When Joey Logano beat others, including Austin Dillon, after the restart at the Richmond Raceway, the 34-year-old would’ve never imagined the state of his car during the final lap. Denny Hamlin saw the checkered flag and a victory within grasping distance on his home turf. He would’ve never thought about anyone else, let alone Austin Dillon of all people, winning the whole thing. This is NASCAR for you. Such unpredictability is part and parcel of a sport we so dearly love. Sometimes, it alleviates the racing experience, and others, we are left disappointed.

What happened at the Richmond Raceways was unfortunate. Two able racers wrecked, and their cars spun on their cores. There weren’t many people rejoicing over the outcome of Cook Out 400 this year. As people talked about the results of the race, hardly anyone could control their nerves while talking about it. Being a racer, however, the recent name who tried being in No. 22 or No. 11’s shoes is Ross Chastain.

Denny Hamlin has been at the forefront of calling out Austin Dillon and his No. 3 crew. Hamlin had alleged that the wrecking incident was predetermined by Dillon on the instructions of his crew at Richard Childress Racing. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had good reasons to believe so. Austin Dillon’s spotter, Brandon Benesch, was clearly telling Dillon to ‘Wreck him’ on the radio. Logano, on the other hand, was furious. He revved the engine of his Ford Mustang and spun his tires near Austin Dillon’s pit box, causing a safety concern. In defense of these drivers, they had good reasons to do so.

The Trackhouse Racing driver seems to be agreeing with the fury that Logano and Hamlin had in them. Talking about the incident on the Rubbin Is Racing, Ross Chastain was asked what he would’ve done if he was at the receiving end of this wrecking incident. The 31-year-old had this to say. “I am human. I am gonna react to just like everybody else. If you don’t win a race. You see a checkered flag and you can’t get there, and you think somebody took that from you. So, you’re upset and I am not different and most people in this world when they can see a checkered flag and know what winning cup races mean what dominoes that sets off.”

But it’s the emotions that matter the most. After all, it’s the emotions that make us humans. Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin both expressed their respective emotions but in a different manner. Sharing his thoughts on the emotional aspects of such a race, Chastain further added, “I would’ve felt disappointed, mad, and sad; all the feelings come rushing in for me and some guys show that and some hold it a little bit more.”

In a way, these comments from Chastain do conclude that in a race as consequential as the Cook Out 400, having the kind of setback Logano and Hamlin faced, can instill all the possible emotions a human being could express under these circumstances.

But for NASCAR, it seems like the emotional roller coaster Logano was going through was a bit too much. The team Penske racer was fined $50,000 for causing a safety concern through his acts on the pit road. He is fined alongside the winner of the race, Austin Dillon, who, as of now, is scrapped for his eligibility berth to the playoffs and charged with 25 cup series and owner points. His team, Richard Childress Racing, has appealed against NASCAR’s decision. With Dillon out of the playoff position, let’s take a look at whether this development can forge a new opening for Ross Chastain.

With Austin Dillon disqualified, does it open a gateway for Ross Chastain?

On the face of it, it certainly opens up a secure way for Chastain to secure a place in the playoffs. Consistency in such a situation, with 3 races remaining, can reap heavy returns. And Chastain is one of the most consistent racers in the game so far. He did finish in the top 5 at the Richmond Raceway, securing some valuable points. Currently, the Trackhouse Racing driver holds the 14th spot in the Cup series standings with 584 points.

The points and rank are above par at the moment, but constant pressure from the likes of Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace can be a bit concerning for Chastain. A straight win in one of the three races will surely put all these ifs and buts to rest.

What are the odds of Chastain securing a place in the playoffs? What would you have done had you been in Joey Logano or Denny Hamlin’s shoes at the Richmond Raceway? Do let us know in the comments.