The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs always have those moments that can flip the championship on its head. And this year, the Kansas race had one such moment. Denny Hamlin, on the cusp of his milestone 60th win, came on Bubba Wallace’s side on the final lap and nudged him a bit, thinking he was the only driver left to beat. But Chase Elliott sprang up from oblivion and stole the win from Hamlin on that very same lap. On the surface, it looks like yet another case where Team Penske, masters of playoff tactics, benefited from the misfortune of others.

But is it fair to say Denny Hamlin may have inadvertently handed Roger Penske another shot at the Cup by denying Toyota a strategic advantage? To answer that, it’s worth re-examining Joey Logano’s 2024 title run, the Kansas chaos, and why Penske’s l

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