{"id":54841,"date":"2025-09-28T19:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T00:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=54841"},"modified":"2025-09-28T22:34:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T03:34:26","slug":"opportunistic-chase-elliott-steals-a-nascar-cup-playoff-win-at-kansas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/28\/opportunistic-chase-elliott-steals-a-nascar-cup-playoff-win-at-kansas\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunistic Chase Elliott steals a NASCAR Cup Playoff win at Kansas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

KANSAS CITY, Kan. \u2014 In the last few feet of race track in the second overtime Sunday afternoon, Chase Elliott came from oblivion to steal the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET and earn a berth in the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

As his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet sped wide open through the final corner on Lap 273 at Kansas Speedway, Elliott\u2019s car bounced off the side of Denny Hamlin\u2019s Toyota on the way to the finish line.<\/p>\n

Elliott, who restarted eighth for the final two-lap shootout, got to the stripe 0.069 seconds ahead of Hamlin, who led 159 laps and drove the final stretch of the second Round of 12 Playoff race without benefit of power steering.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything worked out perfect for me,\u201d said Elliott, who picked up his second win of the season, his second at Kansas and the 21st of his career. \u201cHad a great push through (Turns) 1 and 2. That kind of all started with the 6 (Brad Keselowski). Big run off of 2. Seas kind of parted and just was able to keep my momentum up. That was really it\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI wasn’t going to lift, so I didn’t know what was going to happen. I figured at the end of the day, it was what it was at that point. We were both wide open corner exit. Wherever I ended up, I ended up. At that point, we were all committed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamlin was spent after man-handling his car around the 1.5-mile track in the closing laps of the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust super disappointing,\u201d said Hamlin, who swept the first and second stages. \u201cI wanted it bad. It would have been 60 (career victories) for me. The team just did an amazing job with the car, just really, really fast.<\/p>\n

\u201cGave me everything I needed. Got the restart I needed. Just couldn’t finish it there on the last corner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The good news for Hamlin is that he increased his margin over the current Playoff cut line to 48 points entering next Sunday\u2019s Round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. Barring disaster, Hamlin is all but assured of advancing to the Round of 8.<\/p>\n

Christopher Bell finished third, followed by pole winner Chase Briscoe and Bubba Wallace, who led the field to green for the final overtime restart but faded to fifth after battling side-by-side with Hamlin on the final lap.<\/p>\n

Wallace was leading as he approached the white flag in the first overtime, but a violent four-car collision in Turn 3 on Lap 267 necessitated a caution that slowed the field before Wallace could reach the flag stand.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cTwo years ago, I’d probably say something dumb,\u201d said Wallace, who drives for the 23XI Racing team Hamlin co-owns with NBA legend Michael Jordan. \u201cHe’s a dumbass for that move (on the final lap). I don’t care if he’s my boss or not. But we’re going for the win. I hate that we gave it to Chevrolet there.<\/p>\n

\u201cToyotas were super-fast, and proud to be driving one. I thought it was meant to be, and then it wasn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the fifth-place finish, Wallace leaves Kansas 10th in the standings, 26 points below the elimination line for the next round.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

He was tantalizingly close to his second win of the season before John Hunter Nemechek knocked the Ford of Zane Smith into the outside wall in Turn 3 in the first overtime.<\/p>\n

The impact from Nemechek\u2019s Toyota turned Smith\u2019s Ford sideways against the outside wall, with Smith\u2019s car sliding on the driver\u2019s side through the corner before barrel-rolling down the banking and coming to rest upright on four wheels.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a wild ride, no doubt,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBefore I knew it, I had a decent restart going and I just get wrecked by the 42 (Nemechek). He just drives through me and then I was sliding on the wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just mad at that point from how our day was going, and this just pissed me off even more, because that\u2019s what really hurt was just flipping down the track. It was violent, no doubt, but we had such a fast Speedy Cash Ford today. It\u2019s just a bummer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 28, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Playoff driver Austin Cindric was collected in an 11-car wreck in Turn 1 on Lap 217 and heads to the Charlotte Roval 48 points below the elimination line and almost certainly needing a victory to advance.<\/p>\n

Playoff drivers Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick ran sixth and seventh on Sunday but head to Charlotte in very different positions. Larson is 54 points ahead of ninth-place Ross Chastain, while Reddick is 11th in the standings, 29 points below the cut line.<\/p>\n

Keselowski finished eighth at Kansas, followed by Playoff driver William Byron, who fought and ill-handling car until his No. 24 Chevrolet came to life in the final run.<\/p>\n

Despite a pass-through penalty on the first lap for an inspection failure, New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen followed Byron, posting his first career top-10 finish on a NASCAR oval.<\/p>\n

Interviews: <\/p>\n

NCS Race Winner – Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NCS Winning Team – Jeff Gordon (Vice Chairman, Hendrick Motorsports) & Alan Gustafson (Crew Chief, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) –  <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/NCSKSC2JeffGordonAlanGustafson92825.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET<\/b><\/p>\n

Kansas Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Kansas City, Kansas<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, September 28, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (4)  Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                2. (2)  Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                3. (5)  Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                4. (1)  Chase Briscoe (P), Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                5. (7)  Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                6. (3)  Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                7. (12)  Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                8. (31)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                9. (11)  William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                10. (24)  Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                11. (9)  Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                12. (23)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                13. (33)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                14. (21)  Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                15. (15)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                16. (10)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                17. (30)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                18. (22)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                19. (29)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 273.<\/p>\n

                20. (27)  Cole Custer, Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                21. (35)  Joey Logano (P), Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                22. (32)  Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 273.<\/p>\n

                23. (14)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                24. (37)  Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 273.<\/p>\n

                25. (8)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 272.<\/p>\n

                26. (19)  Ryan Preece, Ford, 271.<\/p>\n

                27. (16)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 271.<\/p>\n

                28. (17)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 271.<\/p>\n

                29. (6)  Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 269.<\/p>\n

                30. (26)  Austin Cindric (P), Ford, 269.<\/p>\n

                31. (28)  Zane Smith, Ford, Accident, 266.<\/p>\n

                32. (25)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, Accident, 266.<\/p>\n

                33. (13)  Josh Berry, Ford, Accident, 266.<\/p>\n

                34. (36)  JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, 261.<\/p>\n

                35. (18)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 236.<\/p>\n

                36. (20)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 216.<\/p>\n

                37. (34)  Cody Ware, Ford, Accident, 52.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  123.106 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 19 Mins, 35 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .069 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  9 for 48 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  20 among 11 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Briscoe (P) 1-19;D. Hamlin (P) 20-37;J. Berry 38;R. Blaney (P) 39;B. Keselowski 40-44;D. Hamlin (P) 45-83;C. Bell (P) 84-86;K. Larson (P) 87;C. Bell (P) 88-122;J. Nemechek 123;D. Suarez 124-129;D. Hamlin (P) 130-172;C. Elliott (P) 173-195;D. Hamlin (P) 196-221;C. Bell (P) 222;D. Hamlin (P) 223-255;C. Bell (P) 256-258;*. Wallace (P) 259-265;C. Bell (P) 266;*. Wallace (P) 267-272;C. Elliott (P) 273.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Denny Hamlin (P) 5 times for 159 laps; Christopher Bell (P) 5 times for 43 laps; Chase Elliott (P) 2 times for 24 laps; Chase Briscoe (P) 1 time for 19 laps; * Bubba Wallace (P) 2 times for 13 laps; Daniel Suarez 1 time for 6 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 5 laps; John Hunter Nemechek 1 time for 1 lap; Kyle Larson (P) 1 time for 1 lap; Josh Berry 1 time for 1 lap; Ryan Blaney (P) 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,5,9,20,1,19,22,17,38,77<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,20,5,9,19,23,22,1,12,48<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service KANSAS CITY, Kan. \u2014 In the last few feet of race track in the second overtime Sunday afternoon, Chase Elliott came from oblivion to steal the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET and earn a berth in the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":54828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[500,213,16],"class_list":["post-54841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-chase-elliott","tag-kansas-speedway","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2237950001-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-egx","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54841"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54849,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54841\/revisions\/54849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}