The Melon Man Ross Chastain has become notorious for his on-track antics, often leading to other drivers experiencing bad outcomes. With a penchant for causing accidents, the Trackhouse Racing Team driver is frequently involved in race mishaps.
His latest escapade occurred in Dover, where he wrecked Brennan Poole’s chances by colliding with him from behind. This chain reaction also ensnared an unsuspecting Kyle Larson. Consequently, the racing community has started buzzing once again about Chastain’s reputation as a “wrecking ball.”
In light of these events, fellow NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin offered his perspective on the Chastain situation. During an engaging conversation, Hamlin proposed two potential solutions to address the issue, while also demanding the Carson Hocevar treatment for Chastain.
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Denny Hamlin believes Ross Chastain is aware of what he is doing
During the latest episode of his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin stated, “What’s interesting is like… He never really gets the s**t end of any of these contacts, right? It’s always just someone else going spinning, ends their day and he just goes about his own business and keeps going.
“There’s only two fixes to this. I mean, obviously, I chose to get back at him, multiple times.
“One thing I say about Ross though, is he doesn’t mind you get back getting back at him. So why people in the field, don’t just do it? I don’t understand because after Pocono, he crashed on the wall there and he says, ‘Well, I deserve that and probably a little more.’
“And then after Phoenix, he comes up, says, ‘Well, I probably deserve that.'”
Furthermore, Hamlin remarked, “You know, it’s just a tough balance,” highlighting the delicate situation drivers face in deciding how to respond to Chastain’s antics without attracting NASCAR’s attention or penalties.
Hamlin shares two possible solutions for the Chastain situation
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Subsequently, the JGR veteran elaborated on his two potential solutions to address the persistent wrecking caused by Ross Chastain.
He further stated, “One of two things has to happen, right? Either the competitors have to just say, ‘F**k it, when I get my chance, I’m gonna get back at him. And now I’m just gonna say I made a mistake.’
“That’s one way, right? Or NASCAR wants to step in, like with Hocevar, and say, ‘Alright, we’ve had enough of it. Like you do this every week.’ And I’m not saying he does every week.
Denny Hamlin uses the Carson Hocevar example to highlight the Chastain problem
Additionally, Hamlin cited the controversy surrounding Carson Hocevar as an example, asking NASCAR to double down on Chastain with the same treatment.
“But, you know, Hocevar, didn’t right rear people every week. But he just did it enough times where it’s like, ‘Alright, well enough of that s**t. Like, you gotta go to the back.'”
Hamlin concluded his argument, explaining that from Chastain’s perspective, the reward was likely worth the risk since he hasn’t faced consequences for his actions in the past. He always manages to ruin someone else’s day, while no one had taken retaliatory measures against him.
WATCH THIS STORY: Condescending Kyle Busch savagely trashes Kyle Larson, hours after the Hendrick ace survived the T-bone from Tony Stewart’s NASCAR driver.
For several NASCAR fans, both of Hamlin’s proposed solutions appear to be plausible options for putting an end to the so-called melon madness. Nevertheless, the future course of action that NASCAR will take remains to be seen. Will the organization intervene and ask the wreck magnet to cease his antics? Or will another driver decide to return the favor and knock Chastain out of the park? Only time will tell.
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