During the decisive final lap at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course on Sunday, messages to Alex Bowman ignited debate over the Ross Chastain playoff elimination controversy. As the race determined which four of the remaining twelve playoff drivers would be knocked out, team radio communications fueled speculation about whether drivers held back in critical moments.
The outcome hinged on a dramatic sequence in the closing lap as Denny Hamlin overtook Ross Chastain, pushing Chastain into the elimination zone at the finish. At the same moment, Alex Bowman, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, followed closely behind, receiving a series of distinct instructions from his team.
Radio Communications Raise Eyebrows
Bowman’s No. 88 team repeatedly advised caution over the radio as the race reached its conclusion. Messages included,
“Taking care of it. Taking care of them.”
—No. 88 Team, and later,
“Easy with it. Take care of your tires here.”
—No. 88 Team. The timing and tone of these notes, especially as Bowman approached Chastain’s rear bumper, drew attention from fans and pundits alike.
Further into the last lap, Bowman’s team clarified,
“Take care of your tires. No pressure.”
—No. 88 Team. As he rounded the final corner, they added,
“Still no pressure. Got one that’s spun past the start/finish all by itself.”
—No. 88 Team. These communications unfolded just as Chastain drove aggressively into the corner, making contact with Hamlin and ultimately both drivers crashed. While Chastain managed to reverse his car across the finish line, his playoff run ended.
Team Chevy and Ford Drivers in the Spotlight
Both Bowman and Chastain are Chevrolet drivers, representing Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing respectively, adding another layer to the ongoing discussion about teammate dynamics during elimination races. Joey Logano, driving for Team Penske, and Cole Custer from Haas Factory Team, both Ford drivers, were also involved in the late-race playoff battle, with their own radio messages surfacing afterward.
Custer, behind Logano in the final laps, received signals from his team to hold a steady pace rather than push for a pass. The radio included exchanges such as,
“Andy, you got your watch on?”
—No. 41 Team, and encouragement to keep it calm:
“Nice and easy here, bud. Nice and easy.”
—No. 41 Team, with the added note,
“We can save our tires here for a late race restart.”
—No. 41 Team. These messages were issued with three laps remaining, which paralleled strategy-focused communication occurring with other playoff contenders.
Observations from the NASCAR Community and Commentators
Fans and analysts have been debating whether teams instructed drivers to hold position in order to benefit teammates or manufacturer partners in the playoff fight. Social media highlighted these radio interactions, with some suggesting Bowman might have been told to avoid passing Chastain after catching up to him late in the race.
Steven Taranto, a NASCAR reporter, reacted to the communications, noting,
“Seems like Alex Bowman (apparently) also got a stand down order on the final lap once he caught Ross Chastain.’Easy with it. Take care of your tires here.”Take care of your tires.’”
—Steven Taranto, NASCAR Reporter
These observations added to the scrutiny of the events and intentions behind the race strategies that unfolded.
Potential Outcomes and NASCAR’s Response
NASCAR has rules in place regarding race manipulation and the issuing of team orders that might affect the playoff results. The organization typically issues a penalty report within the week following each race. As the dust settles at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the latest NASCAR points standings are finalized, it remains to be seen whether officials will investigate or penalize any teams based on the radio exchanges and race-day decisions.
This Ross Chastain playoff elimination controversy has reignited debate around the use of in-race communications for strategy and control, especially when championship positions are on the line. With drivers such as Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Cole Custer, and Alex Bowman spotlighted in these closing laps, the incident underscores the complexities of teamwork, manufacturer loyalty, and the intense pressure of the NASCAR playoffs.
As NASCAR continues to monitor and potentially address these situations, fans and competitors alike are watching for the league’s next moves regarding race manipulation and playoff fairness. The focus now shifts to how the remaining playoff drivers and teams approach the challenges of the next round, knowing every message and maneuver may come under a microscope.
Seems like Alex Bowman (apparently) also got a stand down order on the final lap once he caught Ross Chastain.
"Easy with it. Take care of your tires here."
"Take care of your tires." https://t.co/i8qNDiHyET pic.twitter.com/trIE3Y6uwB— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 6, 2025
Saw some people saying Cole Custer didn't try to pass Joey Logano in the final laps at the Roval so I went back and watched his onboard. Flagged this over the radio with about three to go:
"Andy, you got your watch on?"
"Nice and easy here, bud. Nice and easy."
"We can save our… pic.twitter.com/w6SFG4DQrR— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 6, 2025
