Denny Hamlin’s final-lap pass on Ross Chastain knocked Chastain out of the playoffs, giving Joey Logano the last round-of-eight spot.

Denny Hamlin drew criticism for passing Ross Chastain on the final lap of the Bank of America ROVAL 400, a move that eliminated Chastain from the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and secured the final spot in the round of eight for Joey Logano. The incident sparked debate over sportsmanship and race strategy, especially given Logano’s recent playoff reinstatement and dominance. Hamlin said he didn’t realize the playoff implications, while NASCAR confirmed it’s reviewing whether any team-directed decisions influenced the outcome. The controversy has intensified scrutiny on fairness as the playoffs enter their final stretch at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.