Joey Logano’s advancement into the Round of 8 has sparked controversy and concern among NASCAR observers, positioning him as a critical Joey Logano playoff threat this season. The dramatic events at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval and the aftermath have left competitors questioning the wisdom of allowing Logano to continue his postseason run with Team Penske, setting the stage for the coming races.
Logano Narrowly Secures Round of 8 Spot After Charlotte Drama
The high-pressure elimination race at the Charlotte Roval saw intense battles between NASCAR’s top playoff drivers. Joey Logano and Ross Chastain were locked in a fight for the last spot in the upcoming playoff round. As the laps wound down, Denny Hamlin’s on-track maneuver allowed him to pass Chastain, which indirectly secured Logano’s transfer into the next stage by points margin. This tense shuffle at the end of the race put Logano past the cutline, ensuring his championship hopes remain alive.
Last season, Logano faced a similarly precarious situation following the Round of 12 before he pulled off a decisive victory in the opening race of the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. That win propelled him directly into the Championship 4, and he ultimately captured the Cup Series title. Team Penske, Logano’s team, has a strong track record at Phoenix Raceway—a key point highlighted by NASCAR Insider Jordan Bianchi, who cast doubt on whether it was the right move for rivals to let Logano continue his playoff campaign.
NASCAR Insider Warns of Logano’s Resilience and Playoff Potential
On a recent episode of The Teardown podcast, Jordan Bianchi voiced grave concerns about the strategic consequences of letting Logano into the Round of 8. In Bianchi’s view, Logano’s consistent ability to survive elimination and play a spoiler role makes him a genuine threat to the entire playoff field. Bianchi stated:
“You let Joey Logano on to the next round. They are going to regret this. You picked him to be in the Championship 4.” [2:00]
He elaborated further:
“This guy is one of those horror movie monsters that you can’t put down, and he just finds a way to get in, and they did it again,” he added.
Logano’s reputation for coming through in desperate situations is well earned, with many drivers now seeing him as a difficult adversary to eliminate. With Team Penske’s strong history at upcoming venues and Logano’s proven postseason grit, competitors like Hamlin may find themselves rueing the missed opportunity to knock him out early.
Race Results and the Chaotic Final Lap
The Charlotte Roval weekend saw Shane van Gisbergen take his fifth win of the 2025 NASCAR season, marking yet another triumph on a road course. Kyle Larson finished runner-up, followed by Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, and Michael McDowell. Joey Logano managed to finish twentieth, completing a dramatic overtake of both Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin on the last corner, sealing his advancement when Chastain spun and collided with Hamlin.
Crew Chief Paul Wolfe Reacts to Hamlin’s Comments on Team Tactics
After the Bank of America Roval 400 concluded, attention shifted to post-race comments by Denny Hamlin regarding his decision to pass Ross Chastain, unaware of the playoff implications for Logano. Paul Wolfe, Logano’s crew chief since 2020, criticized Hamlin’s suggestion, calling it a form of possible race manipulation given Hamlin’s evident speed advantage over Chastain.
Wolfe remarked in his discussion with NASCAR reporter Matt Weaver:
“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?” [2:21]
He further explained:
“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,” he added.
The debate highlights how playoff strategy and on-track alliances can quickly become contentious, with crew chiefs and drivers weighing both ethics and competitive advantage.
Round of 8 Lineup and Upcoming Challenges
The field for the Round of 8 is now set, featuring Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, and Joey Logano. The next step in the postseason battle will unfold at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where 267 laps await the contenders and every point counts as they chase a spot in the Championship 4.
Each of these drivers faces mounting pressure, but all eyes are on Joey Logano, whose reputation for pulling off clutch performances and disrupting playoff expectations makes him the leading Joey Logano playoff threat in the eyes of analysts and rivals alike. With Team Penske’s Phoenix pedigree and Logano’s resilience, NASCAR may well see a repeat of last year’s narrative—or, just as likely, another seismic shift in the ongoing championship battle.
