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Ross Chastain’s Unexpected Silence: A Clash of Perspectives in NASCAR’s Circuit of The Americas Aftermath

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 7, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Ross Chastain’s Unexpected Silence: A Clash of Perspectives in NASCAR’s Circuit of The Americas Aftermath

Mar 2, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) is followed by NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) during the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Harms-Imagn Images

The dust has barely settled following the NASCAR’s first road course race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), and already controversy is swirling. Trackhouse Racing, with its lineup of road course savants, was billed as the team to beat. However, the weekend didn’t unfold as anticipated for Justin Marks’ drivers.

During the Xfinity race, Connor Zilisch’s aggressive maneuvers paved his way to the checkered flag. Surprisingly, Shane van Gisbergen, a predicted victor, only managed to finish in sixth place. Ross Chastain, on the other hand, remained tight-lipped about his contentious conduct during the race.

The drama unfolded when Chastain aggressively overtook Chase Elliott on the first lap, causing Elliott, who was driving a fast car that day, to drop 33 places. When Elliott tried to retaliate during the race, Chastain cleverly moved aside, allowing him to pass. Chastain’s silence post-race fiasco, merely stating “No comment,” sparked outrage, none more so than from Dale Earnhardt Jr., who labeled Chastain’s evasion of the press as a “chicken s—t” move.

Yet, Zilisch, who recently chatted with Kevin Harvick, painted a very different picture of Chastain, calling him an “open book.” Despite being in his first full-time Xfinity season, Zilisch was a frontrunner at COTA, thanks to his victorious debut Xfinity race at Watkins Glen last year. Amid the mounting pressure, Zilisch found solace in the advice provided by his road course veteran teammates, including Chastain. Chastain, a previous COTA winner in 2022, has an impressive average finish there of 6.0.

Zilisch’s portrayal of Chastain, however, sharply contrasts with the driver’s silent departure post-EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix race. On Harvick’s ‘Happy Hour’ podcast, Zilisch described Chastain as someone who would give an honest answer to any question, a trait he found invaluable in a teammate.

Despite Zilisch’s high praise, the NASCAR community seems to disagree, particularly in light of the disarray at COTA. Chastain miscalculated his entry speed, leading to a collision with Elliott. While Elliott remained mum on the incident, he at least provided some insight, expressing his intention to review the incident and accept any blame if necessary.

However, it was Chastain who was expected to step up and take responsibility, as suggested by Dale Jr. He noted that Chastain could have easily admitted to his mistakes and doing so would have been better than remaining silent.

Interestingly, Chastain, who is not typically known to be reticent, seems to have changed his demeanor. Following his reckless driving at Martinsville in 2022, Chastain was hailed as a hero by the NASCAR community. Dale Jr. even likened him to ‘The Intimidator,’ leading many to believe that he was the next Dale Earnhardt Sr.

However, after Rick Hendrick’s stern warning for wrecking Larson in 2023, Chastain appears to have softened. In 2024, there was a marked decrease in his aggressive driving style, as he seemed content with a P19 finish, one win, and 6 top 5s.

This change in demeanor was evident when Carson Hocevar clashed with him at Atlanta. Instead of a heated confrontation, Chastain opted for a calm discussion with the young driver. In the post-race interview, he expressed his desire to understand why Hocevar had acted in a way that cost him the race.

The old Chastain would have retaliated against Hocevar in the next race at COTA, but instead, he focused on avoiding Elliott’s revenge. This change in behavior has raised eyebrows, leaving many to wonder what has led to this transformation in Chastain.

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