Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix race saw many exciting things: The winner making a ‘clean pass’ in the final lap to victory lane, the driver closest to victory missing it by an inch, and of course, wrecks. It seems as if the bitter aftertaste of COTA is still lingering in the air for some racers. Even though the race witnessed only four caution flags, the wrecks started on the very first lap and Chase Elliott was caught in the middle of it.

Ross Chastain, the popular rabble-rouser of the sport, divebombed into the first corner. As a result, the No. 1 Chevy slammed the No. 9 – causing a toe link issue. Elliott made a solid comeback after this chaos – but the spotlight is currently on Chastain.

Ross Chastain’s silence is deafening for fans

Well, a broken toe link accompanied other damages as well. Ross Chastain’s antics robbed Chase Elliott’s qualifying effort of third place, as the No. 9 Chevy dropped back to 37th. Elliott’s team had to implement repairs on the car for multiple pit stops during the race. For that reason, Elliott ran outside the top 25 for most of the first and second stages. It was only after attaining fresher tires when the final caution flag blew that Elliott picked up pace. He moved from 23rd to 4th in the final 13 laps – almost replicating his Charlotte Roval victory in 2019.

But making Chase Elliott undergo this adversity itself raised eyebrows in the NASCAR community. Although the Hendrick Motorsports driver issued a fuming statement post-race, he is yet to hear back from Ross Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver’s deafening silence is bothering the ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ hosts. Karsyn Elledge jeered him as Chastain was the first to speak out about Carson Hocevar’s aggression last week. “It’s interesting because he was one of the first in line to call Hocevar what a dumba– he was last weekend.” 

Freddie Kraft, the No. 23 spotter, also unloaded his critical shots at Ross Chastain. “I just don’t understand where he is going. That’s just such a low percentage move on the first lap of the race…The thing that pisses me off about it is like, why are you declining to comment? Why can’t you just get it out of the cards, like I f—– up? Like everybody knows you f—– up, you can’t deny it…What’s so hard about that?” Veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin also commented: “I think that hat he was wearing pre-race tightened his head up a little bit.”

Young prodigy Connor Zilisch was also on this show. Recent winner of the Xfinity Cup Series race at COTA, The JR Motorsports driver compared Ross Chastain’s predicament with his own.

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Prioritizing the team spirit: A lesson for all

Ross Chastain has always been known for his aggressive style. During the 2022 COTA race, he shoved both AJ Allmendinger and Alex Bowman to the side to clinch his first Cup Series victory. Allmendinger himself had been lenient towards him: “We all know how hard he can race.” However, what Connor Zilisch put up during the Xfinity race was a bit different. Serving his penalty and starting from the 32nd spot made the 18-year-old a little desperate. On the final stage restart, he collided with William Byron and engaged in an intense fight with Corey Heim. In the last few laps, more fender-rubbing with his teammate Carson Kvapil left the latter with a flat tire. This clash with his own team left the youngster filled with regret.

After clinching his victory, Connor Zilisch was apologetic, unlike Ross Chastain. He compared Ross’s situation with his own: “I mean I got out and said that I f—– up. Like it’s pretty simple…I doubt it was Ross’s decision not to talk. But I definitely think that it’s worth getting out and just owning up to it. In the long run, that’s going to pay off for you and be the best decision…It’s tough for me to celebrate wins like that, ’cause you know you ruined someone else’s race.” Zilisch prioritized the team spirit: “Especially my teammates – that’s what I felt worst about…Even today in the post-race meeting, owning up to it like, ‘Look guys, I made mistakes that I’m gonna do my best not to make again.'”

Ross Chastain’s controversial moves may be the hot topic until the driver finally speaks up. Let us see what the Trackhouse Racing driver has to say for himself.