Chase Elliott steals Kansas Playoff race in epic finish with Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin

What a finish! Kansas has delivered once again for NASCAR fans, and this time it is Chase Elliott prevailing over the field. Before overtime, Elliott had put on four fresh tires when the other playoff drivers put on two. In the second overtime, the 9 car had the grip to get it done.

Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin got tight into each other. It looked like it was going to go to a Toyota driver. Hamlin had fought off power steering issues. Wallace fought a car that dropped almost outside the top-20 in the first stage. Chase Elliott put a stop to all that.

This is what the NASCAR Playoffs are all about. That finish now advances Elliott, puts Wallace under the cutline, and keeps Hamlin in uncertain territory when it comes to points.

Have a day, @chaseelliott! 👏 pic.twitter.com/7jYmTQrpXc

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 28, 2025

This was a massive win for Chase Elliott. He had not been doing great in the NASCAR Playoffs up to this point. Last week was the first time we really saw this team turn the corner. Looking at how this race played out, it really came down to the final pit stop and the call to take four tires over two tires.

Bubba Wallace didn’t need that final restart. He was going to be close with Christopher Bell if the first overtime had played out. But the second overtime was too much.

Bell and Wallace touched. That gave Hamlin the momentum he needed, and then the rest of the front pack followed. Chase Elliott was where he needed to be right when he needed to be there and took advantage coming out of Turn 4.

Chase Elliott steals a win from Toyota at Kansas

Denny Hamlin led 159 laps today, Christopher Bell led 43. Then, there was Chase Elliott with only 24 laps led on the day, but it didn’t matter. He led the only lap that mattered, the last one. For Hamlin, the question is, will this be the one that got away? Is this the moment he missed out on and ultimately boots him from the NASCAR Playoffs?

Now, it isn’t all doom and gloom for Hamlin. Elliott took this win from him and Wallace. But Hamlin has a points cushion going into next week. If he keeps his head on his shoulders, his 35 points up on the cutline should be enough to get the job done.

Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Ross Chastain are all more or less in must-win territory. Bubba Wallace is right there too, but his points situation is a little better overall. The Roval is going to be a dogfight.

Chase Elliott has let races get away from him in the last few years. He has been a nonfactor when he otherwise should be contending for the lead. Today, he ran a great race, and crew chief Alan Gustafson made the right call at the end. Four tires made the difference late, and now, the 9 team is on to the Round of 8.