One racer's name was on the lips of the NASCAR community following Sunday's inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300. It wasn't Joey Logano, who secured a victory after expertly executing a slide job on Kyle Busch in overtime.
Rather, it was Ross Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver had an eventful day at Gateway with separate collisions involving Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott. He said the contact was unintentional, but he also believed his error-filled day was "unacceptable at this level of racing."
Ross Chastain: “It’s just terrible driving on my part. I should not be in this car if I’m going to do that.” pic.twitter.com/WgwHdjxQZ0
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 5, 2022
In fact, Chastain was highly apologetic and self-critical after the race. He finished eighth, a solid position, all things considered, but he knew he made some serious errors that likely ruined the day for two of stock car racing's biggest stars.
And although Chastain says he didn't mean to cause issues on the track, he knows what the repercussions will likely be.
"I owe half the field an apology. Words aren't going to fix it, so I'll have to pay for it on the track. Almost did today," Chastain told Fox Sports' Jamie Little. "And I deserve everything that they do — I can't believe that I continue to make the same mistakes and overdrive the corners and drive into guys."
Chastain got into hot water early when he clipped the rear bumper of Hamlin's No. 11 car in Stage 1. Hamlin finished the race in 34th place; he was unable to rebuild momentum after the contact.
ššš@RossChastain and @dennyhamlin have contact in Turn 1. pic.twitter.com/xk5Z2PweH6
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 5, 2022
After the race, Hamlin was blunt about Chastain's performance.
MORE: NASCAR at Gateway results
He stopped short of saying Chastain intended to hit him, but Chastain's aggressive driving did seem to take the wind out of Hamlin's sails. After winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte last weekend in the longest race in NASCAR history, Hamlin struggled to find a rhythm at Gateway — something he attributed to his dust-up with Chastain.
Hamlin pledged that Chastain will pay dearly.
Denny Hamlin said when he pays back Ross Chastain, it will be meaningful and when he least expects it, that you have to “fence these guys hard” to get their attention.
More of what Hamlin said about Chastain after Gateway: pic.twitter.com/B0SCkCct6r
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 5, 2022
Elliott, the Cup Series point leader, appeared to have gotten back in the race in Stage 2 — at least until Chastain ran into him in Turn 4. Elliott's No. 9 car spun and then stopped on the track, as did Bubba Wallace's No. 23 car. The caution flag was waved shortly thereafter. Elliott finished 21st.
"I mean, what was [Chastain] doing? He ran me over getting into [Turn] 3 and then ran me over again."- Chase Elliott https://t.co/R4rtxNmc9L pic.twitter.com/tOUUL069YG
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 5, 2022
Elliott and Hamlin both tried to make Chastain feel their presence after the restart. Elliott got up close and personal, sending Chastain toward the wall. Hamlin came up behind Elliott and made a tight pass on Chastain's No. 1 car that poured life into the Fox Sports broadcast.
š± pic.twitter.com/4QXV3PbYXM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 5, 2022
It appears that those moves were a preview of what Chastain is going to encounter this summer.
"filled" - Google News
June 06, 2022 at 08:57AM
https://ift.tt/3DZ9kix
Ross Chastain on his wreck-filled performance at Gateway: 'Should not be in this car if I’m going to do that' - Sporting News
"filled" - Google News
https://ift.tt/7audj3X
https://ift.tt/zj0ZtF8
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Ross Chastain on his wreck-filled performance at Gateway: 'Should not be in this car if I’m going to do that' - Sporting News"
Post a Comment