CONCORD, N.C. — Shane van Gisbergen won his fifth consecutive race on a road or street course Sunday with a victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano narrowly moved on to the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs in a nail-biter with Ross Chastain.
Logano found himself in a close race against Chastain, who was below the cutline and in danger of elimination until Logano failed to put together a strong enough race on the hybrid road course/oval at Charlotte.
Chastain seemed to have Logano on the ropes until a last-lap collision with Denny Hamlin sent Chastain spinning. He crossed the finish line backward in 21st, one spot behind Logano.
The playoff ield was cut from 12 drivers to eight after the race. Logano’s fate was never really considered as most believed the final slot in the playoff field would go to a driver below the cutline, and only if van Gisbergen was finally stopped.
Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell both put tough challenges on van Gisbergen, but the New Zealander emerged from a car-slamming battle with Larson through the turns with 14 laps remaining and took the lead for good with 11 laps remaining.
That eliminated any shot for Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing, or Austin Cindric of Team Penske, claiming the final playoff position. Chastain of Trackhouse Racing remained in the hunt, though, as Logano could never get his Penske Ford running well enough to secure his spot in the playoffs.
It was similar to a year ago when Logano left Charlotte eliminated from the playoffs, only to learn hours later while having dinner with his family that Alex Bowman had been disqualified and Logano was back in the field. He went on to win the Cup Series championship.
Logano made a late pit stop for fresh tires, Chastain did not, and Chastain was forced to race the final stretch trying to make his old Goodyears last long enough to get into the round of eight.
The eight drivers moving on to the third round of the playoffs are Ryan Blaney and Logano of Penske; Chase Elliott, Larson, and William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports; and Hamlin, Bell, and Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Chastain, Cindric, Reddick, and Wallace were eliminated — which takes both of the Michael Jordan-owned cars out of title contention.
Cindric opened Sunday ranked last in the 12-driver playoff field and never had a shot to race for the win that would have prevented his elimination.
He spun early, was hit by another driver in the second stage, and had to go to the garage for lengthy repairs. That made him the first of four drivers eliminated.
NASCAR opens the third round of the playoffs Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Logano won last year to earn a berth into the championship-deciding finale. He went on to win his third Cup Series title, most among active drivers.