Shane van Gisbergen claimed his fifth consecutive road and street course win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, while his Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs after a last-lap error on Sunday. The race underscored not only van Gisbergen’s continuing streak but also the tightening competition in the playoff rounds.
Playoff Battle Intensifies as Chastain Falls Short
Chastain ended the race in 21st place, four points behind defending series champion Joey Logano, who finished 20th following a crucial pit call with 11 laps remaining. Up until the final moments, Chastain maintained a one-point lead over Logano in the Round of 12 standings. However, he lost a position to Denny Hamlin before spinning in the last corner trying to regain ground. Prior to the race, Chastain trailed Logano by 13 points, and his missteps ultimately cost him a spot in the next round.
Top Finishers and Advancing Drivers Detailed
Kyle Larson crossed the finish line in second, trailing van Gisbergen by over 15 seconds. Christopher Bell secured third place, followed by Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell in the top five. Alongside Logano, eight drivers progressed to the Round of 8 including Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Larson, Bell, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Chase Elliott. The next playoff stage is set for October 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Challenges and Comeback Attempts During the Race
Chastain’s race was marred early by a significant mistake after the Stage 1 caution, missing a left turn when exiting the pits. This error caused him to lose 15 positions. Despite the setback, he managed a strong Stage 1 finish in fifth place, applying pressure on Logano. However, recent struggles on older tires contributed to his slide late in the race.
Van Gisbergen Nears Historic Road Course Winning Streak Record
With victories at diverse venues including Watkins Glen International, the Chicago Street Race, Sonoma, Mexico City, and now Charlotte, van Gisbergen is within one win of tying Jeff Gordon’s record of six consecutive road or street course wins set between 1999 and 2000. The New Zealand-born driver, who already holds the record for the most Cup Series wins by a driver born outside the United States, will have another chance to make history at the Circuit of the Americas race on March 1, 2026.
Other Playoff Eliminations and Race Incidents
Aside from Chastain, pole-sitter Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric were also knocked out of the playoffs after the Round of 12. Cindric finished last following collision damage caused when Carson Hocevar locked up his brakes entering the frontstretch chicane and hit the right rear of Cindric’s No. 2 Ford on Lap 33. Earlier, Cindric had spun off course after missing the chicane and colliding with Justin Haley on Lap 10.
Logano’s Tactical Pit Stop Helps Avoid Playoff Exit
For the second year in a row, Logano narrowly escaped elimination at this playoff stage. This time, his continuation was earned on the track thanks to a bold decision by crew chief Paul Wolfe, who called him to the pits on Lap 98. Although Logano briefly dropped from just above the cutline to below it, fresh tires enabled him to gain four positions late in the race, contrasting with Chastain’s declining pace on older rubber.
Stage Winners and Upcoming Race Schedule
The race’s Stage 1 winner was Shane van Gisbergen, with Ryan Blaney taking Stage 2 honors. The NASCAR Cup Series continues on Sunday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. ET at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with coverage on USA Network.
