Ryan Blaney made contact with non-playoff driver Ross Chastain; NASCAR stepped in
On Sunday, NASCAR raced in Phoenix, Arizona. The 1-mile of Phoenix Raceway hosted the championship finale.
Late in the race, Ryan Blaney was battling Ross Chastain for the race win. The two drivers made contact.
Blaney was one of four drivers racing for a championship. Ross Chastain was no longer a part of the playoffs but he was in search of his second win of the 2023 season.
It was almost ugly. Blaney even tagged the outside wall as he aggressively attempted to take the lead away.
NASCAR was nervous. Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series finale ended in chaos. It appears they were attempting to avoid anything similar as during that heated battle, a NASCAR official approached Chastain’s spotter to send a message to the driver.
In the end, Chastain was able to grab the win. Blaney claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Phoenix Results: November 5, 2023 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Ross Chastain commented on the battle with Ryan Blaney
“I know he’s mad and I don’t care,” Ross Chastain stated after winning the race.
He added, “I do not car. I did not care then, I do not care now.”
“I’m here to race him. I’m not going to wreck him.”
“I gave him the bottom most times. One time I was inside of him after he got by me, I crossed back over into (Turn) 3 and I made sure to wrap the bottom. I’m not going to slide up and pinch him at all. It’s in my mind the entire time, for sure.”
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Ryan Blaney comments on the race with Ross Chastain
“There’s no secret that I can snap on the radio,” Blaney said after the race.
“That’s been my whole life. That’s been my whole career. It’s just kind of something I do.”
“The fact that Ross said I raced him hard, the dude blocked three lanes in the corner of every lap. I don’t know how I’m racing him hard.”
“Fucking right I hit him on purpose.”
“He blocked me on purpose, 10 times. What do you expect me to do?”
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NASCAR was in the ear of the spotters
Brett Griffin stated via Door Bumper Clear, “You guys worked the truck race right? How many times did NASCAR come over the radio to scald you to get these drivers under control?”
They responded, “Maybe one time.”
“How many times would have that happened if David Hoots was in that booth? We would have known that big brother was watching over is.”
“We also would have known that they’re listening. And that we better deliver the message.”
“Sometimes, you gotta send the Police in there to say, ‘Cut this crap out. You’re messing up my show.’ “
“In the driver’s meeting on Sunday Elton Sawyer said, ‘Ok, you saw what not to do Friday.’ “
Brett Griffin details, “When Blaney hit Ross Chastain, Ross Chastain’s spotter was fussed at by a NASCAR official. The official went down there and said, ‘What are you doing?’ “
“The guy’s like, ‘What am I doing? I’m trying to win a race.’ But, he didn’t want Ross Chastain to be racing Ryan Blaney that hard.”
“We gotta get back to the respect thing. But, I don’t know how we do that and do it right.”
Another story of the incident
Joel Edmonds stated, “At one point, Ross is all over the No. 12. Like, ‘If you don’t let me lead, I’m going to wreck you.’ “
“Finally, he just let him go and goes back to 3rd. Nobody’s watching their cars, we’re just looking at that.”
“But, I saw Socco comes scream at [Brandon] McRynolds. NASCAR was in Socco’s ear, to calm him down to keep the Hocevar thing from happening.”
“They’re not saying anything to the No. 12.”
Video of the drama from Friday night’s Truck race
