Cup Series: Elliott steals Kansas victory in frenzied finish

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Alejandro Alvarez / NASCAR Digital Media

Despite the battles of Hamlin and Wallace ahead, it was Chase Elliott who snuck through the carnage to win his second race of the season at Kansas Speedway.

It was his second win at the track and first since 2018.

As it unfolded

From his series-high sixth pole, Chase Briscoe led the field away in Kansas. 

After leading the first 20 laps, Briscoe eventually relinquished the lead to teammate Denny Hamlin. 

Bubba Wallace began green flag stops on Lap 34. When the field cycled through, Kyle Larson emerged as leader, but Hamlin took the lead back by Lap 43.

The first caution for cause came out on Lap 56, when Cody Ware blew a tyre and hit the wall in Turn 3. This ended his day.

Hamlin led the field on Lap 63.

He hung on to win the first stage. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott followed suit.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

2. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

3. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

4. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

5. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing) [Playoffs]

6. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

7. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

8. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

9. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

10. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

Christopher Bell initially led the way on Lap 88, but before any battles could form, a spin on the frontstretch from Ryan Preece and John Hunter Nemechek brought the caution back out.

Bell led away for a second time on Lap 95.

Green flag stops again unfolded on Lap 120. Bubba Wallace cycled into the lead for the first time of the day but quickly lost out to Hamlin.

Hamlin swept the stages. Bell and Larson followed behind.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

2. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

3. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

4. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

5. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

6. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing) [Playoffs]

7. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

8. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing) [Playoffs]

9. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

10. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

Hamlin began the final stage on Lap 173, but Chase Elliott snatched the lead with the high-line momentum.

After not leading for over 20 laps, Hamlin slid up in front of Elliott to take the lead back.

Just before the final pit cycles could begin, a spinning JJ Yeley on the frontstretch brought the caution out for the second time. 

Under the caution, dominant driver Denny Hamlin reported that his power steering had gone away. 

Nonetheless, he still restarted as leader with 51 laps to go, but before anything could happen, a big crash involving playoff contenders unfolded in the back. Going into Turn 1, a stack up saw Noah Gragson go for a spin and collect Ricky Stenhouse, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano and others.

Hamlin controlled the restart with 45 laps remaining.

With only 15 laps remaining, the caution came out for debris in Turn 4. During the subsequent pit cycle, Hamlin’s crew serviced slower than most and came out sixth. Bell took the lead.

Although Bell led the restart, it was Bubba Wallace who used the high-line momentum to begin battling for the lead. Before the battle could materialise, however, Carson Hocevar’s spin down the backstretch brought the caution back out. 

Wallace led the way in overtime, but before they could make it back, a huge crash in Turn 4 brought the caution, and subsequent red flag, out. This crash saw Zane Smith flip three times after he got pinched by John Hunter Nemechek. Also collected were Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry and Justin Haley. Everyone walked away unhurt.

Wallace led away in the second overtime attempt. He led to the white flag after shuffling Bell out of the groove, but after Hamlin and Wallace went a little too aggressive, Chase Elliott snuck by to win his second race of the season.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

2. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

3. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

4. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]

5. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing) [Playoffs]

6. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

7. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) [Playoffs]

8. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

9. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]

10. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

11. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing) [Playoffs]

12. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

13. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing)

14. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

15. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

16. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

17. No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)

18. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)

19. No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)

20. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)

21. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

22. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

23. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports)

24. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]

25. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) +1 lap

26. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing) +2 laps

27. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing) +2 laps

28. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) +2 laps

29. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) +4 laps

30. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske) +4 laps [Playoffs]

31. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports) [DNF]

32. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club) [DNF]

33. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) [DNF]

34. No. 44 - JJ Yeley (NY Racing) [DNF]

35. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports) [DNF]

36. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) [DNF]

After an insane finish in Kansas Speedway, below is the new playoff grid heading into the cut-off race in the Charlotte Roval:

Provisional Playoff Grid:

1. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]

2. No. 9 - Chase Elliott: [1 WIN; ADVANCED]

3. No. 5 - Kyle Larson: +54

4. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin: +48

5. No. 20 - Christopher Bell: +44

6. No. 24 - William Byron: +40

7. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe: +21

8. No. 22 - Joey Logano: +13

PLAYOFF CUT-LINE

9. No. 1 - Ross Chastain: -13

10. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace: -26

11. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick: -29

12. No. 2 - Austin Cindric: -48