Chastain coping with role as villain
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Ross Chastain thinks things went too far last week in punching Noah Gragson in the pits at Kansas.
However, the NASCAR points leader says he feels more comfortable in his growing role as the Cup series’ reigning bad boy.
Gragson confronted Chastain after a late-race incident and took a punch from Chastain before personnel broke it up.
“I feel security stepped in about 10 seconds too quick,” Kyle Busch said Saturday.
Expect blood pressure to rise at Darlington Raceway, where the Goodyear 400 takes place Sunday. The track “Too Tough To Tame” has traditionally gotten drivers sideways both during and after the checkered flag waves.
Chastain would prefer to talk out issues with rival drivers, but he stood by his actions at Kansas.
“I’m not saying that every time in a little bit different situation (I’m) going to react like that,” he said. “I want to talk to guys and have conversations, but last week was too far.”
Chastain will start fifth on Sunday. Martin Truex Jr., who won this event in 2021, won the pole with Bubba Wallace alongside in second. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was third ahead of William Byron. Daniel Suarez starts sixth, ahead of Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski.
Chastain cleared the air with Gragson on Monday and believes the scuffle is finished. Yet, Chastain remains the focal point for driver and fan anger over his aggressive style.
Denny Hamlin was fined money and points after acknowledging he intentionally hit Chastain late in the Phoenix race two months ago.
There have been disagreements with Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and even calmer, less confrontational racers like Martin Truex Jr. and Aric Almirola.
Xfinity: Kyle Larson rallied from 30th starting the final stage, bumping John Hunter Nemechek coming out of the final turn as the two raced to the finish line to win the Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway. Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, was making his first start of the season in the Triple A Series. It looked like his chance at a win ended when he was assessed a pit-road speeding penalty that dropped him to 30th before the final stretch.