In the latest NASCAR showdown at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), controversy reigned supreme, particularly around Ross Chastain’s aggressive first-lap spin-out of Chase Elliott. The incident has sparked a flurry of responses from the racing community, including an unexpected defense from Denny Hamlin, a former target of Chastain’s on-track tactics.
The COTA event was a whirlwind of adrenaline and drama, but the real story unfolded after the race, when attention turned to Chastain’s first lap antics. The pressing question on everyone’s lips was how NASCAR would react to Chastain’s maneuver, which caused Chase Elliott to spin out during the race’s opening moments.
Elliott managed to recover from the early setback, finishing fourth, and maintained a composed demeanor when discussing the incident. “I was taken out in the first corner. I haven’t seen the footage yet to know if I was at fault. If I was, I’m willing to admit it. But it was the first corner of the first lap,” he explained post-race.
Despite this, Chastain’s actions did not go unnoticed. His aggressive tactics on the track, especially against the #6, could have ended their race prematurely. The motive behind Chastain’s move remains ambiguous, further fueling the controversy. But in a surprising turn of events, Denny Hamlin stepped in to defend Chastain.
Chastain remained conspicuously silent when questioned about the incident that left Elliott spinning. This lack of comment was particularly unusual given his recent heated exchange with Carson Hocevar at Atlanta, following a P2 finish. The silence drew criticism from Kevin Harvick on the Happy Hour podcast, who labeled it as the “worst move of the race.”
Hamlin, however, provided an alternative viewpoint on the Actions Detrimental podcast. He suggested that Chastain’s silence might be due to his need to gather more information before commenting. “Perhaps he’s trying to collect more details. I’m not sure about his decision to not comment, but if I were to quote Ross, I’d say ‘I’m disappointed with the decision’,” Hamlin stated, recalling Chastain’s past comments regarding a similar incident.
However, not everyone agreed with Hamlin’s stance. His co-host, Jared, pointed out Chastain’s inconsistency in holding others accountable, while refusing to comment on his own actions. Regardless of the differing opinions, the incident has placed a target on Chastain’s back, with potential retribution from Elliott or other HMS team members looming in future races.
Hamlin’s defense of Chastain has raised eyebrows, especially given their past clashes on the track. His stance seems contradictory and has led to speculation on whether he was genuinely offering a balanced perspective or subtly criticizing Chastain’s refusal to address his actions.
Harvick wasn’t the only one to publicly criticize Chastain’s actions at COTA. Dale Jr. also took the Trackhouse Racing star to task on the Dale Jr. Download, expressing his disappointment not with Chastain’s move but his post-race silence.
Dale Jr. urged Chastain to take responsibility for his actions, even if it stirred up further conflict with the HMS team. He argued that Chastain should have admitted his mistake, stating, “He could have said, ‘I messed up. I took a shallow entry into the corner, and I should have known better.’ ”
As the dust settles on the COTA event, all eyes are on how Chase Elliott and other HMS drivers will respond to Chastain in the upcoming races. One thing’s for sure – NASCAR fans are in for a thrilling ride as on-track rivalries heat up.
