The NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway took a dramatic turn when Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Corey LaJoie were caught up in a multi-car crash that sent shockwaves through the field. The incident occurred in the closing laps of the high-speed, pack-style race, where drivers were battling three-wide for position in the tight confines of the 1.54-mile superspeedway-style oval.
How the Wreck Unfolded
With just under 20 laps to go, the intensity ramped up as drivers jockeyed for position inside the top 10. Elliott, running in the middle lane, had Keselowski to his inside and LaJoie making a move on the outside. As the field thundered into Turn 3, minor contact appeared to trigger a chain reaction.
Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford seemed to get loose after slight contact from behind, drifting up the track and into Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet. The impact turned Elliott sideways, sending him up into LaJoie’s No. 7 car. The three cars spun toward the outside wall, collecting more innocent bystanders in the chaos.
The crash brought out a caution flag, bunching up the field and setting up a dramatic sprint to the finish.
Drivers React to the Incident
Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver and a Georgia native, was visibly frustrated after climbing out of his damaged Chevrolet.
“Just hard racing at the end,” Elliott said. “We were all fighting for position, and when you race this close at these speeds, things happen fast. Unfortunate for us, but we’ll move on and be ready for next week.”
Brad Keselowski, who had been running inside the top five before the crash, had a similar take.
“I thought we had a shot at the win, but it got tight there,” Keselowski said. “I got a little loose, and once that happens in the pack, there’s not much you can do.”
Corey LaJoie, always a threat at superspeedway-style tracks, was disappointed after getting caught up in someone else’s mess.
“Man, I hate that,” LaJoie said. “We had a fast car today. Not much I could do once I saw the 9 and 6 coming up the track. Just bad luck.”
The Aftermath
While all three drivers were evaluated and released without injury, the crash reshaped the race’s outcome. Christopher Bell ultimately secured the victory, while Elliott, Keselowski, and LaJoie were left wondering what could have been.
As the season continues, these three drivers will be looking to rebound, but in the unpredictable world of NASCAR, one thing is certain—this won’t be the last time a big crash shakes up the finishing order.
