“A Little Bit of Sh*t Talking”- Kenny Wallace Defends Ross Chastain’s Controversial Ryan Blaney Run-In With Bold NASCAR Claim

For the first time in the history of NASCAR’s present-day elimination-style format, the champion did not come home as the fastest driver. On the contrary, Team Penske‘s Ryan Blaney who is the newly crowned Cup Series champion was held to the 2nd position by Trackhouse Racing‘s Ross Chastain who won the Phoenix battle.

Despite getting ousted from the tournament in the round of 12, Chastain fended off the champion’s attack, partly stealing the limelight, and initiating a new debate in NASCAR nation. Reflecting on the Blaney-Chastain stunt in Phoenix, NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace gave his take on the matter, mentioning how the fiasco gave way to what he called the “watercooler talk” in the community as the 60-year-old defended the #1 driver with a solid claim.

Kenny Wallace dissects the infamous Ryan Blaney-Ross Chastain tussle that made history in Phoenix

It was a Ford sweep at the desert track in Arizona. The Fords reigned at the top in Truck and Xfinity Series except in the Cup Series. Ryan Blaney has won the war, taking the title back to Team Penske, gifting Roger Penske his back-to-back titles after Joey Logano won it last year.

While the Fords took over the championship, taking all three major NASCAR titles, the Cup Series race had an exception. Unlike the Truck and Xfinity Series events, Ford did not get a win in the Cup Series championship decider. In fact, it was a Chevy that got to the victory lane as Ross Chastain successfully fended off the attack from the #12 Penske Ford, denying Blaney the final win.

Chastain’s run was pretty impressive considering the way he held off the champion who was breathing down his neck, bumping the #1 Chevy for a free pass. Despite the fan criticism about Chastain’s final stand in Phoenix, popular NASCAR icon, Kenny Wallace backed the Trackhouse Racing star, dropping a simple fact – how it made for a great storyline.

On his Kenny Wallace conversation, the veteran said, “Ross Chastain says, yeah I hurt him and I don’t care. I love it, that’s a great sound bite, that’s what I’m talking about, a little bit of sh*t talking. That’s what I’m talking about, getting some good quotes, Ross Chastain the gift that keeping giving, I love it he’s no longer wrecking anybody because that didn’t work out but Ross that’s where its at.” 

He further added, mentioning how the tussle has sparked a debate in the community, saying, “Blaney did a good job because he could’ve ruined his car and taken away his championship race but that was the controversy and I like the barbing back and forth that’s good material for us to you know we call that water cooler talk.”

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Though everything is said and done, there’s one question that lingers in fans’ minds. Was this a payback from Chastain for last year’s championship race?

Eye for an Eye, teeth for teeth: Chastain’s Phoenix revenge denies Blaney a win

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While Chastain may become a mellowed version of himself, digressing from the “wrecking ball” he used to be, the driver certainly hasn’t gone all passive and docile. Remember the 2022 finale? Well, Chastain certainly does. The past race in Phoenix was the #1 driver’s sweet revenge, denying Blaney the win just like the #12 driver denied Chastain his a year back.

For the unversed, Chastain blasted his way into the final 4, advancing to the championship fray with his “Hail Melon” move. Consequently, the watermelon farmer looked to take it all in the final race, trying his best to get to the front. However, one car separated the race leader Joey Logano, and Chastain.

Ryan Blaney was the antagonist back then when he threw in block after block, distancing the #1 Chevy from the race leading Penske Ford until Logano won the title. And Sunday’s race might as well be Chastain’s way of reminding Blaney about the past.

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What do you think about the Blaney-Chastain incident? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments.