Amid Video-Game Spectacle, Ross Chastain Embraces Playing Villain Through NASCAR Season In Light of Denny Hamlin Beef

Famously known as the public enemy #1 of this season, Ross Chastain shocked fans with his video-game-type move at Sunday’s Martinsville Speedway race. However, although Chastain was successful in impressing NASCAR fans, not everyone sees eye to eye with him. Especially Denny Hamlin!

It all started at the Gateway race when Ross Chastain drove into the left-rear bumper of Denny Hamlin’s #11 car. And since then, there has been a series of revenge incidents between the two. But every time, both of the drivers have a different story to narrate about these revenge or retaliation incidents.

Recently, the RACER asked NASCAR drivers about their views on retaliations. And during this conversation, Ross Chastain shared his views. He said; “The heat of the moment also goes into reactions on the track, and once you get out and look at it from a bigger picture, I generally have a different opinion of what happened.”

However, he said that one cannot blame just one driver or situation for the retaliation. He continued; “But in the moment, it’s a body of work that each driver has played their cards throughout the season or their careers with each other that ultimately makes it really bad in one person’s mind or just — oh, man — that’s not fun.”

Explaining how each driver uses his car as a weapon, Chastain revealed; “These cars are packing air different than the old cars, so we all learn it, you see us taking advantage of it. It was lap, I don’t know…early, of Homestead, and it happened to me right in the middle (Turn) 3 and 4, just use the air, push me up and go right by me.”

READ MORE: NASCAR Spotter Claims Public Enemy No.1 Ross Chastain is the “Dale Earnhardt Nice Guy” Kind of Driver

Furthermore, Chastain admitted that he doesn’t mind taking advantage of his car to move ahead of others on the track. He said; “I don’t mind it. I did it at the end of the race and got back by. So, it’s a tool in my book, but the body of work that you have with each other usually plays into how mad the other guy gets.”

Denny Hamlin on Ross Chastain at Martinsville

Denny Hamlin was eliminated from the playoffs at Sunday’s Martinsville race. Moreover, a single move by Ross Chastain was responsible for taking away Hamlin’s chances of winning his first Cup Series trophy.

However, irrespective of the beef between the two, Denny Hamlin confessed that he was impressed by Chastain’s move. During the last lap of the race, Chastain slid his car along the wall and moved up five positions in just one move.

WATCH THIS STORY: 5 Times Ty Gibbs Gave Ross Chastain A Run For His Money As He Made Enemies

Like a class act, Hamlin applauded the #1 driver for his unbelievable maneuver through the outside wall. He said; “Great move. Brilliant. Certainly a great move. When you have no other choice, it certainly is easy to do that. But well executed.”