On Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin‘s actions on the track directly influenced Joey Logano‘s playoff standing, illustrating the crucial Denny Hamlin playoff impact in a race full of twists. As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs intensified, Logano’s hopes for the next round hung in the balance after a difficult race weekend, but a single move by Hamlin helped keep his postseason dreams alive.
Setbacks and Penalties Challenge Joey Logano at Kansas
Joey Logano, revered for his poised postseason efforts, encountered a cascade of issues throughout the Kansas Cup Series race weekend. Starting with a disappointing pace for his No. 22 car on Saturday, things went from bad to worse as a tire problem and a penalty for pitting while pit road was closed forced him to start at the rear of the field repeatedly. A further penalty for speeding on pit road complicated his climb up the leaderboard.
Despite these hurdles, Logano managed to collect valuable stage points, giving the Team Penske driver hope that the damage could be limited. However, his progress was cut short by a Stage 3 crash, which resulted in a 21st-place finish. Still, by the end of the race, Logano maintained a 13-point buffer above the playoff cut-line—a margin that remained intact largely due to late-race drama involving Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace.
Logano Reflects on the Playoff Scenario and Hamlin’s Influence
Looking ahead to the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Roval, the defending Cup Series champion appeared on the Inside The Race podcast, sharing insight into the No. 22 team’s prospects and highlighting the high stakes as the playoffs progress.
“Well, I think it’s going to start with qualifying well, which we’ve been able to do that the last couple of times we’ve been there is qualify towards the front,”
Logano explained on the podcast.
“So we need to try to do that. The stage points are going to be kinged.”
— Joey Logano, Cup Series Driver
Logano also acknowledged Denny Hamlin’s pivotal role in preventing Bubba Wallace from taking the Kansas victory, a scenario that could have pushed Logano below the playoff threshold.
“You just got to run the best race you can. I really wanted to leave here 30 points over to cut or not. So on one hand, the back half of that race couldn’t have gone much worse after the wreck, but there are also a lot of different spot if (Wallace) won that race.”
— Joey Logano, Cup Series Driver
The Penske driver summed up his sentiment with a lighthearted remark: “So, Thanks Denny,” Logano quipped, reflecting the mixed feelings of relief and frustration that defined his Kansas outing.
Hamlin’s Actions Shape the Playoff Cut Line
Had Bubba Wallace managed to secure the win, Logano would have slipped eight points below the playoff line. Instead, Denny Hamlin’s decisive move on the final lap—fending off Wallace in Turn 3—secured a P2 finish for himself, forced Wallace to settle for fifth, and ensured Logano’s spot above the cut-line, at least for one more round. This moment underscored the direct Denny Hamlin playoff impact on his fellow competitors’ fortunes.
Ironically, Hamlin was also responsible for the restart incident that contributed to Logano’s crash and subsequent struggles. Hamlin, a seasoned JGR veteran, hesitated on a restart due to steering problems, triggering the sequence of events that derailed Logano’s race. Despite his issues, Hamlin finished second, and his teammate Wallace—competing for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by Hamlin—ended up in fifth place.
What Comes Next for Logano, Hamlin, and the Playoff Battle
With the playoff field tightening and only one race remaining before the next cutoff, Logano’s focus shifts to the Charlotte Roval, where he will try to lock in his Round of 8 position, either by earning enough points or by capturing a win. The mixed emotions and unsettled tone that linger after Kansas highlight how quickly postseason fortunes can change, especially when veteran drivers like Denny Hamlin influence both the action on track and the overall playoff picture.
“Thanks Denny.” – Joey Logano on Inside The Race after the last lap contact between Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin…
FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/eCSQsJf6th pic.twitter.com/TUu9dBicpS
— Steve Letarte (@SteveLetarte) September 29, 2025
