Hamlin vs. Chastain: The Pass, The Wreck, and The Regrets

The air on pit road was thick with disappointment. Ross Chastain, his face a mask of dejection, was in the middle of apologizing to what felt like the entire world. His team, Trackhouse Racing, and everyone who had a hand in the No. 1 car. That’s when a hand tapped his back.” Can I talk to you for a second?” a familiar voice whispered. It was Denny Hamlin.

Chastain, looking drained, just nodded. Hamlin led him a few yards away from the throng of reporters, and the two turned their backs, their eyes fixed on the distant Turn 1 of the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. They began to talk. Given their history, you’d be forgiven for expecting fireworks. These two have a past, a rivalry that has played out on superspeedways, short tracks, and even podcasts.

They’re a study in contrasts. Hamlin, the seasoned veteran, is immensely talented and never shy about an opinion. Chastain, the aggressive disruptor who crashed the party in 2022, was a whirlwind of wall-rides, thrown punches, and jaw-dropping moments that both infuriated his rivals and electrified the fans. And on this Sunday, in a do-or-die playoff elimination race, their paths had crossed yet again, with everything on the line.

Hamlin and Chastain’s Last-Lap Tangle

It was the final lap. Chastain was fighting for his season, needing every single point to edge out Joey Logano and advance to the Round of 8. Then, Hamlin made his move, passing him clean in a turn. Desperation took the wheel for Chastain.He dove into the final braking zone, a Hail Mary attempt to reclaim the spot, and ended up plowing into Hamlin’s No. 11 car.

The result was a chaotic spin that took them both out of contention for a clean finish. Chastain had to throw his car into reverse just to limp across the finish line. It was a heartbreaking end. The points weren’t enough. His playoff run was over. Logano was moving on. All Chastain had to show for it was a battered car and a difficult conversation to have with one of his fiercest competitors.

The Trackhouse Heartbreak Hits An All-Time High

“It’s heartbreaking for almost 200 employees at Trackhouse, for our teammates, for ECR Engines, everybody that helps make this go round,” Chastain said, the emotion raw in his voice. “When you watch and you learn and you study for half your life: to get here and to fail is a terrible feeling.”

He knew what he did. “I know the 11 [Hamlin] is mad. I’m sure I would be too. He got by me clean and was giving me room, and I wiped him out. Just have to wake up tomorrow and go back to work, though.”But what happened next was a moment of pure sportsmanship.

Back on pit road, Hamlin learned what was at stake for Chastain in that final, frantic lap. He understood the desperation. The conversation they had, away from the prying eyes and microphones, was surprisingly calm. Later, they both told reporters a similar story: Hamlin regretted passing him, and Chastain regretted wrecking him.

How Hamlin Kept a Dangerous Rival in the Hunt

Hamlin’s regret wasn’t just about sportsmanship. It was strategic. He admitted he wished he hadn’t passed Chastain at all, and his reasoning had everything to do with Joey Logano. The field had a golden opportunity to eliminate Logano, a three-time champion who is notoriously tricky in the final four races. But now, he’s still in the hunt.

“I would’ve made the best decision for me,” Hamlin said with a knowing look. “I wish I would’ve known.”Hamlin, who was already locked into the next round, elaborated. “On pace, the one is faster than the 22. But obviously if it comes down to the Final Four, the 22 probably has a leg up there…

There were just crickets. Nobody said anything. Nobody told me anything. I wish they did.”When told about Hamlin’s comments, Logano just smiled. “We’re a dangerous team,” he said. “Anything can happen with us. We’re just a bunch of scrappers. We just keep grinding away.”

A Race Lost Before the Final Lap

For Chastain, the sting of elimination wasn’t just from the last-lap incident. The team had made critical errors earlier that put them in that vulnerable position. After a strong run to fourth in Stage 2, a speeding penalty on pit road killed their momentum.

“I would have liked to have not run off the end of pit road,” Chastain reflected, taking full responsibility. “And to not speed. To not miss Turn 7. I’ve got three big ones to spin in my head for a long time to come.”

Even his team owner, Justin Marks, acknowledged the team’s role in the outcome. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, you know, it was a bit self-inflicted on the 1 team. We shouldn’t have been in the position that we were in having to fight for one point on the last lap and having to throw Hail Marys.”

The Harsh Reality of the Playoffs 

This is the brutal, beautiful reality of the NASCAR playoffs. It creates drama, heartbreak, and moments of incredible tension. As Logano put it, “The playoffs make you question your morals.”

Sunday was a testament to that. One point was the difference. One desperate move changed everything. It created the kind of unforgettable drama that left rivals whispering on pit road, sharing regrets under the bright lights of the speedway, as two warriors wondered what might have been.