Bubba Wallace’s spotter defends Joey Logano in Coca-Cola 600 controversy after claims surfaced that Logano cost William Byron the victory during a tense final showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The debate centered on Logano’s defensive driving while being lapped in the closing moments, but multiple industry voices say he was simply racing to stay competitive under NASCAR’s demanding rules.
Joey Logano’s maneuvers in the last laps drew attention as William Byron, who led 283 out of 400 laps, lost his lead to Ross Chastain just six circuits from the finish. Despite dominating most of the night, Byron found himself vulnerable to Chastain’s pass after Logano’s actions hindered his rhythm. Analysts Larry McReynolds and Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s spotter, both concluded Logano had done nothing that violated the spirit or rules of hard racing.
Freddie Kraft, together with veteran McReynolds, offered their defense of Logano on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, disagreeing with suggestions that the Team Penske driver sabotaged Byron’s efforts. Tommy Baldwin, Competition Director for Rick Ware Racing, added that it may have been Byron’s choice of line, not Logano’s driving, that led to his late-race struggles.
Experts Explain Their Views on the Late-Race Battle
Kraft acknowledged Logano’s aggressive approach, stating that his moves along the wall in turns one and two, and unpredictable driving in turns three and four, were tactical, not malicious. Kraft was clear in his assessment:
“I thought Joey was giving him (Byron) the wall in (turns) one and two every lap, you know, and that’s what you really want…” Kraft noted. “He was a little less predictable in three and four, he would move up sometimes and run that lane down, and I think I saw one comment where William was a little bit unhappy about that, but Larry, I don’t see anything he did wrong.” —Freddie Kraft, Spotter for Bubba Wallace
McReynolds firmly rejected the notion that Logano should have eased up on a faster, leading car simply because he was being lapped. In his view, Logano had every right to fight for the lead lap, given the unpredictable nature of cautions and the strategies in play near race end:
“I have zero tolerance when I hear a driver talk about another driver racing them hard. Really? He raced you hard, that’s a shame, he shouldn’t do that, should he?” Larry added as a snide remark. Joey Logano did nothing wrong, he was trying to stay on the lead lap because you know what? If the caution comes out, then he’s able to come in and get four fresh tires, and he maybe can really get a much better finish than he had.” —Larry McReynolds, NASCAR Analyst
Byron, despite disappointment in the late outcome, secured enough points with his strong racing through the first three stages to take control of the Cup Series lead from Kyle Larson, whose own race ended in a multi-car wreck.
Byron’s Frustration With Logano’s Tactics
William Byron admitted that racing through traffic in the Coca-Cola 600, especially against Denny Hamlin and lapped cars like Joey Logano, added strain to what was already a challenging event. Byron described Logano’s shifting lines late in the race as an extra hurdle at a crucial moment:
“He was doing the usual,” Byron said of Joey Logano’s defensive driving (via NASCAR.com). “What I didn’t like is; he just kept moving around in 3 and 4. I don’t know what he was doing. I think just was in traffic a lot that run.” —William Byron, NASCAR Driver
Byron also pointed out that another factor was Tyler Reddick getting loose and hitting the wall on the backstretch, which disrupted Byron’s momentum and made it easier for Chastain to close in and execute the race-winning pass with just a handful of laps remaining.
Despite these obstacles, Byron emerged from the event as the new leader in the Cup Series standings. He enjoys a 29-point margin over Kyle Larson, who was sidelined after a major crash on Lap 247.
Significance and What’s Next After the Charlotte Showdown
The closing laps at the Charlotte Motor Speedway have reignited debate about the unwritten rules of etiquette in lapped traffic, with Joey Logano’s effort to remain competitive becoming a flashpoint. With Freddie Kraft and Larry McReynolds publicly supporting Logano’s choices, the incident underscores the strategic complexity and emotional stakes of modern NASCAR racing.
As the Cup Series moves forward, drivers and teams face increased scrutiny over aggressive tactics in high-stakes moments. Meanwhile, William Byron’s ability to maintain composure and score points despite setbacks keeps him a favorite in the chase for the championship, setting the stage for more intense battles in the weeks ahead.
