While the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion is locked into the playoffs, the year has still been an up-and-down one for Ryan Blaney.

On Lap 58, the intensity was picking up as the field raced toward the end of Stage 1. Christopher Bell ended up losing control, spinning sideways.

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A handful of cars were collected including Bubba Wallace,  AJ Allmendinger and Austin Dillon, but Blaney thought he was going to be okay. However, he got clipped on his way by and took the hardest hit of anyone as the No. 12 Team Penske Ford slammed the outside wall.

He will finish 40th — last place. After being released from the infield care center, Blaney said of the incident: “I couldn’t see much. They kind of started spinning and coming down. I tried to get to the apron and by the time I got there, kind of got blocked.

“Yeah, like you (the reporter) said, the story of our year. Just getting caught up in other people’s garbage. Just when we get it going pretty good and find some momentum, we don’t seem to have things go our way.”

Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, AJ Allmendinger, Christopher Bell crash

The wreck forced the race to opening stage of the race to end under caution. And while Blaney never returned to the race, Bell did, albeit more than 70 laps down.

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A few laps later, NASCAR actually had to red-flag the race after a far bigger incident broke out on the backstretch, collecting 23 cars.

Blaney also failed to finish the races  at Phoenix, Las Vegas, Homestead, Talladega, and Charlotte. Last year, he had seven DNFs throughout the entire season and he’s nearly matched that, halfway through 2025.

Read Also:

NASCAR halts Atlanta Cup race after huge crash collects half the field

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William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – Sidelined by damage sustained in the opening lap of Stage Two.

Chaos ensued on the opening lap of Stage Two. What did you see from your perspective?

“There wasn’t really a whole lot I could see. I was kind of catching the No. 22 (Joey Logano) with a little bit of a run. All the guys at the front had pitted during the stage break and cycled to the mid-20s. We were just running a great race in the top-five. They all stacked up and at that point, I went right a little bit; the wreck was already happening and I just kind of got shoved into it.

It’s just a bummer that early in the race. I don’t really know what was going on. We were getting up to speed and everyone was throwing a lot of blocks or something, I don’t know. It was fun out there, honestly. The first stage was fun. Handling really mattered. I thought my No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet was good. I thought our team was calling a great race and we were doing everything we could do.”

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – Sidelined by damage sustained in an accident on the opening lap of Stage Two.

“It’s just unfortunate being that early in the race. I couldn’t really see what happened. All of a sudden, they were crashing and our No. 1 Wendy’s Chevrolet got caught up in it. Our Chevy was a four out of 10 to start the race, and then we got it to a seven out of 10 on the first pit stop. We were halfway to where we needed to be. We still had some work to do, but we set ourselves up well there restarting 12th and full of fuel for the start of Stage Two.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – Sidelined by damage sustained in an accident on the opening lap of Stage Two.

“The sad part for me was that our No. 99 Quaker State Chevrolet was very good. I was being patient, and I felt like we were coming through the field pretty well during Stage One. I felt like our Chevy had potential. It was the start of Stage Two and we didn’t get to race. It’s a shame. Our team did a very good job with the car and we just got caught up in the mess.”
 

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HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Home-state favorite Chase Elliott passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap and won the the crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta 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.”

Keselowski was second, followed by Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet teammate, Alex Bowman, and Tyler Reddick. Bowman helped block Keselowski following Elliott’s last-lap pass.

“The 48 and 9 just got together,” Keselowski said, referring to Bowman and Elliott. “… At they end they were able to double-team me.”

Elliott climbed into the stands to celebrate with fans after ending a 44-race winless streak.

“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.”

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.

Bracket busters

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.

Photo finish

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.

Weather woes

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 were conducted as planned.

Up next

The Cup Series moves to Chicago for the Chicago Street Race on Sunday, July 6.

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

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Chase Elliott has snapped a 44-race winless streak, surviving a chaotic NASCAR Cup race and completing a dramatic last-lap pass to win at his home track in Atlanta, Georgia. 

EchoPark Speedway produced breath-taking action from start to finish, and despite all the carnage, the only battle scar on the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was a donut on the driver’s door. He became the 12th different winner of the 2025 season on Saturday night, locking himself into the 2025 playoffs.

“What a crazy race,” said Elliott, who took the lead with a huge inside pass on the entry into Turn 1. His teammate Alex Bowman helped to ensure Brad Keselowski could never fight back with Keselowski crossing the line in second and Bowman third. 

Elliott’s immediate reaction after capturing the checkered flag: “Unbelievable… unbelievable. How about that? Are you kidding me? I’ve never in my life… This is unbelievable. Thank you guys so much. What a special car and just a huge thanks to NAPA Auto Parts and everything they do for me and to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Rhealynn Mills designed to fast NAPA Chevrolet tonight, so this was a lot of fun. This right here is something I’ll never forget. Thank you guys so much.”

Watch: Chase Elliott: ‘Unbelievable’ to win hometown race at EchoPark

Tyler Reddick finished fourth and Erik Jones fifth. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Zane Smith, Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, and Carson Hocevar filled out the remainder of the top ten.

The final stage of the race went green with 92 laps to go and the Hendrick duo of Elliott and Bowman were in control. A few laps into the run, Shane van Gisbergen went for a wild spin through the grass after contact from Ty Gibbs, but he managed to straighten it out. He did lose a few laps in the pits as the team made repairs.

This yellow put the field just outside the fuel window but most of the lead pack chose to pit anyway. However, the trio of Bowman, Elliott, and Keselowski, who were running first through third, chose to stay out.

But fuel was never really a story, as they were far from done with the wrecks. Bubba Wallace, who fought his way back onto the lead lap after an earlier incident, lost control and hit the inside wall on the backstretch. More cautions followed as Jones went for a spin, David Starr stopped on track, and Justin Haley spun with 34 laps to go.

Haley’s incident ended up being the final caution of the race and the final 30 laps produced incredible back-and-forth racing for the lead. Several different drivers took turns out front, but it was Elliott who timed it perfectly at the very end. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver now has 20 career wins in the Cup Series.

Stages 1 and 2

Photo by: Krista Jasso / Getty Images

The first two stages were non-stop action, except for when light showers caused a 20-minute delay 43 laps into the event.

Ryan Blaney crashed out of the race after Christopher Bell lost control in the middle of the pack. That forced the first stage to end under caution with Austin Cindric out front.

When the second stage went green, the defining moment of the race occurred as a massive 23-car pileup that eliminated several drivers from the race. The wreck forced a brief red flag as they dragged the damaged cars and debris off the track. Pole-sitter Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, and William Byron were just some of the names taken out of the race.

With a far smaller field, the race resumed and the intensity remained high. Riley Herbst and Todd Gilliland crashed out of the event, but this stage would at least end under green-flag conditions. Tyler Reddick claimed the Stage 2 win in a stunning photo finish, beating Elliott by 0.001s.

NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE RECAP: LIME ROCK PARK
Event: LiUNA! 150 (100 laps / 147.8 miles)
Round: 15 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Lime Rock Park
Location: Lakeville, Connecticut
Date & Time: Saturday, June 28 | 1:00 PM ET

No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett

Start: 21st
Stage 1: 23rd
Stage 2: 24th
Finish: 26th
Driver Points: 19th
Owner Points: 24th

Key Takeaway: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team fought hard all afternoon at Lime Rock, but lost all their track position after going off course at the end of the race. Mills started the 100-lap event in 21st, and battled a tight-handling truck in the opening two stages. After making wholesale changes to the setup ahead of the final stage, the J.F. Electric Chevy gained speed. Unfortunately for Mills, once he locked up the brakes and slid off in turn one, his results were shot down, finishing in 26th.

Matt Mills’ Post-Race Thoughts:

“By the end there, I felt like we made up some ground. The first two stages, we were struggling being really tight. The third stage, we actually made some adjustments that seemed to really make the truck react to it a lot better. Turn one just kept kicking my butt all weekend. I went off once in practice and three more times in the race and then back. The third time we got stuck. We couldn’t get pulled out and lost a couple of laps, and that just kind of killed our day. It was so hard to pass, but I felt like we don’t have that moment, we’re right there with the No. 44. We were running with them all day. I should have ended up the top 10, but we’ll just move onto IRP.”

About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.

About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.

No. 44 Trim-Tex Drywall Solutions Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Josh Bilicki | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers

Start: 18th
Stage 1: 21st
Stage 2: 18th
Finish: 7th
Driver Points: N/A
Owner Points: 17th

Key Takeaway: Josh Bilicki and the No. 44 team successfully parlayed a mid-range day into a top-10 finish. Bilicki qualified 18th and noted that his truck lacked front end grip in the opening two stages, but the team made big swings on adjustments to make it better. Not afraid to think outside the box, Wally Rogers called for a four-tire pit stop with five laps left in the race. Once chaos ensued on the opening lap, Bilicki maneuvered his way around the carnage to sneak away in seventh-place.

Josh Bilicki’s Post-Race Thoughts:

Interviewer: You made a nice run in the final five laps to finish seventh out here today. The key was that final caution out there for you. You guys came in, took some fresh tires. What was it like over the final five laps out there?

“Yeah, we needed that. You know, we made a lot of changes throughout the race and still were tight. We were probably a 15th-place race car. It was hard to pass, so we were running in 19th when that caution came out. We were the first ones to come in, so props to Wally (Rogers) and our guys to making that call because that saved our race. We were the first ones on fresh tires, so I kind of knew that we’d get a good restart, but I didn’t expect to go from 19th to seventh in a lap.

We definitely could have had more there at the end, but I’m not the guy to go run over people. But we were definitely fast and in the game. We were faster than the next couple trucks in front of us. I played it smart, because if I move these guys and they come back on track behind me, who’s to say they’re not going to move me back and we go from sixth to 20th? So, I just wanted to play smart; It was a good point to say for us. Again, props to these guys for making that call because I don’t think we would have gotten to seventh had not happened.”

About Trim-Tex: Trim-Tex Drywall Solutions, a world recognized manufacturer of drywall corner bead and accessories, is no stranger to the motorsports industry. Along with their CEO, Joe Koenig, Trim-Tex has been involved in the motorsports industry as a sponsor, team owner, and a competitor for nearly three decades.

About Lemons of Love: Lemons of Love is a nonprofit organization that delivers care packages to individuals undergoing cancer treatment to provide comfort and support. Each package is thoughtfully filled with items that help ease the side effects of chemotherapy and remind recipients they’re not alone. In addition to care packages, Lemons of Love offers free programs and resources to build community and spread hope.

No. 45 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould

Start: 6th
Stage 1: 6th
Stage 2: 6th
Finish: 12th
Driver Points: 5th
Owner Points: 5th

Key Takeaway: Kaden Honeycutt and the No. 45 team had impressive speed all throughout the day in Lime Rock, but were collected in a crash on the final restart. Honeycutt started sixth and finished there in both stages, earning a total of 10 extra points. The team appeared to be en route to a top-five there at the end, but were punted off the race track and had to settle back in 12th-place.

Kaden Honeycutt’s Post-Race Thoughts:

“We were pretty solid the whole day, man. We were in fifth to sixth all day and I couldn’t be more proud of my team. I’m proud of Phil, everyone at Niece Motorsports, DQS, Precision, AutoVentive, J.F. Electric, and Utilitra. I just got cleaned out on the last restart. We’re running top-five all the way going to turn one, and the end was just a typical truck road course race. You just get plowed into, and this stuff happens. Thankfully, we finished sixth in both stages and got points and finished 12th. So, it wasn’t a terrible day, but I put a lot of time and effort into this, and to not have the result like we were supposed to, it’s really frustrating. Going onto IRP, we got some weeks off for my guys to go and chill and just have a good couple weeks to themselves and come back swinging. Only three races left to keep in the Playoffs.”

About DQS Solutions & Staffing: Guided by a mission to achieve excellence and adaptability, DQS partners with clients to create custom solutions that address unique business challenges. Recognized as Michigan’s fastest-growing company and #22 in the nation on the Inc. 5000 list, DQS drives industry growth while giving back through its nonprofit, Foundation for Pops, and partnerships like the River Rouge School District.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, the team celebrates its 10th consecutive season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) where it fields the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. Since its founding in 2016, Niece Motorsports has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 200+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a trusted build shop for the Chevrolet Silverados of multiple NCTS teams as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

Cam Waters is a name not well-known in the NASCAR world as he has just three starts in the Truck Series and one in Cup. However, as a two-time Supercars championship runner-up with 18 race wins, he’s certainly no stranger to Australian racing fans.

He competes with Tickford Racing in Supercars, currently sitting fourth in the 2025 standings, but this weekend, he traded his Mustang for a ThorSport-prepared Ford F-150.

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In Waters’ two previous NASCAR Truck starts, he raced on oval tracks and faced some setbacks. But at Lime Rock, he was far more comfortable due to his road racing experience. He started 16th and ran around there for the majority of the race. But Waters did well to stay out of trouble and when chaos ensued on the final restart, he was in the right position to make it through without a scratch.

Cam Waters, ThorSport Ford

Waters was running just outside the top ten when Jordan Taylor and several others went spinning with six laps to go, but as the smoke cleared, he found himself inside the top five. Waters held on to finish fifth, putting three ThorSport trucks in the top five.

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“I had a really fast truck to be able to do that, and then everyone ran off in front of me,” said Waters in a post-race interview with MRN Radio. “I was pretty happy when they were all running off. It’s something I want to do more of, come and do more racing. To be able to come over here and race a Lime Rock was awesome.

“I was stoked to be able to do it. I did a few races over here last year and had a little bit of bad luck, so I’m happy to put that bad luck aside and jag a result.”

Next weekend, reigning Supercars champion Will Brown will run the Cup race on the streets of Chicago with Kaulig Racing while Supercars veteran Jack Perkins runs the Xfinity race with Joe Gibbs Racing. There, they will reunite with three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen, who now competes full-time in the Cup Series and will be competing in both races during the Chicago weekend.

Photos from Lime Rock Park – Race

Corey Heim leads the field

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Tyler Ankrum, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Connor Mosack, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Tanner Gray, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Grant Enfinger, CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet

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Ty Majeski, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Ty Majeski, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Brent Crews, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Ty Majeski, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Tanner Gray, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Rajah Caruth, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

General view

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Brent Crews, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

William Lambros, Reaume Brothers Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Ty Majeski, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Andres Perez de Lara, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

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Jake Garcia, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Andres Perez de Lara, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

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Rajah Caruth, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

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Matt Crafton, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Andres Perez de Lara, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Cam Waters, ThorSport Racing Ford

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Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

General view

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Layne Riggs, Front Row Motorsports Ford

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Grant Enfinger, CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet, Brent Crews, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Ty Majeski, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

General view

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

General view

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Daniel Hemric, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Cam Waters, ThorSport Racing Ford

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Connor Mosack, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Toyota

Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

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Corey Heim leads 99 of 100 laps to win inaugural NASCAR Truck race at Lime Rock

Joey Logano earns NASCAR Cup pole in a tie as Ford dominates Atlanta qualifying

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