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

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