Hendrick On Chastain: ‘He Doesn’t Have To Be That Aggressive’

Another NASCAR Cup Series race has come and gone and once again Ross Chastain has made headlines for the wrong reasons.

Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, won by Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron, was a battle between Chastain and Byron’s teammate Kyle Larson.

However, a restart with six laps to go went haywire for both drivers as they battled into turn one. Chastain slid into Larson as they battled for the lead, putting both drivers into the outside wall.

Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet was put on the wrecker, finishing 29th. Larson limped his damaged Chevrolet to the checkered flag in 20th. 

While Byron’s victory was the 15th for Hendrick Motorsports at The Track Too Tough To Tame, team owner Rick Hendrick wasn’t pleased with the way Chastain raced Larson. 

​​“I think you can ask any driver in here that he’s wrecked or been involved with him, he doesn’t have to be that aggressive,” Hendrick said. “I guess at this point in the race, maybe you’re super-aggressive but don’t run people up into the fence. 

“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; I think if he just calmed down that there’s a time in the race.”

Hendrick’s frustration stems from a recent string of incidents involving Chastain and cars owned by Hendrick.

At Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last month, Chastain forced his way three-wide in the closing stages, turning Noah Gragson and triggering a multi-car pileup that took out Larson.

A week later, Chastain ran into the back of Brennan Poole, sending the Rick Ware Racing driver into Larson early in the race at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. 

“Dale Earnhardt Sr. told me one time — I won’t name the driver who drove for me, but he said, ‘He’s got all the talent, he just doesn’t know how to race.’ Meaning he just knows when to race, when to push it,” Hendrick said. 

“(Chastain’s) got a lot of talent, but he’s making a lot of enemies out here. Kyle now, this one and Dover and Talladega. It’s really getting old with these guys.”

Coincidentally, Chastain also pilots a Chevrolet Camaro for Trackhouse Racing, the same brand as HMS.

For Hendrick, manufacturer ties don’t matter in this situation. 

“I don’t care if he’s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars,” Hendrick said. “I don’t care, and I told Chevrolet that. If you wreck us, you’re going to get it back. And if you don’t, they’ll run all over you.

“I’m loyal to Chevrolet, but when somebody runs over us, I expect my guys to hold their ground. I’m not going to ask them to yield just because it’s Chevrolet.”

With the Cup Series returning to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for the All-Star race this upcoming week, it may prove to be difficult for Chastain to snag the $1 million top prize with an ever-growing target on his back. 

Despite the incidents, Chastain hasn’t won a Cup Series race since April 24, 2022 at Talladega.