Joey Logano’s playoff journey took a dramatic turn at Kansas Speedway, where his fortunes in the Hollywood Casino 400 were heavily influenced by the late-race battle between Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace. Logano’s playoff hopes stayed alive, as Hamlin’s efforts kept Wallace from winning and forcing Logano into a must-win scenario at the upcoming Charlotte Roval.
Logano Battles Through Major Setbacks in Kansas
Starting from the 35th position after a poor qualifying session, Joey Logano faced immediate challenges when unapproved adjustments sent his No. 22 Ford to the back of the field. The Team Penske driver’s troubles worsened with a penalty for pitting while pit road was closed, followed by another infraction for speeding in the pits. Despite this difficult sequence, Logano managed to collect valuable stage points that kept him within striking distance of the playoff cutline prior to a significant multi-car wreck in Stage 3.
The wreck, which occurred during a restart after the field stacked up, saw Noah Gragson bounce into Logano, leading to further contact with Austin Cindric and causing Logano to lose control. Though he avoided additional damage, the incident made it a struggle to finish. Ultimately, Logano ended up 21st—far from his best, but enough to stay a slim 13 points above the playoff elimination line.
Hamlin’s Battle Proves Pivotal for Playoff Outlook
As Bubba Wallace challenged Denny Hamlin for the win, the outcome became crucial for Logano’s playoff future. Had Wallace crossed the finish line first, Logano would be facing a must-win scenario at the Charlotte Roval to continue in the NASCAR playoffs. Instead, Hamlin’s resilience helped ensure Logano stayed on the right side of the cutline.
“You know the back half of that race couldn’t have gone much worse after the wreck but we’re also sitting in a lot of different spot if Bubble won that race. So, thanks Denny,”
Logano said in an interview with NASCAR’s Inside the Race (via X/Steve Letarte)
Logano Describes His Challenging Weekend
Logano opened up about his struggles in a post-race interview. He methodically described the sequence of events that made for a difficult day in Kansas, including the impact the Stage 3 wreck had on his car’s handling and the strategic decisions made in the closing laps.
“It was a hard weekend. I thought we were recovering pretty well scoring stage points in both stages after starting in the back. I’m like, ‘All right, we’re OK here. We can kind of roll through here and we’ll be all right,’ and I just got caught up in that wreck on the restart and tore something up. I don’t know, but it wouldn’t turn after that,”
he said.
“We tried to throw a ‘Hail Mary’ with two tires, but there were too many restarts, and you can’t hold them off. I kept getting used up, so it sucks. We’re plus-13. It is what it is. We’ve got to go race, but it’s going to be close,”
he added.
Playoff Standings and the Road Ahead
With his 21st-place finish, Logano now sits eighth in the playoff standings, narrowly holding onto a spot by 13 points. To secure a place in the final eight, he must earn more than 50 points at the Charlotte Roval unless he clinches a victory. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin—whose battle with Wallace played a key role in Logano’s playoff math—needs only 22 points in the next race to advance without winning.
The pressure is on as the playoffs head to a challenging road course. Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and other key drivers are set for an intense showdown at the Charlotte Roval, where the battle for the remaining playoff spots will reach its peak. NASCAR fans and teams, including Team Penske and Ford, are preparing for a dramatic finish that will help define the 2023 championship chase.
As the stakes grow higher, the resilience shown by drivers like Logano, Hamlin, and Wallace continues to shape a playoff field where every position and point matters, setting up a compelling narrative as NASCAR’s postseason progresses.
“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
