DARLINGTON, S.C.: Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson had two of the fastest cars in Sunday’s Goodyear 400, but both drivers clashed in the closing laps of the NASCAR Cup Series race eliminating them from competition at the famed Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
After being squeezed into the wall earlier in the race by Larson, Chastain made the Lap 288 restart challenging for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, but his decision not only eliminated him from his first Cup win in over a year but took him out of the race.
Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro while wounded – managed to limp to a frustrating 20th place finish at the checkered flag.
Chastain, the No. 1 UPS – Worldwide Express Chevrolet Camaro driver for Trackhouse Racing admitted after being evaluated and released from the infield care center that his intentions were to squeeze Larson on the restart in Turns 1 and 2 – but never had any intentions of ruining both their races.
“Full commit,” said Chastain of his plan. “I got really tight and drove up and turned myself. I wanted to squeeze him and wanted to push him up, we had been trading back and forth all day and I wanted to push him up for sure, but I definitely did not want to turn myself into the wall.
“We had a shot, that’s all we can ask for.”
Larson, who recovered from a pit road mistake where his car fell of the jack and had to muscle his way back through the field in hopes of capturing his third victory of the season declined to speak with the media following the race.
Larson climbed from his battered car and quietly walked back to his team transporter and later exited the track without comment to television, media or radio.
Team owner Rick Hendrick, however, discussed Larson’s bad luck during a post-race news conference after Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron netted his third win of the season in the 295-lap race.
“I feel sorry — I feel bad for Kyle (Larson) because he had a really good car and drove the wheels off of it. I hate to see that happen at that stage of the race,” said Hendrick.
Hendrick also vented about Chastain’s driving style on the track – believing Chastain, the two-time Cup Series winner does not to be an aggressive as he has been on track.
“I think you can ask any driver in here that he’s wrecked or been involved with him,” added Hendrick. “He doesn’t have to be that aggressive, and I guess at this point in the race maybe you’re super aggressive, but you just don’t run people up in the fence or just — he’s not going to — he’s going to make a lot of enemies.”
Hendrick animatedly added, “It’s hard to win a championship when you’ve got a lot of paybacks out there.”
The powerhouse team owner did not shy away from Chastain’s ability behind the wheel – but said the number of growing unhappy drivers with his on-track decisions could spell trouble for the Alva, Fla. native down the road.
“He’s got so much talent,” remarked Hendrick. “I think if he just calmed down that there’s a time in the race — Dale Earnhardt Sr. told me one time — I won’t name the driver that drove for me, but he said, he’s got all the talent, he just doesn’t know how to race, meaning he just knows when to race, when to push it.
“He’s got a lot of talent, but he’s making a lot of enemies out here.”
Hendrick referenced Larson’s crew chief Cliff Daniels frustration about three separate incidents where Chastain was involved in some capacity that ended their day.
“(For) Kyle, this one and Dover and just — Talladega, it’s really getting old with these guys.”
When asked if Hendrick believed Chevrolet needed to step-in and address the on-going aggression from Chastain, Hendrick did not believe it was the manufacturer’s responsibility.
“I don’t know if Chevrolet can cool it down,” Hendrick said. “I don’t know that. That’s not the way they usually operate. It’s either NASCAR or the drivers, the owners. You’ve heard the pit crew say before, we like it. We don’t care if people like us. We’re here to run over and win.”
Hendrick did say he told Chevrolet executives that if Chastain wrecked any of his racecars, he would expect his drivers to stand their ground.
“I don’t care if he’s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars. I don’t care, and I told Chevrolet that,” sounded Hendrick. “If you wreck us, you’re going to get it back. If you don’t do it, they’ll run all over you.
“I’m loyal to Chevrolet, but when somebody runs over us, then I expect my guys to hold their ground. I’m not going to ask them to yield just because of Chevrolet.
“If it doesn’t change, he’s going to have a hard time winning a championship.”
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