Yesterday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway went all the way down to a last-lap duel between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. Hamlin tapped Larson’s rear bumper to place him within the backstretch wall and take his first NASCAR Cup Sequence victory of the season. Nonetheless, the race’s dramatic conclusion was overshadowed by a struggle on pit street between Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain and Legacy Motor Membership’s Noah Gragson.
In case you missed it:
Throughout the race, Gragson was operating side-by-side with Chastain by flip 4 and was compelled up into the wall. The Legacy Motor Membership driver would instantly door Chastain’s N0. 1 Camaro because the pair continued down the frontstretch. Chastain completed fifth, and Gragson crossed the end line 5 laps behind in twenty ninth. Gragson’s frustration wouldn’t go away after the race ended, and he confronted the Trackhouse driver on pit street.
The dialog went south shortly as Gragson grabbed Chastain by the firesuit. Chastain tried to again out of the confrontation whereas warning Gragson to cease. After Gragson shouted, “What the fuck is your fucking drawback?”, the watermelon farmer thew a proper cross into Gragson’s jaw. Onlookers shortly intervened to tug Gragson away as Chastain smirked.
After the struggle, each drivers gave their two cents to Fox Sports activities about what occurred out on monitor. Chastain stated:
“I obtained tight off of [turn] 4, for positive. Noah and I’ve a really related perspective on the racetrack and we prepare collectively, we put together collectively, we all know each little bit about one another. I positively crowded him up off of 4, and he took a swipe at us in three, after which got here down and grabbed a maintain of me. A really large man as soon as instructed me we’ve a no-push coverage right here at Trackhouse.”
“Simply obtained fenced by the No. 1. He took care of us at Talladega. We’re Chevrolet teammates and he didn’t work with us there. After which fenced us right here and I’m simply over it. No one else has the balls to at the very least confront him, so for those who don’t at the very least simply seize him and do one thing, he’s simply going to maintain doing it, and I’m over it. It’s the second time.”
Chastain has endeared himself to NASCAR followers with his watermelon-smashing victory celebration and final yr’s desperation “Hail Melon!” wall-ride maneuver. Although, the watermelon farmer continues to rub a lot of his rivals the flawed manner together with his aggressive and infrequently reckless driving fashion.