GFT AI NASCAR Driver Rankings Update: Chase Elliott Wins Atlanta, Byron Retains P1 Ranking

1 July 2025
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News

HAMPTON, GA — In a wild and crash-plagued Atlanta “mini” superspeedway race, Chase Elliott becomes the 3rd Hendrick Motorsports driver to lock into the playoffs with his win in the №9 Chevrolet on Saturday Night at the EchoPark Speedway. Teammate Alex Bowman (№48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) provided a last-lap push to help Elliott clear the №6 of Brad Keselowski for the win, with Bowman holding on for 3rd.

Chase Elliott takes the checkered flag for the EchoPark win after passing Brad Keselowski on the final lap. (Image Credit: Sean Gardner | Getty Images)

UPDATED GFT AI NASCAR Driver Rankings

GFT AI NASCAR Driver Rankings after the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta (Image Credit: GFT Digital)

With the win, Chase Elliott locks into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and his P6 ranking. Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron holds onto the P1 ranking despite his 37th-place finish. Brad Keselowski jumps 6 spots to P20 with his 2nd place finish.

Chase Elliott flies the checkered flag to celebrate his 20th career Cup Series win. (Image Credit: Sean Gardner | Getty Images)

RACE SUMMARY

Elliott’s Atlanta Triumph: A Win for the Home Track fans, and now locked into the Playoff Race

Under the lights at EchoPark Speedway, the 2025 Quaker State 400 delivered a rare victory for Atlanta’s hometown driver, Chase Elliott. With the Cup Series playoffs approaching, every moment of this June 28 race carried immense stakes. The race erupted with action, notably a massive 19-car crash in Stage 2 sparked by contact between John Hunter Nemechek and Denny Hamlin. This chaotic pileup swept up playoff contenders like points leader William Byron and Pole Sitter Joey Logano, reshaping the field.

Chase Elliott climbs out of his car in Victory Lane at EchoPark. (Iamge Credit: Krista Jasso | Getty Images)

Amid the turmoil, Elliott showcased his skill, culminating in a breathtaking last-lap pass on Brad Keselowski entering Turn 1 with help from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman in the Ally №48. Holding off the field, Elliott secured his first win of the season.

This victory was deeply personal for Elliott. It ended a 44-race winless streak since his 2024 Texas Motor Speedway win, a drought broken in front of his Georgia faithful. Adding emotional depth, his №9 Chevrolet featured a design by 11-year-old Rhealynn Mills, a pediatric cancer patient, through the DESI9N TO DRIVE program. “This one’s for Rhealynn,” Elliott said in victory lane, his words resonating with the roaring Atlanta crowd.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott (№9) and Alex Bowman (№48) battle for the lead at EchoPark. (Image Credit: Krista Jasso | Getty Images)

The win’s playoff implications are seismic. Elliott’s triumph locks him into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, granting him valuable playoff points critical for the championship rounds. With eight races left in the regular season, he’s also narrowed the gap to Byron in the points standings, igniting a fierce battle for the regular-season title and its bonus points.

Beyond Elliott’s celebration, teammate Alex Bowman’s third-place finish underscored Hendrick Motorsports’ dominance, while the crash left others scrambling. This race, also the kickoff to NASCAR’s new In-Season Challenge, added extra layers of intrigue.

Next Race:

Sunday, July 6 2:00 PM ET
Grant Park 165 — Chicago Street Race
Chicago, Illinois- 75 laps / 165 miles