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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, is seen on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, is seen on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Denny Hamlin is pretty upset with Ross Chastain. This much everyone knew right after the race at Gateway, or in fact, during the race as well. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver “made his point” on track, and then furthered it off-track through his disapproval of Chastain’s actions expressed in words.
However, Chastain had apologized too, something he has followed up with reaching out to Hamlin and Chase Elliott with between Gateway and Sonoma.
But it seems the JGR driver is completely indifferent to Chastain’s efforts.
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The Coca-Cola 600 winner was asked whether his understanding of what the Trackhouse Racing driver did in the race, and whether he had any different view of the whole incident, to which Hamlin simply replied, “No.”
Denny Hamlin during his required stop in the media center today said the conversation with Ross Chastain went okay, but he doesn’t view things any differently than Sunday.
Hamlin: “I think he knows where I stand.” pic.twitter.com/B0yuyHDg3q
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 11, 2022
“It went okay,” he said about his conversation with Chastain. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver revealed that NASCAR hasn’t stepped into the whole mix in any capacity so far.
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“I think he knows where I stand,” Hamlin added.
What does Ross Chastain think about the comments of Denny Hamlin?
During the same session, Ross Chastain was also questioned about what he thought about the comments of Denny Hamlin about the conversation they had. The Trackhouse Racing driver didn’t divulge a lot of details about their conversation, but he did say that he was the one who was doing “a lot of listening.”
“I know where he stands,” he added. When questioned whether he’s comfortable with Hamlin’s stance on the whole situation, Chastain added, “Yeah. We’re big boys.”
“I’ll try to be better.”
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, leads Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Howler Head Chevrolet, during a heat race prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
The Trackhouse Racing driver was then quizzed if he has considered reconsidering the aggressive approach that landed him in the situation. And Chastain put it very simply. If he knew, he wouldn’t be in the situation in the first place as he spoke about the level of competitiveness of the NASCAR Cup Series.
“It’s the hardest series possibly in the world, definitely in North America,” he said. “And if I knew how to do that better, I would not be in this situation.”
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“When I figure that out, that would be the million dollar answer,” Chastain added.
