Conceited Ross Chastain Drops Bold 9-Word Declaration on Phoenix Sweep

Although 2023 has been quite a disappointment considering the expectations that Ross Chastain had set for himself in 2022, he ended the season on a high note. For the first time in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, the Trackhouse Racing sensation did something that had never been done before.

Since the advent of the elimination-style playoff structure, NASCAR has been crowning the winner of the championship race as the championship winner. But this time, it’s going to be different. Despite being ineligible for Championship 4, the #1 Chevy star won the Grand Finale at the 1-mile tri-oval racetrack in the foothills of the Estrella Mountains. Moments after showing up in the victory lane, Chastain opened up about his feelings regarding his dominant victory.

Ross Chastain checks off his bucket list at Phoenix Raceway

Since last year’s Hail Melon move at Martinsville Speedway, Ross Chastain has always admitted that he did not have a second video game move up his sleeves to pull off on the racetrack. However, after winning the Championship 4 race on Sunday, Ross Chastain couldn’t help but spill out another video-game reference about the race he had just run.

Chastain referred to the countless hours of gaming during his childhood days. He explained how unbelievable it was for him to come this far from driving a 2019 GM Goodwrench car in a computer game to driving an actual Chevrolet for GM. “Was bucket list; little kid in me racing that 2005 GameCube game,” said Chastain.

“I would drive as a 2019 GM Good wrench car and now I’m driving a Chevy for GM to victory lane, a Camaro”, added further.

This is the first time since 2014 that a non-championship driver has won the Grand Finale. Needless to say, Ross Chastain couldn’t have been happier. While talking to Dave Burns of NBC Sports, Ross Chastain said, “I don’t believe it’s ever happened. We did something else that’s never been done before. This vision for Trackhouse and what this was, goes like this…they were lofty!”

Chastain thanked all his sponsors for believing in him. “It started with Advent Health believing in me Coming over to Trackhouse and then Kubota, Jockey coming on board, filling out our season now obviously next year, with Busch Light, the AB brand,” he added.

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For him to be able to race Kevin Harvick in the latter’s last career race was something special. He exclaimed, “I couldn’t think of anything I would want to do more is to try to be like Kevin Harvick and race him early in the race.” Nevertheless, the fans didn’t seem to be quite happy with the results. And most of them blamed the current playoff format.

NASCAR’s playoff format is slammed once again; Ross Chastain gets scorched in the heat

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Previously, a driver could secure their shot at the championship title before the season’s final race. But times have changed, and with that, the fans have too. The current playoff format gives players the liberty to appear in the round of 16 with a win in any race in the regular season. And this seems to not quite resonate with the fandom.

When FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass tweeted “Ryan Blaney wins the 2023 Cup title … Chastain wins the race”, spiteful comments started pouring in from all directions.

Someone exclaimed, “Feels lackluster with this format”

Another fan breathed disappointment, saying, “Finally someone other than the champion has won the final what a time to be alive”

“This format is awful. Not a single deserving champion this weekend” added someone.

The voices against the current playoff system didn’t seem to cease. On that note, a user wrote, “Yup, and Byron gets screwed. true Championship. Playoffs System is a dumpster.”

“Worst champion of all time statistically. This format is weird,” said another one.

Read more: “I’m a Professional Loser”—“Wrecking Ball” Ross Chastain Trashes Critics Amid Nearly a Season-Long Winless Slump

A motorsport enthusiast explained, “I really wish they would tweak the Playoffs…

Honestly, it should be a complete body of work… don’t reset the points and don’t add bonus points after each round…still eliminate the bottom 4 after each round… but have the points be cumulative throughout the playoffs.”

Do you agree with the majority? Is the current playoff system fair? Keep the conversation rolling in the comments below!