The first time Ross Chastain truly jumped onto the top of the headlines this season was when he made Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin mad at WWT Raceway earlier this season. Months later, Chastain is back on the top of the headlines.

And this time around again, his moves on the racetrack have directly and indirectly impacted Hamlin and Elliott.

Performing something of a magic trick in a do-or-die situation in the last lap at Martinsville, Chastain’s ‘video game’ move earned him a place in Phoenix for the championship, eliminating Hamlin and leaving the entire world in awe, including his two rivals.

As Hamlin was comfortably making his way to the finish line, with his place in the championship 4 almost sealed and packed, the voice on his radio exclaimed, “Watch the #1 outside over here…OUTSIDE! OUTSIDE! OUTSIDE!”

This was followed by an achingly long period of silence as the #11 entered the pit road. “Well, I’ve never seen anything like it…the #1 Hail Mary’d the fence in (turns) 3 & 4 and got in,” Hamlin was told.“He’s in.”

“Did all I could do,” the veteran said.

WATCH THIS STORY: 5 Times Ty Gibbs Gave Ross Chastain A Run For His Money As He Made Enemies

Chase Elliott would rather be mad despite sealing his spot for Phoenix

Just as the radio rang in Denny Hamlin’s ear, who was ahead of Ross Chastain, the driver behind him, the #9 of Chase Elliott also received more or less the same description of what had happened.

However, in Elliott’s case, the news was bittersweet.

“We’re in but we’re out,” the 2020 Cup Series champion was told before being updated on Hamlin’s fate, “He (Ross Chastain) had it on the wall wide open and beat the #11.”

This led Elliott to confirm, “So we’re in the drivers (championship), out the owners (championship)?”

“Yeah,” was the response, to which the Hendrick Motorsports driver said, “I don’t know whether to be happy or pissed off so I guess I’ll just be pissed off.”

“Suits me better.”

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