Ross Chastain’s playoff dreams came painfully close to survival, but the chaos of the Charlotte Roval had other plans. For weeks, Chastain and the No. 1 Trackhouse team fought tooth and nail from the wrong side of the cutline, clawing for every stage point and track position as the postseason wound through its most merciless phase. Then, as the white flag dropped and desperation ramped up, it was Denny Hamlin (Chastain’s old rival) who became the unlikely difference-maker in a dramatic finale.

The playoff drama at the Charlotte Roval came down to a nail-biting final lap, with Denny Hamlin’s pass on Ross Chastain shaping the outcome of the Round of 12 cutline. Marks defended Hamlin’s actions bluntly: “I think ultimately, you know, everybody’s out here to try to get the best finish and the best result for their team, and I don’t think anybody really owes it to anybody else to try to help anybody else.”

For the 109 laps of the 17-turn road course/oval hybrid, Logano and Chastain were inseparable at the cutline. It was like Logano was ahead for one lap, and Chastain would pass him on the very next lap. Now throw in heavy tire falloff and the importance of strategy and pit road execution, and you have quite the battle on a 2.28-mile circuit. And then came Hamlin in the mix.

As he passed Chastain in Turn 7 and the 32-year-old pushed for his last effort in the frontstretch chicane, which ultimately sent both cars spinning before the chequered flag. That was the moment that unfolded in Joey Logano’s rearview mirror as he crossed the finish line in 20th over Chastain in 21st with a 0.167 margin. However, it was only enough for Logano to grab the final semifinal spot by four points.

Marks appreciated Hamlin’s candidness, saying, “I think it’s nice to hear, like, Denny say those things, but, you know, Denny’s doing what he’s got to do for the 11 team and try to get the best finish that he can for the 11 team.” Every point matters to Hamlin and his team as they fight for playoff positioning, underscoring the fierce competitiveness of NASCAR’s playoff system. Currently, Hamlin is on top of the playoff standings (+8 points), but given the unpredictability of the sport, nothing is guaranteed. Plus, he is also aiming for a personal milestone of 60 wins.

However, Marks was quick to acknowledge the self-inflicted challenges that put Ross Chastain in this precarious spot. “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 and all that kind of stuff.”

Mistakes from Chastain’s team, most notably a missed pit road speed and the resulting penalty, which put him as low as 30th, compounded the pressure. But it was the No. 22 Ford that slipped up first with a slow change on the right-front tire in the final stage as Chastain drove by their pit stop. But as the laps wound down, the defending champion’s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, made the call to pit his driver with 10 laps to go. And that is what made all the difference. In a sport where every second counts, these errors became costly lessons, making the playoff exit even more bitter for Chastain and his team.

Marks’ defense of Denny Hamlin brings perspective to the high-stakes environment where drivers work hard for their teams, while underscoring that playoff heartbreak often stems from a mix of circumstance, split-second decisions, and prior missteps.

Denny Hamlin shares his side of the story

Denny Hamlin’s day at the Charlotte Roval ended with a mix of embarrassment and relief and a little bit of “what just happened?” energy. On the final lap of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 finale, Hamlin got tangled up with Ross Chastain in a move that, depending on who you ask, was either bold or desperate. But according to Hamlin, the whole thing was just bad communication.

The veteran admitted he didn’t even realize Chastain was coming up behind him. His spotter never called it out, leaving Hamlin completely unaware of the No. 1 car’s approach. “I would not have passed him if I knew he was there,” Hamlin said flatly after the race, clearly frustrated by the lack of info.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if I was racing for 10th or 30th,” Hamlin told USA Network afterward. “I didn’t hear anything from the spotter, didn’t know where anyone was. I missed my marks a few times, wasn’t very good, just trying to get one more position for next week’s qualifying metric. I wish I would’ve known. I could’ve made a different move.”

Despite the contact, Hamlin didn’t place any blame on Chastain. “I don’t fault Ross at all,” he said. “He was going for it. I just wish I’d known he was there.” It’s classic playoff chaos. One driver’s heartbreak becomes another’s lifeline. And for Hamlin, that bit of luck might just keep his championship hopes alive heading into Las Vegas.