Mike Joy Reveals the Timeline for “Old” Ross Chastain’s Return After Rick Hendrick Led Efforts to Tame Him

The world of NASCAR racing is no stranger to intense rivalries and fierce competition. It’s a sport that thrives on the adrenaline rush of high-speed action and the pursuit of victory. However, sometimes drivers can take their aggression too far, leading to on-track incidents that can have serious consequences. This has been the case for Trackhouse Racing Team‘s Ross Chastain, who has frequently found himself in hot water due to his aggressive racing style.

The most prominent incident was when Rick Hendrick, the esteemed team owner of Hendrick Motorsports, publicly expressed his concerns about Chastain’s actions on the racetrack, following which it appears that Ross Chastain has been avoiding the limelight. Although in response to this, NASCAR commentator Mike Joy has shed some light on the situation, revealing a timeline for Chastain’s return to his old self.

NASCAR insider predicts when Ross Chastain will go back to being his own aggressive self

Mike Joy sat with Mike Massaro on the sets of the “Cup Connection” series to discuss the current hot topics in and around the Cup Series paddock. Offering insights into the mindset that shaped Chastain‘s approach to racing, Mike Joy stated, “Ross is different, you know. This is a different time to grow up as a young racer. You know, these young fellows are taught that you need to win now or you’re not going to have a chance to advance at all.”

Per Joy, the pressure to perform and the “win at all costs” culture prevalent in motorsports have influenced Chastain’s aggressive style. Joy shared his thoughts on the timeline for Chastain’s transformation, stating, “I think what you’re seeing now is Ross below the radar, and this will probably go on for a month or two.

“Then, the old aggressive Ross is going to work his way back into the mix, and hopefully, you’re going to see a blend of both that everybody is comfortable with.”

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Rick Hendrick achieved what Ross Chastain’s fellow drivers couldn’t; but for how long?

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It’s not that often that Rick Hendrick loses his calm. Perhaps this is the reason why he is both revered and feared by drivers and crew members. The incident in Darlington last month, wherein he compromised Kyle Larson for the third time, proved one too many for Mr H.

He voiced his concerns about Chastain’s aggressive driving style, and warned Chastain, “He’s going to make a lot of enemies, and it’s hard to win a championship when you got a lot of paybacks out there. He’s got so much talent … Meaning he just knows when to race, when to push it. [Chastain’s] got a lot of talent, but he’s making a lot of enemies out here.” 

In response to the criticism from Rick Hendrick, Ross Chastain openly admitted to his mistakes on the racetrack. Chastain acknowledged that he was at fault for the incident with Larson at Darlington, accepting responsibility for turning him to the outside wall. He also acknowledged two other incidents at Talladega Superspeedway and Dover Motor Speedway where he was involved in collisions. And since then, Chastain has inconspicuously stayed away from controversies. This, understandably, has made the fans uneasy.

A lot of speculation has been going on about how long will the Watermelon Man be able to reign in his instincts. He has been falling in the regular season points table. If the trend continues, he might look to score a win to secure his playoffs berth. And for that, he might have to get aggressive at the front of the pack. With just 10 races before the playoffs, how long can Chastain afford to keep calm and be content with middle-of-the-pack finishes? A couple of months? Weeks? or till the paddock reaches Nashville?

We will find out soon enough.

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