NASCAR has always been known for its fierce rivalries, with drivers competing at breakneck speeds while fighting for every inch on the track. In recent weeks, two notable feuds have emerged in the Cup Series, involving Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain, as well as Noah Gragson and Chastain. These rivalries have resulted in heated on-track incidents and confrontations off the track, highlighting the competitive nature and passion of the drivers.
However, Denny Hamlin’s comments on Ross Chastain during a recent podcast episode posted by Dirty Mo Media on Instagram have caused quite a stir.
Denny Hamlin’s New Found Respect For Ross Chastain
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In the video, Hamlin talks about his newfound respect for Chastain, which was developed after they had an altercation during the Phoenix race where Hamlin intentionally made contact with Chastain, sending him into the wall, as he struggled to get his car to turn on the penultimate lap. Hamlin admitted to this on his podcast, “I let the wheel go, and I said, ‘He’s coming with me.'”
More recently, talking about the Gragson-Chastain Feud, or rather fist fight, the JGR Driver said, “He’s finding a warm place in my heart, Chastain. He really is. I mean, since Phoenix, which you, which is what’s supposed to happen is you get into it, you talk it out, you’re very rational which we were. We said, listen we’re going to judge each other this point forward and there were specific moments in that race [Kansas] where Chastain either could have continued to run side by side with me or let me go. And he let me go multiple times”
He added, “And I told him when he came up. So, you know to let people know, he said, ‘Awesome drive man. I never thought you were going to get back to them, congrats.’ I said to him, ‘Hey I recognize what you did early in the race, you’ll get that back’ and so that’s the kind of respect that you want to have between drivers is that you know I wanted him to know that, hey I recognized you cut me a couple of breaks this race so it’s I want you to know it is in my piggy bank that you know when the roles are reversed and he’s faster, I probably need to let him go a couple of times as well so that’s how I think it’s supposed to be done”
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However, Hamlin’s initial praise of Chastain quickly turned into a moment of regret when he made a comment on the Instagram post that read, “Delete Immediately,” in response to the clip posted of him. It’s unclear why Hamlin regretted his comments, but it could be that he didn’t want to appear to be taking sides in the ongoing feud between Noah Gragson and Chastain.
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The Ross Chastain-Noah Gragson Feud
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The recent feud between Noah Gragson and Ross Chastain has been one of the most talked-about in the sport, with the two drivers engaging in heated on-track incidents and confrontations off the track. Gragson’s frustration with Chastain’s behavior reached a boiling point during the Kansas race when an on-track incident involving both drivers led Gragson to finish 29th.
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During the race, an intense moment unfolded involving Gragson, Chastain, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as they raced three-wide for the position through Turns 3 and 4. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a confrontation between Gragson and Chastain later on. Gragson confronted Chastain on the pit road after the race, visibly upset by the on-track incident. The exchange grew heated as Gragson pushed Chastain several times before Chastain retaliated with a punch to Gragson’s face.
Gragson’s frustration with Chastain’s behavior also spilled over into interviews with the media. He referred to Chastain as a “d**chebag” who didn’t race with respect.
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Denny Hamlin’s unexpected comments about Ross Chastain and his subsequent follow-up message to delete the clip have left fans wondering about the underlying tensions in NASCAR. The sport is known for its fierce rivalries and feuds, which can add an extra level of excitement for fans. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how NASCAR addresses these issues.