A few NASCAR drivers have been angry enough to trade blows with Ross Chastain the past couple of seasons.
Noah Gragson finally took up the challenge Sunday and went after Chastain.
Gragson and Chastain traded punches, shoves and angry words at Kansas Speedway after the NASCAR Cup Series race.
The two drivers appeared to land a couple of punches before being separated.
Chastain has angered several drivers the past couple of seasons with his hard-charging — some would say reckless — style. Gragson says Chastain had caused him enough trouble, leading him to confront the Trackhouse Racing driver.
Here's what happened on pit road between @NoahGragson and @RossChastain. pic.twitter.com/MMcOLASlgq
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 7, 2023
In a surreal moment, Kyle Larson, being interviewed by FS1 at the time, paused in his interview to watch the fight.
Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson get into a fight after the race, distracting Kyle Larson while in his postrace interview. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/2HtdZ6hg4F
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 7, 2023
“Got fenced by [Ross Chastain] … I’m sick and tired of it,” Gragson told Fs1 after the incident. “Nobody else has the balls to at least confront him, if you don’t at least grab him and do something, he’s just going to keep doing something. I’m over it.”
"Got fenced by [Ross Chastain] … I'm sick and tired of it."- Noah Gragson https://t.co/B0M9HYikaW pic.twitter.com/JeLAVv1dIt
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
Not surprisingly, Chastain had a much different version of what caused the fight.
“Noah and I have a very similar attitude on the race track. We train together, we prepare together … we know every little bit about each other,” Chastain told FS1.
“I definitely crowded him up off of (turn) 4, he took a swipe at us off of (turn) 3 then came down and grabbed ahold of me. A very big man once told me we have a no-push policy here at Trackhouse.”
Race winner Denny Hamlin had an interesting reaction after being shown video of the fight.
Showing Kansas winner Denny Hamlin the Ross Chastain – Noah Gragson fight. pic.twitter.com/pECPYB3Gml
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 7, 2023
NASCAR fans overwhelmingly sided with Gragson on social media, as Chastain has become the new bad boy of the sport for many fans.
It turns out that Noah Gragson is the only driver that won’t put up with Ross Chastain’s dumb driving.
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) May 7, 2023
NASCAR won’t say it but Ross Chastain is good for the sport; quickly becoming the most polarizing driver in the series
— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) May 7, 2023
Noah instigated and made the crucial mistake of allowing Ross to control his arm. If someone is yelling at me and puts their hands on me, best believe I’m throwing fists. Don’t blame @RossChastain at all. Guess we found out Ross isn’t scared to throw hands..#dgaf tour rolls on
— D3rt (@3IDInfantryvet) May 7, 2023
Ross Chastain is good for NASCAR, even if you don't like him. He gets people talking EVERY week.
— jacob (@jacobwedison) May 7, 2023
[Photo Credit: FS1]