NASCAR Community Outraged Over Ross Chastain’s Lost “Wrecking Ball” Persona

Earlier this year, Ross Chastain found himself at a crossroads. It happened when legendary NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick decided to intervene, aiming to curb the young driver’s overly aggressive tendencies. The aftermath of this intervention resulted in Ross Chastain taking things easy on the track. However, Chastain’s fans are not taking it easy on Rick Hendrick for apparently taming the Trackhouse Racing driver.

Chastain, known for his aggressive racing style and penchant for starting on-track incidents, found himself under scrutiny as he embraced his role as the “Wrecking Ball” of NASCAR. However, his antics eventually caught the ire of one of NASCAR’s legendary figures, Rick Hendrick, a Hall of Famer and owner of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick was far from pleased with Chastain’s conduct and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Ross Chastain talks about the time when Rick Hendrick called him personally

The tipping point for Rick Hendrick came after Chastain and Kyle Larson, a NASCAR Cup champion and star driver for HMS, had their third consecutive on-track altercation this year. Hendrick, never one to mince words, expressed his frustration on Chastain’s spree of wrecking his drivers.

Rick Hendrick told NBC Sport, “He doesn’t have to be that aggressive. I don’t care if he’s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars. I don’t care, I’ve told Chevrolet that, if you wreck us, you’re going to get it back. If you don’t do it, they’ll run all over you. I’m loyal to Chevrolet, but when somebody runs over us, then I expect my guys to hold their ground. I’m not going to ask them to yield just because of Chevrolet.”

Hendrick’s strong stance culminated in a pivotal phone call to Chastain, where he confronted the young driver about his on-track behavior. Chastain described the call as a breath-stopping moment, as Hendrick conveyed his mixed emotions during their conversation. Speaking to Kenny Wallace at the World Wide Technology Raceway before the Enjoy Illinois 300, Chastain said, “I saw it and thought… The air couldn’t move. No air went in or out… He talked for about seven or eight minutes, and it was great. Some things he was really disappointed, and other things… he was proud of me… It was hard to breathe honestly.”

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With Rick Hendrick’s intervention, Chastain’s demeanor on the track began to change. He seemed to have heeded the owner’s words and dialed down his aggressive approach to racing.

Ross Chastain fans are livid with Mr H for ruining his career

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While Chastain taking it slow was seen as a positive development by some, it didn’t sit well with a significant section of Chastain’s fanbase. In a sport where personalities, rivalries, and daring maneuvers are celebrated, Chastain’s transformation from “Wrecking Ball” to a more cautious driver left many fans feeling disillusioned.

A fan on NASCAR’s subreddit lamented, “I was never all in. But I never was in the hater category either. I had a feeling that, although his actions were occasionally annoying. They ultimately brought higher interest, and I’d miss it if he ever ‘settled down.’ I know the reasons for him not being a player this year are nuanced with car performance… I just miss the personality.”

The sentiment was shared by several others. Many fans expressed their nostalgia for the old Chastain, who was unapologetically bold and unafraid to mix it up with the best in the business. “Rick Hendrick is a NASCAR terrorist tbh,” one fan boldly declared.

One fan pointed out, “I just find it funny how Rick felt the need to ‘talk’ to Ross when he had problems he needed to address with his own drivers. It’s ironic that less than a month after the supposed ‘talk,’ Rick had one of his drivers get suspended for intentional wrecking. Also, not to mention the increased tensions between Elliott and Larson all year as well.”

Another speculated, “I honestly wonder if the Rick Hendrick conversation was more than a conversation. Wondering if there was some Hendrick/Chevy influence of SOME sort. That was the turning point for the 1. Suarez isn’t running any different than pre-Darlington.” Some fans also brought up Jeff Gordon, another iconic figure associated with Hendrick Motorsports, and his role in advising Chastain. One fan expressed, “Same goes for Jeff Gordon, his consigliere ‘friendly advice to Ross… It makes me sad my 1st live race was his win at COTA.”

READ MORE: “Always in Our Hearts”- Rick Hendrick & Co. Pay Respect to Fallen HMS Heroes & Beloved Son, 19 Years After Heartbreaking Tragedy

The shift in Ross Chastain’s racing style influenced by Rick Hendrick has left a divided fanbase. While some view it as a necessary evolution in his career, others see it as the stifling of a unique and charismatic figure. Which camp do you fall in? Let us know in the comments below.