Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson crashed while racing for the lead at Darlington Raceway
For the umpteenth week in a row, Ross Chastain was involved in an on-track incident. This time, it took place between Chastain and Kyle Larson during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
Toward the beginning of the final stage, Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson started on the front row. Chastain picked the inside lane and when they went into turn one, Chastain forced Larson up the track, leaving just inches. Larson lightly brushed the wall and Chastain took the lead.
With 14 to go, the two found themselves on the front row once more. This time, Larson entered turn one on the inside. He gave Chastain a dose of his own medicine. Larson ran wide into turn one, forcing Chastain to rub the outside wall.
However, Truex Jr crashed behind them. At the time of the caution, Chastain was the leader.
“He drove us right in it,” Chastain said on the team radio. “He’s going to have to hit us harder than that.”
On a restart with 6 to go, Chastain restarted on the inside lane. Larson entered turn one on his right rear in an attempt to pinch Chastain down. Chastain came up the track, doored Larson and turned himself into the fence. Both cars picked up heavy damage.
“What a heck,” the No. 5 team stated over the radio.
Crew chief Cliff Daniels noted, “That’s three races he’s taken us out of. Chevrolet, good job. Three races that 1 car has taken us out of.”
Darlington Race Results: May 14, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Rick Hendrick comments
Rick Hendrick is the owner of the No. 5 car.
“I think you could ask any driver in here that he’s wrecked or been involved with him, he doesn’t have to be that aggressive,” Rick Hendrick stated from the media center.
“At this point in the race, I guess maybe you’re super aggressive. But, you don’t just run people up in the fence.”
“He’s going to make a lot of enemies. And, it’s hard to win a championship when you got a lot of paybacks out there.”
“He’s got so much talent. I think that if he just calmed down — Dale Earnhardt Sr told me one time, I won’t name the driver, he said, ‘He’s got all the talent, he just doesn’t know how to race.’ “
“He’s got a lot of talent but he’s making a lot of enemies out here. Kyle, this one, Dover and Talladega. It’s really getting old for these guys.”
Just a week prior, Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson had a scuffle on the pit lane after the race.
NASCAR Fight: Ross Chastain vs Noah Gragson in Kansas (Video)
Ross Chastain comments
“Full commit into turn one,” Ross Chastain told Fox Sports.
“I got really tight. And drove up and turned myself. I wanted to squeeze him, I wanted to push him up. We’d been trading back and forth all day.”
“I wanted to push him up, for sure. But, I definitely didn’t want to turn myself.”
Ross Chastain vs Kyle Larson
Darlington Raceway
Related: Chastain Incidents
This is again the latest in a string of incidents involving the driver of the No. 1 car.
Ross Chastain crashes Poole, collects Larson at Dover (Video)
Ross Chastain crashes Denny Hamlin at Atlanta (Video)
Denny Hamlin admits retaliation on Ross Chastain at Phoenix (Video)
Kyle Busch jokes Ross Chastain needs glasses; Chastain rejects (Video)
Chastain spins Chase Elliott in championship race; Drivers comment (Video)
Chastain, Christopher Bell trade words after Michigan crash
