USA Today via Reuters
Apr 23, 2022; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) walks down pit road during qualifying for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 23, 2022; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) walks down pit road during qualifying for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Back in 2018, Ross Chastain moved to Chip Ganassi Racing in the Xfinity Series. His very first race for the outfit came at the Darlington Raceway in the #42 car. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a nightmare day in the office, as he collided with Kevin Harvick and ended his race in 25th place. Harvick himself ended the day in 29th place in the #98 car, and he was not amused with Chastain’s antics.
He said, “Just a really inexperienced racer, and a really bad move there. Got on the side of me and just kept going up the race track. I couldn’t do anything with the wheel. Got a really inexperienced guy in a really fast car, made a really bad move, and wrecked me.
"Probably the reason he'll never get to drive (many fast cars) again."@KevinHarvick was not happy with the way he was raced by Ross Chastain, who's running his first race with Chip Ganassi Racing. #XfinitySeries pic.twitter.com/qZMLyOKf09
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 1, 2018
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“Down the back straightaway, hooked me to the right. Probably the reason he’ll never get to drive many of them again.”
How did the Ross Chastain prediction backfire on Harvick?
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Rather ironically, if you fast-forward to 2022, Chastain is driving for Trackhouse Racing. Already, he has picked up two Cup wins in one of his best NASCAR seasons to date. With those two wins, he is firmly in the hunt for a Cup Series title, and he is pretty much a dark horse. Especially among the likes of the Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing drivers.
via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light #BUSCHRACETEAM Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
But, what about Kevin Harvick? Where does he feature in all of this? Sadly for the veteran driver, he has been struggling this season. In fact, he has not won a single race this year, so the tables have turned dramatically since that 2018 Xfinity race at Darlington.
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READ MORE: NASCAR Spotter Takes Up the Case of the Unfair Contract Ross Chastain Has at Trackhouse Racing
Suffice to say, Chastain is back in a fast car and he is proving his mettle on the track with his two wins. Luckily for Harvick, there is still plenty of time to rack up that first win of the season and book his Playoff berth.
