Corey LaJoie 3 times for 19 laps; Tyler Reddick 2 times for 13 laps; Erik Jones 1 time for 10 laps; Harrison Burton # 2 times for 9 laps; Austin Cindric # 1 time for 7 laps; Denny Hamlin 1 time for 2 laps; Ryan Blaney 2 times for 2 laps; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 1 time for 2 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 9,48,1,12,24,18,45,11,5,20

Stage #2 Top Ten: 9,8,6,12,45,20,21,24,1,7