Joey Logano‘s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, has publicly criticized Denny Hamlin in the wake of the Denny Hamlin race manipulation controversy, which surfaced after the Bank of America 400 ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Wolfe’s remarks came after a post-race interview, as he called into question Hamlin’s judgment and the integrity of recent playoff actions on track.
Crew Chief Paul Wolfe Challenges Denny Hamlin Over Racing Ethics
Paul Wolfe, guiding defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano, voiced his concerns about Hamlin’s perceived role in shaping the playoff outcome. Logano and Ross Chastain were in close contention during stage two of the 109-lap event, both seeking to secure advancement to the next playoff round. Wolfe made a strategic pit call to put fresh tires on Logano’s car, while Phil Sugen kept Chastain on older tires, setting up a high-intensity final segment. In a last-ditch effort to remain in the playoffs, Chastain attempted a bold maneuver reminiscent of his previous high-stakes moves, but he lost control on the final lap, bringing Denny Hamlin into the incident.
Logano ultimately finished 20th, just ahead of Chastain, allowing him to clinch a spot in the next playoff round. Denny Hamlin, affected by Chastain’s failed move, later claimed in an interview,
“I would not have passed him [Ross Chastin].”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
This statement stirred controversy and prompted Wolfe to respond, referencing long-standing concerns about race manipulation. Wolfe spoke candidly, bringing up the broader implications of such tactics for the sport:
“I think when you look at some of those situations, though–talking about not passing somebody–at what point, when all those guys behind them were catching them over a second faster per lap, are we going to start manipulating races?”
— Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
He further added,
“It’s one thing if you guys are close and don’t really push the issue to get by someone, but in my eyes, when you’re a second or more faster, I don’t think we’re at that point where we’re supposed to pull over and not pass somebody,”
reinforcing his stance on sportsmanship and competitiveness. — Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief
Key Race Outcomes and Standings After Charlotte Showdown
Joey Logano’s calculated approach, guided by Paul Wolfe’s pit decisions, meant Logano wrapped up the Charlotte ROVAL race in 20th place, just one position ahead of Ross Chastain. This finish ensured Logano’s move into the Round of Eight, continuing his pursuit of another championship. Despite reaching this milestone, Logano sits eighth in the Cup Series playoff table, standing 24 points beneath the cutoff line for qualification.
The incident highlighted the critical roles played by drivers and strategists alike, with personalities such as Phil Sugen and Ross Chastain featuring prominently. The controversy has reignited discussion about the enforcement of race integrity and potential rule changes to address perceived manipulation, with NASCAR, Chevy, and JGR teams all monitoring the ongoing narrative.
Joey Logano Shares Thoughts on Trophy Aspirations
Before the heightened drama at Charlotte, Logano’s competitive spirit was also on display during a sit-down with SpeedFreaks ahead of the Dover Motor Speedway race. Despite multiple attempts, the Middletown native had never claimed a Cup Series win at Dover, though he qualified eighth and finished 14th in the 2025 event. Notably, Denny Hamlin secured the victory and the Monster trophy that year. Reflecting on his career ambitions, Logano shared,
“As far as coolness of trophies, yeah, it’s up there pretty high. It’s pretty cool; you put the die-cast card, and it looks cool. I got four of the little ones from the Xfinity races, but I’d trade every one of those for a Cup win; Cup wins obviously mean a lot more.”
— Joey Logano, Driver
This candid admission underscored Logano’s ongoing drive to achieve at the highest level, emphasizing the distinction he places on Cup Series victories over previous Xfinity accomplishments.
Looking Ahead: The Stakes Remain High for NASCAR Cup Contenders
With the Round of Eight set, Joey Logano’s playoff journey continues amid rising tension over the Denny Hamlin race manipulation controversy. Logano currently holds the eighth position in the points standings, carrying 4008 points thanks to a single season win at Texas Motor Speedway, ten top-ten finishes, six top-fives, and two poles across 32 starts. Meanwhile, Hamlin, Chastain, and other Cup Series drivers—including Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney—remain embroiled in closely contested battles, where both strategy and split-second decisions on track can make or break championship dreams.
This sustained debate over racing ethics and manipulation is likely to shape NASCAR’s approach as the season progresses, prompting teams, competitors, and officials to closely examine both the rules and the unwritten code of fair play that governs motorsports. Fans and analysts will be watching as the field narrows, wondering how voices like Paul Wolfe and Denny Hamlin will continue to influence the sport’s future direction.
Paul Wolfe on the decision to pit, surprise that Phil Surgen didn't cover them, and then not liking the implications that Denny would even consider letting Ross advance over them, citing 'manipulation' pic.twitter.com/6cryp3jle9
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 5, 2025
