During the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte ROVAL on Sunday, Ross Chastain worked hard to secure a spot above the playoff cutline, but a speeding penalty in Stage 3 now threatens his chances. The Ross Chastain penalty Charlotte incident could significantly alter his position in the standings.
Before the penalty, Chastain was running eighth and held a two-point advantage over Joey Logano for the final playoff advancement spot. However, Chastain was penalized with a pass-through penalty after being caught speeding on pit road, resulting in a costly setback. Earlier in the race, Chastain had also missed the turn at the exit of pit road, marking his second error during the event.
“I put it in the wrong gear,”
Chastain said on his radio, via Kelly Crandall of RACER/ESPN.
This penalty puts Chastain in a precarious position where flawless performance is necessary for him to move forward in the playoffs. Fortunately for Chastain, a break came late in the race when Logano pitted with 10 laps remaining, which caused Logano to lose his two-point lead over Chastain. Now, Chastain is again ahead, but Logano, with fresher tires, needs to gain 10 positions to reclaim the spot.
The Charlotte ROVAL finale has become a pivotal moment for both drivers as they battle to continue their playoff runs in the NASCAR Cup Series. Chastain must maintain clean execution moving forward, as any further mistakes could end his championship hopes.
This situation remains fluid as the race unfolds and the playoff implications grow increasingly intense.
Ross Chastain: "I put it in the wrong gear."
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) October 5, 2025
