Gragson, Chastain come to blows in Kansas

Threw punches? Didn't they have any tire tools?

Is the air wrench too heavy or too costly?

Are they allowed to use spiked gloves? Why not? Bikers do.

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | May 7, 2023 7:51 PM ET

Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson came to blows Sunday on pit road at Kansas Speedway after a frustrated Gragson confronted Chastain for an incident earlier in the afternoon.

The two were having a conversation next to Chastain’s car following the AdventHealth 400 because Gragson took exception to the Trackhouse driver crowding him off Turn 4. Although the two did not make contact coming off the corner, Gragson brushed the wall with his Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet. He then came down the track and made contact with the right side of Chastain’s car.

On pit road, Gragson grabbed a fist full of Chastain’s firesuit, but he thought it was less fun than grabbing some testicle......which led to Chastain throwing a punch. The two had to be separated by NASCAR security as fans were cheering "Cut him! Cut him!" and "Shoot him! Shoot him!" Dumb rednecks don't know that NASCAR doesn't let you carry pistols in your cowboy boots any more.

Darn it!



“I got tight off of (Turn 4), for sure,” Chastain said. “Noah and I have a very similar attitude on the racetrack and we train together, we prepare together, we know every little bit about each other. I definitely crowded him up off of (Turn) 4, and he took a swipe at us in (Turn) 3, and then came down and grabbed a hold of me. A very big man once told me we have a no push policy here at Trackhouse.”

Chastain finished fifth. The Trackhouse Racing driver continues to lead the point standings.

Gragson finished five laps down in 29th position.

“Just got fenced by the No. 1,” said Gragson. “He took care of us at Talladega – we’re Chevrolet teammates and he didn’t work with us there – and then fenced us here and I’m just over it. Nobody else has the balls to at least confront him, so if you don’t at least just grab him and do something, he’s just going to keep doing it, and I’m over it. It’s the second time.

“I have respect for Justin Marks and the rest of the Trackhouse team, and that’s why I’m not wrecking him on the racetrack, but we’re ready to fight him. I didn’t even get a shot in because the security guards got in the middle of it, but nobody confronts the guy. He just keeps doing it, and I’m sick and tired of it.”

 

By Staff Report



NASCAR.com

Published: 4 days ago

2 Minute Read

A post-race argument quickly escalated to fisticuffs between Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson after Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway.

Gragson confronted Chastain on pit road after close racing at the end of the AdventHealth 400 forced his No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet into the outside retaining wall. The two had a brief discussion before fists flew.

RELATED: Race results | Alternate angle of pit-road scuffle

Chastain squarely landed a punch before the two drivers were quickly separated by security. The discussion turned physical when Gragson grabbed Chastain’s fire suit and pushed him backward. Chastain shook free a few seconds later and connected with his right hand.

“I got tight off of (Turn) 4 for sure,” Chastain said of the contact that precipitated their scuffle. “Noah and I have a very similar attitude on the race track, and we train together, we prepare together, we know each other’s … every little bit about each other. Yeah, definitely crowded him up off of 4, and he took a swipe at us in 3, and then he came down and grabbed a hold of me, and a very big man once told me we have a no-push policy here at Trackhouse.”

Chastain finished fifth in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, while Gragson placed 29th in the 36-car field, five laps down after an earlier spin. It marked the second time in a three-week span that the two drivers had raced closely, and Gragson got the worst of it April 23 at Talladega Superspeedway.

“Just got fenced by the 1,” Gragson said. “He took care of us at Talladega. We’re Chevrolet teammates and he didn’t work with us there, and then fenced us here and I’m just over it. Nobody else has the balls to at least confront him, so if you don’t at least just grab him and do something, he’s just going to keep doing it, and I’m over it. It’s the second time. I have respect for (Chastain team owner) Justin Marks and the rest of the Trackhouse team, and that’s why I’m not wrecking him on the race track, but I’m ready to fight him. I didn’t even get a shot in because the security guards got in the middle of it, but nobody confronts the guy. He just keeps doing it, and I’m sick and tired of it.”