Elliott is in position to contend for 2nd NASCAR title following 'surreal' last-lap win in Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Chase Elliott couldn't have picked a better setting for a drought-breaking win.

Fans roared in approval after Elliott, the home-state favorite, passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap to end a 44-race drought by winning the NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta on Saturday night.

Elliott's 20th career victory pushed him to second place in the Cup Series points race, putting him in prime position to return to the top of the NASCAR world after winning his first championship in 2020.

Elliott earned a spot in the NASCAR playoffs with his first victory since April 2024 at Texas. He said he'll always remember the win as a career highlight, in part because of the ovation from fans who chanted “Chase! Chase! Chase!”

Elliott, a Dawsonville, Georgia, native, climbed into the stands at EchoPark Speedway, formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway, to celebrate with the fans.

“It was, truthfully, a pretty surreal moment,” Elliott said. “Something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. ... Saturday night under the lights, been a while since we won, just getting ourselves a win and advancing up on the playoff thing."

It was his first Atlanta win since 2022.

Elliott has 594 points, 37 behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who has 631. A third Hendrick Motorsports driver, Kyle Larson, is third.

Another Hendrick driver, Alex Bowman, played a key role in Elliott's comeback win. Bowman, who finished third, gave Elliott a push and then helped block Keselowski on the final lap.

“I’m happy for the 9 team,” Bowman said. “It’s a big win for him in his hometown. ... I’m glad to have a Hendrick car in victory lane. I wish it was us.”

Elliott said he'll try to repay the favor by helping Bowman join the other three Hendrick drivers in the playoffs.

“I recognize that he gave me a great shove," Elliott said. "I recognize that he took his run on Brad, too, to try to get himself to second, which ultimately helped me as well.

“Yeah, those are all things that I remember.”

Elliott advanced to the second round of NASCAR’s new In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament. With the field cut from 32 to 16 drivers, Elliott will be paired against John Hunter Nemechek when the Cup Series moves to the Chicago Street Race next Sunday.

A $1 million prize awaits the winner, and Elliott’s odds improved after Atlanta wrecks knocked out the top two seeds, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe.

Elliott wouldn’t be the first family member to win a $1 million bonus. In 1985 his father, Bill Elliott, became the first winner of the Winston Million as a reward for claiming wins in three of the circuit’s top four races at the time. The bonus earned the elder Elliott the nickname “Million Dollar Bill.”

Now the younger Elliott is a strong contender to become first in line for another $1 million prize.

“It’d be a really cool thing to win for sure and hope it works out that way," Chase Elliott said.

Elliott's victory drought came after he needed surgery to repair a broken tibia in his left leg suffered in a snowboarding accident and missed six races in 2023. He said the support of longtime crew chief Alan Gustafson was “in large part” responsible for helping him retain his confidence and reclaim his winning form.

Gustafson said the win was more important for the 2025 playoff race than for ending the victory drought.

“The points were getting tight for the playoffs, for sure,” Gustafson said. “I think that’s probably the biggest thing. I think all the cars contending to win, I don’t think any of them had won. I think that’s probably the biggest thing we needed was that cushion.”

Saturday night's win was Elliott's third consecutive top-five finish.

“When you’re fortunate enough to climb the mountain and be able to stand at the top of the mountain with someone, that’s an incredible achievement, right?” Elliott said. “That’s something that (Gustafson) and I will always cherish and remember that we did that together.

“For me it’s really, really important to climb that mountain with the same people that we did the first time and know that we never quit on each other. That’s just a really important piece of the puzzle for me.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Driver Chase Elliott (9) celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Driver Chase Elliott signs autographs for fans before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Crew members for driver Chase Elliott (9) celebrate after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Driver Chase Elliott celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Driver Chase Elliott (9) celebrates with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings placed left tackle Christian Darrisaw on injured reserve on Friday, ending his season early to reset his uneven recovery from reconstructive knee surgery.

With the Vikings (6-8) eliminated from contention for the playoffs, the collaborative decision was made by the medical staff, the coaching staff and Darrisaw to shut the fifth-year player down, according to coach Kevin O'Connell.

“We thought this was the best decision for Christian in the short term, but at the same time, I think a lot of this can be a projection on a really positive outlook for 2026,” O'Connell said.

Darrisaw, the team's first-round draft pick in 2021, signed a contract extension through 2029 valued at $104 million with $77 million in guaranteed money prior to the 2024 season when he had two years remaining on his rookie deal. Darrisaw tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in a Week 8 game last season, and he progressed well enough through the rehabilitation program to join the team for training camp and avoid the physically unable to perform list.

After being held out of the first two games, Darrisaw returned to the lineup, but he didn't finish five of the 10 games he started. He removed himself twice with discomfort and three times was pulled early by the team to manage his workload, and he had at least one day off from practice each week for additional rest for his knee.

O'Connell said there has been no new injury or setback with Darrisaw's existing recovery, only the challenge of him continuing to manage the normally difficult first year back from surgery. Darrisaw was inactive for two of the last three games.

“We’re just trying to defer to the medical staff and, most importantly, making sure Christian’s in a good place and everything," O'Connell said. "It has been just a really unique year for him and one that I think he’ll be able to really grow from.”

Darrisaw was the third starter shut down early this week by the Vikings, joining edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and safety Josh Metellus. Greenard and Metellus each need shoulder surgery.

The Vikings also ruled defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (thigh) out of their game on Sunday against the New York Giants. Right tackle Brian O'Neill (heel) was listed as questionable.

Justin Skule will start in Darrisaw's place. Blake Brandel, who has played left tackle, left guard and center this season, would fill in for O'Neill at right tackle if he can't play.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) guards during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Nov. 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez, File)