Concord, N.C. – Shane van Gisbergen continues his dominance in circuit racing, securing his fifth consecutive victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In a competition full of excitement, the defending Cup champion, Joey Logano, managed to advance to the third round of the NASCAR playoffs, in a heart-stopping finish against Ross Chastain.
A Dramatic Ending
Logano was involved in an intense battle with Chastain, who was on the verge of elimination. The tension reached its peak when a crash on the last lap with Denny Hamlin sent Chastain into a spin, relegating him to the 21st position, just behind Logano.
If you want drama, the playoffs bring it every time. What an entertaining final! We still have a chance.
Hamlin, visibly annoyed, expressed his frustration at not having been informed of the situation, which prevented him from making strategic decisions that would have benefited Logano.
The competition reduced the field from 12 to eight drivers. Although Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell presented challenges to van Gisbergen, the New Zealander maintained his lead position, securing the victory and eliminating the hopes of Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric to advance in the playoffs. Chastain, for his part, remained in contention, although Logano did not manage to secure his place without complications.
Logano himself, after a year of ups and downs, celebrated his move to the next round, despite the mixed reaction from the fans.
Chastain, who suffered early penalties, regretted the mistakes made and expressed his disappointment at not being able to advance.
The Advancing Pilots
The eight drivers who will compete in the third round of the playoffs are Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano from Penske, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe from Joe Gibbs Racing.
Chastain, Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace were eliminated, marking the end of the participation of the cars owned by Michael Jordan in the fight for the title.
