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AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 28: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Busch Light Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas on February 28, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The NASCAR race at Phoenix Raceway ended with a wreck between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain. The bigger story came a day later when Logano picked up the phone.
Ross Chastain revealed that Joey Logano called him after the NASCAR race to talk through the Lap 217 crash that triggered a multi-car wreck during the Straight Talk Wireless 500. The call quickly cleared the air between the two Cup Series drivers.
Phoenix Raceway delivered late chaos when the restart stacked up the field and damaged several cars. But according to Chastain, the situation between the drivers was resolved almost immediately after the race weekend.
Ross Chastain Says Joey Logano Called After Phoenix NASCAR Race
Ross Chastain said Joey Logano contacted him directly after the NASCAR race at Phoenix Raceway. The conversation focused on the restart incident that knocked both drivers out of contention.
“But we talked, he gave me a call. Joey and I have a good working relationship; we’re very alike. I’ve studied him throughout my career, before I got to Cup, and when I got here. And tried to be like him.”
Chastain made it clear that the call helped resolve the situation quickly.
“So we have a good relationship, and that was just a bad deal, but we’re totally good, we had a good conversation on Monday.”
In a sport where rivalries often grow after on-track incidents, the quick conversation helped prevent the Phoenix crash from turning into a bigger storyline.
Joey Logano Had a Fast Car Before the NASCAR Race Incident
The contact during the restart erased what had been shaping up as a strong NASCAR race for Joey Logano. The Team Penske driver showed competitive speed throughout the afternoon.
After the race, Logano reflected on how the late crash changed his result.
“We had a good Mustang, probably a top three or four car, and it just really hurts to be here.”
The No. 22 Ford ran near the front of the field for much of the race before the Lap 217 restart changed everything. After the incident, Joey Logano dropped deep in the running order and finished outside the top 30 instead of contending for a strong result.
The crash involved multiple cars and reshaped the final laps of the NASCAR race, altering how the closing stages unfolded.
Ross Chastain Explains What Happened During Phoenix Restart
Ross Chastain said the incident began with a restart that did not go as planned. The Trackhouse Racing driver acknowledged that the launch created an opportunity for Logano behind him.
“I got a bad restart in my opinion. He got a run, and he ran into the back bumper.”
Phoenix Raceway is known for aggressive NASCAR restarts because the field compresses quickly as it enters Turn 1. Drivers often fight for position immediately, increasing the likelihood of contact.
That is exactly what unfolded during the Lap 217 restart.
Austin Cindric, Anthony Alfredo, and Bubba Wallace were also caught in the crash as the field stacked up entering the corner.
Ross Chastain Says Joey Logano’s Experience Stands Out
Despite the incident, Ross Chastain spoke with respect about Joey Logano’s driving style and experience in the Cup Series.
“He’s not that much older than me, but has so much experience and some of the things he does behind the wheel in the Gen-6 and Gen-7 cars that I think are very productive.”
Chastain said he studied Logano’s approach to racing long before reaching the Cup Series himself.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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