At the Charlotte Roval on Sunday in Concord, N.C., a pivotal moment unfolded that altered Joey Logano’s playoff hopes just before the finish. Ross Chastain led Logano by one point entering the final lap of the Cup playoff elimination race, but a critical mistake in Turn 7 changed everything.
As the race neared its conclusion on the 17-turn, 2.28-mile course, Denny Hamlin slipped underneath Chastain in the hairpin corner and overtook him. Chastain admitted,
(Hamlin) wasn’t even close to me and I downshifted unnecessarily into first (gear) to make sure I turned the corner and I slipped the rear (tires) and let him drive right by me,
illustrating a miscalculation that cost him valuable ground.
This pass resulted in Chastain and Logano being tied for the final spot to advance, with Logano holding the tiebreaker due to previous performance.
Final Lap Collision and Repercussions on the Track
To retain his playoff chance, Chastain had to pass Hamlin. Approaching the frontstretch chicane at turns 16 and 17, Chastain attempted an aggressive maneuver that caused both cars to spin moments before the finish line.
Team Penske spotter Coleman Pressley warned Logano on the radio,
He’s wrecking, he’s wrecking, he’s wrecking,
and later added,
He’s middle of the track. He’s middle of the track. Stay on track. Stay low. Stay low. Stay low. Throttle up. Throttle up. Throttle up.
In the chaos, Alex Bowman passed both spinning cars while Chastain tried to reverse across the finish line in desperation. However, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. overtook him, and Logano reached the line first. After crossing safely, Logano’s spotter congratulated him with, “All right, good job,” to which Logano replied, “Holy (expletive),” followed by
Way to make it through boys.
Chastain’s playoff run ended abruptly with that final lap incident, forcing him to park his car on pit road and sit inside, absorbing the moment before receiving words from car owner Justin Marks. Chastain recalled, “He thanked me,” and himself responding,
I said, ‘Don’t thank me now. I need a minute.’
Mistakes Portrait a Difficult Night for Chastain
Chastain reflected somberly on his mistakes throughout the race that contributed to his elimination. Beyond the final lap error, he struggled with two separate pit road incidents.
After finishing fifth in the first stage, Chastain pitted at the stage break but mishandled the exit by swinging wide in the left turn, forcing him to stop and avoid a wall, resulting in a loss of many positions down to 30th place. Though he recovered to finish fourth in stage two, his woes continued with a speeding penalty on Lap 87 that dropped him from eighth to 24th place.
He owned his responsibility for the elimination, admitting,
I single-handedly took a car out of the round of 8,
and expressed regret for the final lap collision with Hamlin, apologizing, “I’m sorry to Denny,” and adding,
I’m sorry to JGR and his whole team. They were definitely innocent bystanders.
Hamlin’s Perspective Reflects Frustration and Lack of Clarity
Denny Hamlin’s post-race comments focused on his own team’s communication failures rather than blaming Chastain for the crash. He explained,
Truthfully, I wish I would have just known what the last-lap scenario was and then I make the best decision I can for me,
acknowledging that no one informed him of the situation.
Hamlin added,
No one told me anything. I absolutely had no idea. Truthfully, I didn’t know if I was racing for 25th or 10th. I had no idea of my position. … I didn’t know (Chastain) was desperate. I wish I would have.
When asked about whether it would have been wiser not to pass Chastain, potentially allowing Chastain to advance instead of Logano due to the history of Team Penske championships, Hamlin stated,
I would have made the best decision for me.
Joey Logano Seizes Opportunity Amid Late-Race Drama
For Logano, the chaotic finish marked a stark contrast to his experience at last year’s Charlotte Motor Speedway race. Then, Logano had been eliminated but was reinstated after Alex Bowman’s car failed inspection, opening the door for Logano’s eventual third title.
This time, the post-race disqualification involved Riley Herbst’s car for being underweight and did not affect the playoff results. Logano now shifts his focus toward aiming for a fourth Cup championship, underscoring his confidence and resilience.
Reflecting on his team’s approach, Logano emphasized,
It’s the way we operate. We just keep going and going and trying to stay alive.
He described his group as, “a dangerous team,” made up of “a bunch of scrappers” who grind continuously, showing their determination throughout the season.
