William Byron came away with an unexpected victory on Darlington on Sunday after Chastain and Larson clashed on the ultimate restart, with Chastain’s techniques as soon as once more dominating dialog after the race.
Larson squeezed Chastain into the wall on a restart with 13 laps remaining as he tried to carry on to his lead. Then on the following restart, following a multi-car accident that ensued behind, Chastain tried the same transfer to try to maintain off Larson however each automobiles ended up wrecking.
Larson’s Hendrick Motorsport team-mate Byron inherited the lead and held on in time beyond regulation for his third win of 2023, whereas Chastain ended up within the storage as Larson limped house to complete 20th.
Requested to explain the incident, Chastain mentioned: “Full commit. I acquired actually tight and drove up and turned myself. I wished to squeeze him and wished to push him up.
“We had been buying and selling forwards and backwards all day and I wished to push him up for certain, however I positively didn’t need to flip myself into the wall. We had a shot, that’s all we will ask for.”
Larson declined interview requests following the race.
Larson’s staff proprietor Rick Hendrick credited Chastain as a really gifted driver, however mentioned he wanted to tone down his aggression if he ever hoped to win a NASCAR championship.
“I believe you’ll be able to ask any driver in right here that he’s wrecked or been concerned with him,” mentioned Hendrick.
“He doesn’t should be that aggressive, and I suppose at this level within the race possibly you’re tremendous aggressive, however you simply don’t run individuals up within the fence.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, JTG Daugherty Racing, Kroger/Nation Crock Chevrolet Camaro and Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, Worldwide Categorical / UPS Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Images
“He’s going to make a whole lot of enemies. It’s laborious to win a championship whenever you’ve acquired a whole lot of paybacks on the market.
“With Kyle (Larson), this one and Dover and simply Talladega, it’s actually getting outdated with these guys.”
Chastain was concerned in a pitlane scuffle at Kansas with Noah Gragson after the Legacy Motor Membership driver confronted him after the race.
He has additionally had a number of confrontations with Denny Hamlin, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver having factors retrospectively deducted after he admitted on a podcast to deliberately walling Chastain at Phoenix earlier this 12 months.
