The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs reached a boiling point during the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. With playoff spots on the line, Ross Chastain executed a high-risk, high-reward maneuver on the final lap, attempting to pass Denny Hamlin. The move resulted in contact between the two cars, sending both spinning ahead of the finish line, and with Chastain using another one of his Hail Melon moves to cross the line. This dramatic turn of events set the stage for Hamlin’s reflections on the race.

In the aftermath, Hamlin addressed the incident with a measured perspective. During a post-race interview, he admitted to being unaware of the playoff implications surrounding Chastain’s position. Hamlin stated, “I wish I had known. I didn’t know anything about anything on that last run. I didn’t know if I was racing for 10th or 30th.” Although his admission seemed honest, some NASCAR veterans like Kevin Harvick are hard to convince

Kevin Harvick skeptical of Denny Hamlin’s post-race explanation

In a discussion with co-hosts Mamba Smith and Kaitlyn Vincie on his Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick offered his perspective on Denny Hamlin’s actions and post-race comments. “Denny Hamlin was not going to pass him. If Ross makes that corner, I mean, that whole thing gets stacked up, and I think it’s two things. I don’t think Denny wanted to pass him, because I think he knew that it was going to turn into a sh–storm when he tried to pass him, getting run into, run over the curbs. I don’t think that he wanted the controversy, and I don’t think that he wanted to race Joey Logano.”

Harvick also emphasized that Hamlin’s restraint was a calculated move, understanding the potential consequences of aggressive maneuvers in a high-stakes playoff scenario. He emphasized that Hamlin’s awareness of the playoff points battle, particularly concerning competitors like Joey Logano, influenced his decision to maintain position rather than risk unnecessary conflict. Smith added to that, saying, “And he also was like, I would have done something different. And it seemed like he was not trying to push the one that hard, and coming through 7 to get back on the racetrack, Ross got free on entry, and like he had no choice but to pass him.”

Smith posited that Hamlin’s decision was influenced by the dynamics between Chastain and Logano. But Harvick highlighted that it was always a “damned it you do, damned if you don’t moment” for Hamlin. “It was going to turn into a war. Like, Ross knew that he didn’t need to pass him. Denny didn’t need anybody to tell him on the radio what was happening. He knew exactly what was best for him, and he referred to it in his interview. He knew exactly what was best for him in the round of eight, and he did not want to have to race Joey Logano. He also didn’t want a war with Ross Chastain because it was going to be a war all the way to the end.”

During the critical final laps, Joe Gibbs Racing maintained radio silence, a decision that Hamlin later explained as a response to heightened sensitivity following a similar situation in the previous year. “They felt very hyper sensitive to what happened last year. And at that point I said, ‘Just let me know how desperate the person is that I’m racing.’ Now I know how to attack them. If I know that they’re going to be desperate, I’m going to say, ‘Okay, well, I need to approach this a little differently.’ And then when I get around them, I need to get the hell out,” Hamlin said.

In the 2024 NASCAR playoff elimination race at Martinsville, 23XI Racing attracted a $100,00 fine for aiding a teammate. Bubba Wallace had slowed down to help out Tyler Reddick, and the Denny Hamlin co-owned team was also docked 50 owner points for the incident. But Harvick knew that this time was different, “Denny’s way too smart. He knew exactly what was happening. That’s why there was no radio chatter because it didn’t matter where he was racing. He knew what the situation was with the 1.”

Smith agreed, saying, “He’s a very cerebral and intentional individual. He knows what’s going on in this void, in the race car, all the things at all times. If I’m team Penske, especially Joey Logano’s group, and I hear that,  I’m like, ‘oh, we’re in your head.’ Like, this is free rent. You’re worried about us.” By choosing not to engage aggressively, Hamlin effectively neutralized the risk of escalating tensions that could have led to on-track incidents, or so he thought.

Now, looking at Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney progressing to the Round of 8, they have consistently been strong playoff contenders. By Phoenix, no one wants to face them. On the other hand, Hamlin has been equally worried for the team he co-owns.

Denny Hamlin weighs in on 23XI Racing’s Roval misstep

Tyler Reddick entered the Bank of America 400 with the pole in hand after edging Shane van Gisbergen by just 0.032 seconds. “We wanted to prioritize setting up to win the race,” Reddick explained after missing the Round of 8 by 14 points. Early stage performance kept his playoff hopes alive, but the final stage revealed a strategic misstep that ultimately cost him.

Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts on Reddick’s approach during his podcast, questioning whether chasing a win over points was the right call. “I think at that point, yeah, you probably maybe play the race a little differently because if he goes in there and he scores top three stage points in each stage, he would have had an extra how many,” Hamlin said, referencing Reddick’s 2nd-place finish in Stage 2 and struggle in Stage 1. Tire drop-off, unanticipated until Saturday practice, left Reddick buried in Stage 3, and his long-run strategy didn’t pay off.

“Listen, nobody’s beating SVG right now. So to make that call, I think, was a bad decision,” Hamlin added, agreeing with the criticism that it forced Reddick into a tough spot. Crew chief Billy Scott instructed tire saving early, stretching the run in hopes of a late caution that never arrived. Reddick reflected post-race: “I think you could pick it apart, a couple restarts and what not, just kind of, as the race unfolded, our long run was not where it needed to be with the top guys.”

Hamlin suggested a more balanced approach could have helped: max stage points first, then push for the win if necessary.