What a wild and strange day at Kansas Speedway. Following a hard-fought 400 miles at Kansas Speedway, Noah Gragson approached Ross Chastain following an on-track incident between the two that spoiled a decent run for Gragson, a rookie of the year contender.
As Gragson and Chastain began talking, Gragson grabbed onto Chastain’s firesuit, which Chastain took exception to. Moments later, Chastain delivered a right-cross to Gragson’s face.
As Gragson attempted to swing back, NASCAR officials broke up the fight between the two drivers.
Here is a video of the altercation following Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway:
Here is the altercation between Chastain and Gragson after today’s race: pic.twitter.com/2VM7oZw7U2
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) May 7, 2023
NASCAR has released an alternate angle of the scuffle, and from this angle you can see (and hear) the connection of the shot from Chastain onto Gragson:
Here's what happened on pit road between @NoahGragson and @RossChastain. pic.twitter.com/MMcOLASlgq
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 7, 2023
Chastain finished fifth in Sunday’s race, despite the contact with Gragson. Meanwhile, Gragson ended the race 29th, five laps off the pace due to a flat tire following the incident with Chastain.
Here is the initial on-track incident that led to Gragson confronting Chastain after the race:
A tough break for Noah Gragson. pic.twitter.com/Ld5vsUqsC9
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
Following the scuffle, Chastain explained that his Trackhouse Racing team has a no-pushing policy, and when someone puts their hands on them, they are free to handle the situation. So, Chastain did that.
“We have a no-push policy here at Trackhouse.”- Ross Chastain on his Kansas scuffle with Noah Gragson https://t.co/g9cqmV17Um pic.twitter.com/lZZQ3v1fMT
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 7, 2023
A very frustrated Gragson, who has usually been the aggressor in these types of post-race altercations throughout his career, stated that he is tired of Chastain fencing him on the race track.
“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
Over the course of his NASCAR Cup Series career, Chastain has had run-ins with several drivers. Last week, Chastain made contact with the lapped car of Brennan Poole in the early portions of the race at Dover Motor Speedway, which led to Poole and Kyle Larson crashing.
Following that incident, Poole stated that Chastain needs to get his butt kicked. After Sunday’s race, Chastain wasn’t going to allow that to happen, as he delivered the first swing.
