Home-state favorite Chase Elliott passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap and won the crash-filled Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia on Saturday night for his 20th career victory.

Elliott, the popular driver from Dawsonville, Georgia, earned a spot in the NASCAR playoffs with his first victory since April 2024 at Texas. It was his first win in Atlanta since 2022.

“I’ve never in my whole life, this is unbelievable,” Elliott said. “This is something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

The race’s second crash early in Stage 2 took out many of the sport’s biggest names and left others with damaged cars. Pole-winner Joey Logano, who led the first 36 laps before light rain forced the first caution, was among the many drivers caught up in the big crash.

Among others knocked out of the race: William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie and Daniel Suarez.

“It wrecked the whole field,” Logano said. “I still don’t know exactly how it started ... but it was total chaos. Cars were sideways and on the brakes. I got hit from every corner possible.”

Added Denny Hamlin, who suffered damage to his Toyota in the crash: “Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed.”

The Atlanta race at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, was the debut of the 32-driver in-season challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament.

The parade of highly regarded drivers to be knocked out so early in the race showed the perils of trying to pick NASCAR winners on a March Madness-style bracket sheet. The top two seeds were among the early casualties.

Hamlin, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, finished 31st and lost to Ty Dillon, who finished eighth.

Chase Briscoe, who held off Hamlin for his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing last week at Pocono Raceway, was the No. 2 seed before being knocked out in a crash and losing to Noah Gragson in the tournament.

A $1 million prize awaits the winner as part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT.

Elliott and Keselowski were on the front row when a caution with 33 laps to go forced a decision on whether to pit for fresh tires. Both stayed on the track and Elliott faded following the restart until making his decisive charge at the very end.

Ryan Blaney, the race favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, was knocked out on a wreck late in the first stage. Christopher Bell hit the wall, triggering the crash that ended the stage with Cindric in the lead.

Cindric was involved in the bigger crash early in Stage 2. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace were among others involved in the crash.

Tyler Reddick beat Elliott to the finish line by .001 seconds to win Stage 2 in a battle between drivers looking for both their first stage win and overall win of the season.

Lightning and rain delayed qualifying Friday and the Xfinity race won by Nick Sanchez late Friday night. More lightning and rain threatened Saturday night’s race. Fans were encouraged to leave the stands about 90 minutes before the race due to severe weather in the area but were allowed to return as pre-race was conducted as planned.

FORMULA 1

Lando Norris said he felt back to his old self after taking pole position by more than half a second in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Norris is seeking a strong result in Austria after colliding with his McLaren teammate and Formula 1 title rival Oscar Piastri at the last race in Canada. Norris crashed out and immediately apologized, while Piastri extended his standings lead.

Piastri rued his bad luck in third place on Saturday after a yellow flag meant he had to abandon his final lap.

Norris set the pace throughout the final part of qualifying and his final lap increased his advantage over second-placed Charles Leclerc of Ferrari to 0.521 of a second.

“Nice to see the old me back every now and then,” Norris quipped to his team over the radio.

It’s the third pole position of the season for Norris and the first since last month’s Monaco GP, which he also won. Norris has been less consistent than Piastri in qualifying this season, even when he’s later shown he can match the Australian’s pace in the race.

“Some of my tougher moments have been the qualis, so to put in a lap like today, to have the performance throughout this weekend like I had, was pleasing for myself,” Norris said.

Norris ended a streak of five pole positions at the Red Bull Ring for defending champion Max Verstappen, going back to the 2021 Styrian GP.

Piastri was .062 further back in third and said he had to abandon his final run of qualifying when Pierre Gasly’s Alpine spun in front of him, causing a yellow flag which meant drivers behind had to slow down.

Lewis Hamilton was fourth as Ferrari had one of its best qualifying performances of the season and Verstappen seventh for Red Bull after his final lap was also spoiled by the yellow flag.

nascar TRUCKs

Corey Heim led 99 of 100 laps on the 1.478-mile road course to win the LiUNA!150 in Lakeville, Connecticut. It was the first time the NASCAR Crafstman Truck Series competed at Lime Rock Park.

The only lap Heim did not lead came on a restart with five laps remaining. It was his fifth victory this season and the 16th of his career.