During the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval on October 8, 2023, a controversial incident unfolded on the final lap that ultimately influenced the playoffs. Ross Chastain attempted to overtake Denny Hamlin in a high-stakes maneuver. This aggressive move led to both drivers crashing out, allowing Joey Logano to secure the final spot in the Round of 8 based on points.
Chastain was in a precarious position as he held the last qualifying spot when he took the white flag. As the race progressed, Hamlin managed to pass Chastain, but the latter’s attempt to reclaim his position in the frontstretch chicane resulted in a collision. Complicating the situation further was Cole Custer, who was behind Logano and had received instructions to conserve tires. This directive raised questions about whether it was an implicit order to refrain from passing his fellow Ford Performance teammate. Similarly, Alex Bowman was advised to save his tires while trailing Chastain, suggesting a potential for strategic positioning among competitors.
Unlike a previous incident at Martinsville last October, where Chevrolet teams explicitly ordered a blockade to secure points for William Byron, the communication during the Roval race was more nuanced. Consequently, NASCAR opted not to impose any penalties for race manipulation. However, with another critical cutoff race approaching at Martinsville in three weeks, the governing body plans to remind teams about maintaining the integrity of the sport this week.
NASCAR’s managing director of communications, Mike Forde, addressed the situation during a recent episode of the Hauler Talk podcast. He emphasized the importance of fair competition, stating, “Fans should be coming to the race track and expecting a straight-up race where each position is fought for as hard as possible, especially at the end of a race. If we do see something or hear something we don’t like, we are going to step in.”
After the incident, Hamlin expressed some regret regarding his decision to allow Logano to advance over Chastain. He mentioned to crew chief Chris Gayle that he would have acted differently had he known the implications of the points. In front of reporters, he took a more cautious stance, saying, “I would have made the best decision for me.”
Forde noted that had there been explicit communication suggesting that Chastain needed the point to advance, it would have raised suspicions. He stated, “I think we would have looked into it for sure. If we heard that radio transmission say, ‘Hey, (Chastain) needs this point to advance to the next round over (Logano),’ that would probably raise a red flag on our side.”
The question of whether Chastain’s attempted pass warranted a penalty also surfaced. Although NASCAR did not penalize him for the collision, Forde acknowledged the complexity of such decisions. He cited a past instance involving Austin Dillon, who crashed both Hamlin and Logano at Richmond last year to secure a playoff spot, a move that NASCAR later penalized. Forde clarified, “Every situation is unique… if it was successful, we would look at it in race control.”
The discussion extended to team communications regarding points. NASCAR’s senior director of racing communications, Amanda Ellis, clarified that while teams can discuss points, it should focus on their own vehicles rather than the actions of others. Forde reiterated this, suggesting that questionable communications could lead to disciplinary action: “If you talk about points and then have some actions that are questionable, you’re going to be in hot water.”
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads toward another pivotal race, the governing body remains vigilant in ensuring that competition remains fair and transparent for both drivers and fans. The focus on integrity in racing will be paramount as teams prepare for the challenges ahead.
