Joey Logano‘s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, openly criticized Denny Hamlin following the Bank of America 400 ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 5, 2025, for what Wolfe described as intentional interference affecting Logano’s chances in the playoffs. The controversy centers around allegations of race manipulation during a crucial battle to reach the Round of Eight in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
During the 109-lap event, Logano and Ross Chastain were closely matched in stage two, each vying for a playoff spot. Wolfe called Logano into the pits for fresh tires, while Chastain stayed on older tires under the guidance of his crew chief, Phil Sugen. On the final lap, Chastain attempted a high-risk “Hail Melon”-style move that backfired, causing him to spin and involving Denny Hamlin in the crash. This sequence allowed Logano’s #22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to finish 20th, just ahead of Chastain, securing his advancement to the next playoff round.
After the race, Hamlin stated he was unaware of the stakes involved and said,
“I would not have passed him [Ross Chastain].”
“I would not have passed him [Ross Chastin].”
— Denny Hamlin
Paul Wolfe strongly disputed Hamlin’s explanation, raising concerns about race manipulation. He questioned the fairness of letting lapped drivers slow the race’s pace and avoid overtaking when others behind them were clocking significantly faster laps. Wolfe said,
“I think when you look at some of those situations, though–talking about not passing somebody–at what point, when all those guys behind them were catching them over a second faster per lap, are we going to start manipulating races?”
“It’s one thing if you guys are close and don’t really push the issue to get by someone, but in my eyes, when you’re a second or more faster, I don’t think we’re at that point where we’re supposed to pull over and not pass somebody,” he added.
— Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief for Joey Logano
The result allowed Logano to advance to the Round of Eight, standing eighth in the playoff points with 24 points below the cutoff line. Meanwhile, Chastain fell just short after the controversial finish.
Insights into Joey Logano’s Aspirations Regarding Dover Motor Speedway
Earlier in the 2025 season, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano spoke candidly with SpeedFreaks before the Dover Motor Speedway event about his quest to clinch a win at the track. Despite 29 starts there, Logano had never finished first at Dover. The race that year saw him qualify eighth and finish in 14th place, while Denny Hamlin took the victory along with the coveted Monster trophy.
“As far as coolness of trophies, yeah, it’s up there pretty high. It’s pretty cool; you put the die-cast card, and it looks cool. I got four of the little ones from the Xfinity races, but I’d trade every one of those for a Cup win; Cup wins obviously mean a lot more.”
— Joey Logano
Logano, a native of Middletown, currently holds the eighth position in the Cup Series points standings with 4,008 points. This season, he has earned one victory at Texas Motor Speedway, along with 10 top-ten finishes, six top fives, and two pole positions across 32 starts.
Details of the Charlotte ROVAL Playoff Battle and Its Implications
The Bank of America 400 ROVAL, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, is one of the key races influencing the makeup of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The clash between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain in stage two was critical in determining which driver would advance in the postseason. Strategic pit calls and tire management played significant roles in how the final laps unfolded.
While Logano benefited from a timely pit stop, Chastain risked track position with older tires under Phil Sugen’s decision. The ensuing high-stakes duel ended abruptly when Chastain’s spin entangled Denny Hamlin and altered the playoff landscape. The outcome reinforced the intensity and pressure drivers and teams face in the elimination stages of the NASCAR playoffs.
Potential Consequences and What Lies Ahead for the Playoff Contenders
The dispute sparked by Paul Wolfe’s remarks highlights a growing tension about the boundaries of race conduct during playoff events, especially when drivers are in direct competition for advancement. The notion of manipulating race outcomes, whether by deliberate blocking or passive avoidance, brings into question the integrity of competition under high-stakes circumstances.
For Joey Logano, maintaining his playoff position will require continued focus amid this contentious atmosphere. Denny Hamlin’s involvement in the incident and subsequent comments suggest further scrutiny by NASCAR officials and the racing community might follow as the playoffs progress. How NASCAR navigates these competitive dynamics could reshape driver strategies and the sport’s regulatory approaches in the near future.
Paul Wolfe on the decision to pit, surprise that Phil Surgen didn't cover them, and then not liking the implications that Denny would even consider letting Ross advance over them, citing 'manipulation' pic.twitter.com/6cryp3jle9
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 5, 2025
