Hamlin may regret letting Logano advance over Chastain

There is a part of Denny Hamlin that is already prepared to regret effectively permitting Joey Logano to advance in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Logano and Ross Chastain spent much of the second half of the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval going back-and-forth for the final transfer spot. Chastain, on older tires, lost his advantage when Hamlin passed him on the final lap.

A desperate Chastain then full-sent his way into Hamlin on the frontstetch chicane. The crash wiped them both out but it didn’t get him the spot he needed back. Logano advanced to the Round of 8 and Hamlin was left wondering if he should have just laid off Chastain.

He said as much to crew chief Chris Gayle upon climbing out of the car.

“I would not have passed him,” Hamlin said emphatically.

Why? Well, Logano is the defending three-time champion but that also would have meant the potential for one less Team Penske driver in the final four at Phoenix Raceway where they have won the past three championships.

Hamlin was more coy when asked about it moments after his exchange with Gayle.

“I mean, truthfully, I wish I would have just known what the last scenario was, and then I could make the best decision I can for me,” Hamlin said. “I was surprised because no one told me anything and so I just had no idea. Truthfully, I didn’t know if I was racing for 25th or 10th. I had no idea my position.”

Okay, if that were true and he could do it over, what is the best decision for him?

“I would have made the best decision for me.”

Hamlin repeated that three times, by the way.

What is the best decision for Hamlin between facing Logano or Chastain, who by the way, has also won at Phoenix in the NextGen.

“On pace, (Chastain) is faster than (Logano) but obviously it comes down to the Final Four,” Hamlin said. “I mean, (Logano) probably has a leg up there, but again, I’m just trying to advance and I don’t know if I was running for 10th or 25th.”

In the case of Chastain, his move was just born of desperation, because crew chief Phil Surgen left him out on older tires even after Paul Wolfe called down Logano just so they could stay on the offensive.

Chastain wanted no part of questioning his crew chief.

“That’s up to Chevy, GM and Phil Surgen and all of Trackhouse so I don’t have a clue,” Chastain said. “I would have liked to not have run off the end of pit road and not speed and miss Turn 7. I have three big ones to spin in my head for a long time to come.”

Regardless, once Hamlin got by him, the decisive spot in the points lost, Chastain had one task.

“Get to the No. 11,” Chastain said of the final lap. “They said I had to be in the front of the No. 11. So, I did what I had to do to be in front of the No. 11.”

He sent it right through Hamlin, but that let several cars pass them both, even as Chastain threw it into reverse to try to get to the line as quickly as possible.

“They were innocent bystanders in it,” Chastain said. “Whether he knew (the point situation) or not, I don’t know, but I would hate to be in that position. Well, the past speaks for itself that I’m aware of my surroundings, and I am sorry to them. Sorry to Denny. Sorry to JGR and his whole team. They were definitely innocent bystanders.”

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images

Nevertheless, Logano lives to see the Round of 8, just as dramatically as he did last year and both he and his crew chief want to validate what is easily perceived as fear.

“We’re a dangerous team,” Logano said. “Anything can happen with us. We’re just a bunch of scrappers. We just keep grinding away. That’s the way we operate. We keep going and going, stay alive, and we got it to work out.”

Wolfe echoed those sentiments.

“We’re obviously never out of it,” Wolfe said. “We never give up. I’d like to have more speed. Using a strategy to get us through a lot of times is not what I want to do but it works a majority of times. We have to play to our strengths, I guess.

“There are some good tracks in this final round here for us and we have as good a shot as anyone.”

Especially if they make the final four and Hamlin knows it.

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– The Motorsport.com Team