The Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) camp has been rocked by a dismal performance this season, particularly since the Memorial Day weekend race. In the last five outings, three out of their four drivers are averaging a finish outside the top 10, with Chase Elliott being the only one holding the fort.<\/p>\n
While HMS continues to remain a title favorite for 2025, Elliott has suddenly become their hottest property on the grid, surpassing the likes of William Byron, who has led 383 laps in the last five races. Heading into Atlanta, the No. 17 driver could further cement his place as the team\u2019s lead driver in 2025, given the momentum he\u2019s bringing.<\/p>\n
Chase Elliott Eyes Top Prize With NASCAR Stopping by His Home Ground<\/p>\n
Over the last two weekends, Elliott has been HMS\u2019s most dependable driver, notching back-to-back top-five finishes. Moreover, he achieved the feat at two very different tracks, adding to his increasing value within the team\u2019s setup.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old finished third at the first-ever points-paying Cup Series race in Mexico City and followed it up with a fifth-place finish in Pocono last weekend. Although he hasn\u2019t won a race this season, the 2020 Cup Series champion notched his first back-to-back top-five finishes in 2025, highlighting just how good he has been lately.<\/p>\n
Elliott\u2019s ability to not let races spring out of his control is further highlighted by the fact that he has finished inside the top 15 in all but one race this season.<\/p>\n
\n#NASCAR<\/a> News: @ChaseElliott<\/a> and the No. 9 @TeamHendrick<\/a> team head into a race at the driver\u2019s home track on their first multi-race top-5 finish streak of 2025. Are the planets aligning for a big breakthrough for Elliott this weekend? https:\/\/t.co\/XWKW6wVExw<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 TobyChristie.com (@TobyChristieCom) June 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
And now that NASCAR<\/a> is visiting Atlanta for what will be the 29-year-old\u2019s home race, Elliott will look\u00a0to secure his first win of the season and also guarantee himself a playoff berth. And he has found success in Atlanta in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince EchoPark Speedway was reconfigured into a superspeedway-style drafting track in 2022, you\u2019ll notice Elliott has been very effective at the facility. Not only does Elliott have a win on the new Atlanta, which he achieved in Summer 2022, but he has no finishes outside of the top-20,\u201d reported NASCAR journalist Toby Christie<\/a>.<\/p>\n
To make matters even more interesting, the Quaker State 400 will also mark the start of the in-season tournament with a million-dollar prize. That makes every step, from the qualifying to the stages, even more intense.<\/p>\n