While a gaggle of Toyotas traded the lead in the final lap of the NASCAR Kansas race on Sept. 28, Chase Elliott stole the trophy.
Elliott drove from the fifth row to the front on a two-lap dash to the finish of the Hollywood Casino 400, wedging in front of Denny Hamlin off of Turn 4 to claim the victory and entry into the next NASCAR playoff round.
Elliott restarted 8th (choosing the outside of the fifth row) on the second overtime attempt, drove up into the top five leading up to the white flag, then benefitted from Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin’s battle through turns 3 and 4.
As the two Toyota drivers (Hamlin, incidentally, co-owns Wallace’s No. 23 23XI Racing entry) got out of the preferred line, Elliott inched forward and drove under the two for the lead and the win.
Elliott would have been near the playoff cutline going into the Charlotte Roval elimination race next week had Wallace won. But he can go into the temporary road course, where he has won before, racing for playoff points to carry into the Round of 8.
The Kansas victory is Elliott’s second victory of the season.
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