Ross Chastain pit road mistakes at the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway led to his elimination from the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on Sunday, Oct. 5. The Trackhouse Racing driver’s missteps on pit lane enabled Joey Logano to claim the final place in the Round of 8, ending Chastain’s postseason run.
Shane van Gisbergen secured his dominance on road courses, holding off strong contenders Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell to win the race. SVG’s win marked his fifth consecutive road course victory, putting him just one short of Jeff Gordon’s all-time record.
How Pit Road Drama Shaped the Race Outcome
As the 59-lap final stage unfolded, the competition focused on van Gisbergen, Bell, and Larson. Bell and Larson, recognizing van Gisbergen’s impressive tire management, dove to pit road for fresh tires with 13 and nine laps remaining, respectively. Van Gisbergen, by contrast, chose to stay out after his crew fitted his last set of Goodyear Eagles with 19 laps left, giving his rivals an advantage in tire age.
Despite concerns about the durability of his right-rear tire, van Gisbergen had built a commanding lead. He maintained this advantage and crossed the finish line 15.16 seconds ahead of Larson, underlining his road course expertise. This success boosted SVG’s growing reputation and redefined the landscape of current road course competition. His achievement stands as a significant accomplishment, challenging racing legends such as Jeff Gordon.
Major Pit Road Errors Stop Chastain’s Playoff Bid
Championship contenders often separate themselves by minimizing errors, but Chastain’s day was defined by pivotal mistakes. The first issue came during yellow flag pit stops after stage one, when Chastain missed the critical left turn exiting pit road. This error cost him valuable track position, causing him to line up 30th at the beginning of stage two, rather than 15th. Despite this setback, Chastain managed to recover some ground by collecting 13 stage points, reducing the gap to Logano, who earned only three in that stage.
The crucial misstep occurred during the team’s final scheduled pit stop. As Chastain exited his pit stall, he accidentally shifted into third gear instead of second, resulting in a speeding violation on pit road. This mistake triggered a pass-through penalty that dropped him further down the order and forced him to remain on worn tires for the remainder of the event. Chastain’s playoff hopes were dashed by these back-to-back errors.
“The whole body of work was not good enough today,”
Chastain told reporters post-race. — Ross Chastain, Driver
“I singlehandedly took a car out of the Round of 8.”
— Ross Chastain, Driver
Joey Logano and Paul Wolfe’s Risk Pays Off
While Chastain and the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing team faltered, Joey Logano, guided by the expertise of three-time Cup champion crew chief Paul Wolfe, took a crucial gamble. With 12 laps remaining, Wolfe brought Logano in for a fresh set of tires, even as the stop left him trailing Chastain by about 10 points. The advantage of new rubber and Chastain’s penalty began to take effect, with Logano erasing the deficit over the closing laps.
By the time the white flag flew, Logano was just a single point behind Chastain. The chaotic end to the race saw Logano overtake and advance to the next playoff round, highlighting the importance of quick and calculated decisions on pit road. This calculated move under pressure further solidified Wolfe’s reputation as an elite strategist in Cup racing.
“In my opinion, there is no one better than Paul [Wolfe] at calling a race,”
Logano said about the last pit stop post-race. — Joey Logano, Driver
“So, I trust that he makes the right calls. All I got to do is tell them where I’m at and what’s going on in the car. To be able to still be around, that’s all you got to do in these playoffs just stay alive, keep going.”
— Joey Logano, Driver
Looking Forward to the South Point 400 at Las Vegas
The NASCAR Cup Series now advances to the Round of 8, beginning with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Sunday, Oct. 12. Broadcast coverage will commence at 5:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network, where drivers will face a new set of strategic challenges distinct from those witnessed at the ROVAL.
This season, Goodyear’s high-wear tire compound limited pit strategy variety during road course races, leading to four-tire changes and minimizing the influence of fuel mileage. However, Las Vegas often prompts a wider array of strategies, with potential for fuel-only and two-tire stops as teams vie for crucial track position.
Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, and Joey Logano—all currently below the NASCAR Cup Series cut line—will be particularly aggressive at Las Vegas, seeking every opportunity to extend their championship campaigns. The aftermath of Ross Chastain pit road mistakes will continue to reverberate as the playoffs intensify, and contenders adapt their approaches to avoid a similar fate.
