Van Gisbergen Unstoppable: 5th Road Course Victory; Logano Advances in Playoffs

Shane van Gisbergen Dominates in Charlotte, Joey Logano Advances in the Playoffs

In an exciting race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Shane van Gisbergen secured his fifth consecutive win on mixed circuits, while Joey Logano managed to advance to the third round of the NASCAR playoffs in a thrilling finish. Logano found himself in an intense battle with Ross Chastain, who was below the cut line and at risk of elimination. The competition intensified on the Charlotte hybrid circuit, with Chastain pressuring Logano until a crash on the last lap with Denny Hamlin changed the course of the race.

I didn’t know anything that was happening in that final stage, I wasn’t very good. I saw (Chastain) and I had no idea about anything. I thought I was competing for 18th place. I wish I had known to be prepared or make a different decision.

Denny Hamlin

Hamlin, visibly frustrated, expressed his displeasure to his team, regretting not having been informed of the crucial situation Logano was in. For his part, Chastain, after the incident, finished in 21st position, one behind Logano, who managed to secure his place in the next round. The race reduced the group of competitors from 12 to 8. The possibility of Logano being left out of the playoffs seemed remote, especially with Van Gisbergen showing a dominant performance. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell tried to challenge van Gisbergen, but the New Zealander held firm, securing the victory. This result eliminated the hopes of Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric of advancing in the competition. Chastain, despite his efforts, failed to secure his place in the next round. Logano, on the other hand, celebrated his qualification amidst the mixed reactions of the fans.

We are still alive, we keep going, baby! If you want drama, the playoffs offer it every time. What an entertaining final. We still have a chance.

Joey Logano

Chastain lamented the mistakes made during the race, especially the speeding penalties, which prevented him from achieving a better result.

Unforced errors are terrible. It’s heartbreaking for nearly 200 Trackhouse employees. It’s not acceptable, simply unacceptable. Getting here and failing is a terrible feeling. I’ll wake up tomorrow and go back to work.

Ross Chastain

The eight drivers advancing to the third round of the playoffs are Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe. Chastain, Cindric, Reddick, and Wallace were eliminated, marking the end of Michael Jordan’s cars’ participation in the fight for the title.