During the closing moments of the NASCAR Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course on October 5, 2025, Alex Bowman received radio instructions to preserve his tires on the last lap. The intense event was pivotal, as it decided which four drivers among the twelve remaining playoff contenders would be eliminated from championship contention. Bowman’s final lap actions became a focus due to communications suggesting he was advised to hold back rather than aggressively challenge Ross Chastain.
In the race’s dramatic finale, Denny Hamlin overtook Ross Chastain, pushing Chastain into the playoff elimination zone at the finish. Directly behind these two, Bowman was in close pursuit and receiving notable messages from his team over the radio aimed at managing tire wear and avoiding pressure on the drivers ahead.
Team Radio Exchanges Reveal a Strategy to Conserve Tires
Bowman’s No. 88 team was heard emphasizing the importance of taking care of his equipment in the final moments. Communications included remarks such as,
“Taking care of it. Taking care of them,”
and
“Easy with it. Take care of your tires here.”
These instructions, delivered during the race’s most crucial phase, suggest the team prioritized caution over aggressive maneuvers.
As Bowman closed in on Chastain, the radio reiterated the message,
“Take care of your tires. No pressure.”
Approaching the final corner, the call was repeated:
“Still no pressure. Got one that’s spun past the start/finish all by itself.”
This cautionary tone suggested an emphasis on securing position with minimal risk.
Chevrolet Teammates Involved in a Collision at the Finish
Both Bowman and Chastain race Chevrolets but represent different teams—Bowman for Hendrick Motorsports and Chastain for Trackhouse Racing. In the final corner, Chastain drove aggressively, resulting in a crash involving Denny Hamlin and himself. Despite managing to reverse and cross the finish line, Chastain was eliminated from advancing in the playoffs due to his final standing.
Playoff Battle Context Involving Other Drivers
The competition for the final advancing spot was also fierce between drivers Joey Logano and Cole Custer. Both race for Ford, with Logano driving for Team Penske and Custer for the Haas Factory Racing team. Onboard footage revealed radio exchanges indicating a measured approach in the last laps.
Custer’s team radio included the message,
“Andy, you got your watch on?”
followed by,
“Nice and easy here, bud. Nice and easy.”
This suggested a deliberate tactic to conserve tires for a potential late-race restart. The communication came when three laps remained, highlighting strategic restraint in the race’s waning moments.
Significance of the Race and Oversight by NASCAR
The Charlotte Roval race’s conclusion highlighted the tight margins and strategic complexity faced by playoff drivers. NASCAR enforces rules against race manipulation, and official penalty reports are typically issued in the days following each event, usually midweek. The team radio excerpts have raised questions about potential orders to hold position and the impact on the playoff outcomes.
Steven Taranto, a motorsports reporter, shared visuals and commentary capturing Bowman’s radio instructions:
“Seems like Alex Bowman (apparently) also got a stand down order on the final lap once he caught Ross Chastain. ‘Easy with it. Take care of your tires here.’ ‘Take care of your tires.’”
—Steven Taranto, Motorsports Reporter
Taranto also addressed misconceptions about Custer’s cautious driving near race end, citing radio exchanges confirming tactical tire conservation:
“Andy, you got your watch on?”
“Nice and easy here, bud. Nice and easy.”
—Steven Taranto, Motorsports Reporter
This race’s dramatic finish and the revealed communications underscore the pressure teams and drivers face during playoff elimination. The strategies employed in those moments can heavily influence championship trajectories, leaving fans and analysts to scrutinize every decision and radio message from the pit box.
Seems like Alex Bowman (apparently) also got a stand down order on the final lap once he caught Ross Chastain.
"Easy with it. Take care of your tires here."
"Take care of your tires." https://t.co/i8qNDiHyET pic.twitter.com/trIE3Y6uwB— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 6, 2025
Saw some people saying Cole Custer didn't try to pass Joey Logano in the final laps at the Roval so I went back and watched his onboard. Flagged this over the radio with about three to go:
"Andy, you got your watch on?"
"Nice and easy here, bud. Nice and easy."
"We can save our… pic.twitter.com/w6SFG4DQrR— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 6, 2025
