Joey Logano executed a remarkable escape to secure a spot in the Round of 8 during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Sunday, relying on a tiebreaker to edge out Ross Chastain in dramatic fashion. The Joey Logano NASCAR Playoff escape saw him pass Chastain at the line, shaking up the playoff standings and keeping his championship hopes alive against the odds.
Logano Holds Off Elimination in Charlotte Thriller
As the defending Cup Series champion, Logano found himself under immense pressure heading into the closing laps at the Bank of America ROVAL 400. The playoff race came down to the wire after Denny Hamlin made a decisive move on Ross Chastain at the Turn 7 hairpin during the final lap, leaving Logano and Chastain tied for the last position advancing into the next playoff round. The tiebreaker—the best finish in the three races of the Round of 12—favored Logano, whose fourth-place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway surpassed Chastain’s best finish of ninth in the same event.
Desperation set in for Chastain, who attempted a bold pass on Hamlin at the exit of Turn 17 that triggered contact between the two, resulting in both spinning. Chastain crossed the finish line in reverse while Logano surged ahead, clinching the final transfer spot by a four-point margin.
Key Errors Set the Stage for Logano’s Advance
This is the second consecutive season that Logano has advanced from the Round of 12 with help from others’ misfortunes. In 2022, he benefited from Alex Bowman’s disqualification. This time, Chastain made two critical mistakes on pit road, with the latter—a speeding penalty while leaving his pit box on Lap 87—proving fatal to his playoff hopes. Forced to remain on worn tires for the final 22 laps, Chastain’s lapses allowed Hamlin to catch and pass him at the decisive moment.
Reflecting on last season, Logano took advantage of similar circumstances by winning the following week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, paving his way to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, where he claimed his third series title. Now, after narrowly making it through, Logano remains a potential threat as the field narrows.
Hamlin’s Unawareness Impacts Final Moments
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin admitted he was unaware of the playoff implications as he raced Chastain on the closing lap.
“I would have made the best decision for me,”
Hamlin said.
“I wish I would have known… I didn’t know if I was running for 10th or 25th. Listening to the radio the whole time, there was just crickets.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
“Nobody told me anything—I wish they did.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
Hamlin’s lack of information may have influenced how events unfolded on track and enabled Logano to slip through to the next stage.
Road Ahead Remains Tough for Logano
With the new playoff round set, Logano sits in eighth place, trailing the cutoff by 24 points. The upcoming event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway holds high stakes, and matching last year’s victory will demand notable improvement, especially given Logano’s recent 21st place finish at Kansas Speedway. Despite the uphill battle, this latest playoff escape affirms Logano’s reputation for late-race tenacity.
The race in Charlotte, won by Shane van Gisbergen with a dominant margin, highlighted how the elimination-style postseason can amplify drama. After the event, Logano addressed the playoff format’s impact and the continuing debate over potential structural changes.
“The Playoffs create drama,” Logano said after the race. “It creates story lines. It creates awesome moments like that. I don’t understand what people don’t like about it. I really don’t get it.
“And if you’re one of those people who say the regular season doesn’t matter, and Playoff points don’t matter… Ha! One point would have been the difference there…
“If you don’t have cutoff races and things like that, what are you talking about today? How Shane waxed everyone’s butt?”
—Joey Logano, Driver.
What Lies Ahead in NASCAR’s Playoff Showdown
The current structure of the NASCAR Playoffs continues to fuel high-stakes moments and passionate debate. With names like Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, and Shane van Gisbergen central to this year’s battle, the pressure will remain high for Joey Logano and Team Penske as the series moves on to Las Vegas and potentially Phoenix Raceway. While the majority of remaining playoff drivers might rather avoid facing Logano, his ability to rise under pressure could keep his championship hopes alive and fans watching closely through the season finale.
