Denny Hamlin crashes Ross Chastain out of the NASCAR points lead
Update: Denny Hamlin fined by after incident with Ross Chastain at Phoenix
On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series raced at the 1-mile of Phoenix Raceway in Arizona. A feud resurfaced between Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain in the final 2 laps of the race.
Watch the Denny Hamlin vs Ross Chastain video below.
In June 2022, Ross Chastain shoved Hamlin in the wall at Gateway. Hamlin then gave Chastain a hard time for the next several laps as Hamlin ran multiple laps down.
Ross Chastain vs Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott at WWT Raceway (Video)
A month later, Ross Chastain drove it deep into the corner at Atlanta Motor Speedway. As he got loose and chased it up the hill, he tagged Hamlin in the left rear. Hamlin was sent for a spin.
Ross Chastain crashes Denny Hamlin at Atlanta (Video)
Just a few races later, Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin were racing for the win at Pocono Raceway. On a restart, Hamlin ran Chastain wide and forced him into the outside wall.
Hamlin went on to grab the win at Pocono Raceway. However, he was later disqualified.
Denny Hamlin crashes Ross Chastain for Pocono win; Payback (Video)
Denny Hamlin disqualified after NASCAR win at Pocono Raceway
In the second to last race of the 2022 season, Hamlin and Chastain were in a battle for the final transfer spot into the championship finale. On the final lap at Martinsville Speedway, Chastain entered turn three and never lifted.
Chastain rode the wall, passing five cars in the viral video game move. In one corner, Chastain passed 5 cars and advanced into the championship race, eliminating Hamlin.
Ross Chastain rides wall at Martinsville; Passes 5 cars (Video)
Now, the feud continues into the 2023 season…
Phoenix Raceway incidents
With just 3 laps to go, Ty Gibbs tagged the wall as AJ Allmendinger spun. That sent the race into overtime.
As the green flag dropped in NASCAR overtime, Denny Hamlin ran wide into turn one with Ross Chastain on his outside. He put Chastain into the wall.
Chastain stayed in the throttle, rode the wall and exited turn two ahead of Hamlin. As they rolled down the backstretch, Chastain gave Hamlin a brake check. Hamlin drove into the back of him.
As they entered turn three, Hamlin gased it up early. He got to the rear bumper of Chastain again. This time, Chastain chased it up the hill and Hamlin worked under him for the position.
They crossed the line with Hamlin in 23rd and Chastain in 24th. Before the final restart, Chastain would have exited the race as the points leader.
After the race, the two met on the pit lane. They had a driver to driver discussion about the incidents.
Phoenix Race Results: March 12, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Denny Hamlin vs Ross Chastain
Phoenix Raceway
Video
Update: Denny Hamlin fined by after incident with Ross Chastain at Phoenix
