Team Penske overcame a dramatic showdown at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, battling adversity, strategic challenges, and mechanical setbacks during the pivotal Bank of America ROVAL 400, a key race in the Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series playoff chase. Sunday’s events determined who advances in the highly competitive playoff field, culminating in everything from heartbreak to narrow escapes for the Penske drivers.
Austin Cindric’s Playoff Hopes Dashed After Early Spins and Damage
Austin Cindric started 19th in the No. 2 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse, entering with the hope of carving a path deeper into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Cindric demonstrated early momentum, climbing a couple of spots by lap 5, but his progress was abruptly halted when the No. 7 spun him out in the opening laps. This incident forced him to pit under green for scuffed tires and then again for a fresher set just before the segment conclusion. As a result, Cindric completed Stage 1 in 36th place, far from the position he needed.
Entering the second segment, strategic calls saw Cindric remain on track rather than pitting, allowing him to restart inside the top 10 and presenting a fleeting opportunity to recapture lost ground. However, adversity struck again when Carson Hocevar made contact with his car on lap 33, sending Cindric spinning and inflicting significant damage on the right-rear control arms. The team had no choice but to take the car to the garage for repairs, a setback that cost over 20 laps and rendered their day all but over competitively. Cindric finished 36th, officially ending his playoff run in the Round of 12.
“I’m bummed out, it definitely wasn’t the day we needed, and it wasn’t even really close. I just found myself involved in a lot of stuff, and we got spun out a few times and racked up a lot of damage. So you’re not going to win when that happens.”
— Austin Cindric, Driver No. 2 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Despite elimination, Cindric’s determination throughout the playoffs has been apparent, with the Penske team eyeing the remaining events with renewed resolve, including a return visit to Talladega Superspeedway where he won earlier this year.
Ryan Blaney Secures Playoff Position with Strong Stage Performance
Ryan Blaney entered the Round of 12 finale with the No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse starting from 11th. The focus for Blaney and crew chief Jonathan Hassler centered around maximizing stage points and controlling strategy, involving two timely pit stops during the first stage. Blaney finished 19th in the opening segment, but this set him up for an aggressive push in Stage 2.
With the team’s strategy coming together, Blaney restarted near the front and quickly advanced through the field, relentlessly chasing down the leader. On lap 38, a four-tire stop proved pivotal as he climbed to third and ultimately captured the stage win—his ninth of the season. This performance delivered crucial playoff points and elevated his position for the cut to the Round of 8.
“That was not a bad day. We had a pretty solid day. It was nice to get a stage win out of it with our Ford Mustang and we finished fairly decent. I’m proud of the effort today and I’m looking forward to getting to Vegas to see what we’ve got when we unload. We’ll see where practice goes and then the race. I don’t really know until we get there, but I’m looking forward to it.”
— Ryan Blaney, Driver No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Blaney’s approach during the final stage involved pitting for scuffed tires during a caution and later executing a final green-flag pit stop with 19 laps to go. During the closing laps, tire wear became a factor, limiting his charge to a 13th-place finish. Still, with his accumulation of playoff points, Blaney advanced to the next round, leaving Charlotte ranked second—six points above the elimination line—as the field heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Joey Logano Advances by Slim Margin Amidst Playoff Turmoil
Joey Logano faced intense pressure in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse, racing to keep his playoff hopes alive for a record-tying 10th time. Starting from 17th, Logano consistently picked up valuable points with a Stage 1 finish in 12th and eighth in Stage 2. Heading into the final segment, he was positioned just above the playoff cut line.
Strategic decisions came to the foreground after a caution on lap 58, as teams deliberated two- or three-stop tactics for the long run to the checkered flag. Paul Wolfe, Logano’s crew chief, chose to bring his driver in for fresh tires multiple times in the closing laps, hoping to optimize on-track performance. This plan required flawless execution as Logano cycled between leading positions and defending territory against rivals, including Ross Chastain and others vying for a playoff berth.
With only four laps remaining, Logano’s predicament was clear: he needed to erase a deficit to the No. 1 car, which was losing pace on older rubber. On the final lap, an incident involving the No. 1 allowed Logano to slip by and finish 20th, just enough to advance on a tiebreaker—a dramatic twist emblematic of NASCAR Playoffs unpredictability. Logano enters the next round in eighth, 24 points below the cutoff, but still actively in the hunt for the championship.
“Yeah, everybody was telling me how close it was going to be there. We’re still in. We’re still alive, baby. I’m so excited. It was such a close finish there. I knew it was within a point there and I knew we were going to be tied there at the end and Ross [Chastain] was going to do whatever he had to do to make it happen. I just wasn’t quite fast enough today with our car, but, overall, it’s the drama of the playoffs. If you want drama, the playoffs bring it every time. What an entertaining finish there. To come down to, like I said, a tie there basically at the end before the wreck. I’m proud of Paul Wolfe. He made some really hard calls today. Three-stopping the end there. That was kind of an audible at the because our fall off was a little bit too much. Making that call there at the end was ultimately what kept us in the game with just a few left, so that’s a championship performance from the team. I wish I was a little faster, but, overall, I couldn’t be more proud of the team. We’ve still got a shot.”
— Joey Logano, Driver No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Logano’s perseverance ensured that Team Penske continues to have multiple cars in contention as the NASCAR Playoffs intensify.
The Road Ahead for Team Penske Drivers
The conclusion of the Charlotte ROVAL event led to significant shifts in the playoff landscape, with Team Penske progressing with Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano to the semifinals of the Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series. Though Austin Cindric’s exit was a setback, his earlier win at Talladega remains a highlight in an otherwise challenging campaign.
As the playoff Round of 8 commences, attention shifts to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a venue known for unpredictability and high speeds. With Ryan Blaney sitting second in the standings and Logano narrowly advancing, both drivers will need to capitalize on every opportunity if they wish to cement a place in the championship-deciding race. Tensions remain high among key figures such as Jonathan Hassler, Paul Wolfe, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain, setting the stage for strategy battles and potential surprises as the pressure mounts.
The next race, the South Point 400, unfolds on Sunday, October 12, promising another chapter in the Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series drama. Fans can follow the action live on USA, PRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, with every lap critical in the pursuit of championship glory.
