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Ross Chastain throws shade at Ryan Blaney after Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas

JHby:Jonathan Howard•03/03/24•

Jondean25

Ross Chastain Ryan Blaney Pennzoil 400
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

While last season is well behind us, we might have a continued rivalry between Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain on the track. The two drivers battled hard in the NASCAR season finale at Phoenix in 2023.

Ross Chastain finished P4 today after starting at the rear for a prerace adjustment and amid pit road issues. Ryan Blaney went on to finish one spot ahead in P3, and he wasn’t going to let Chastain get around him at the end of this one.

After the race, Chastain talked about racing Blaney. The 2023 champion was upset at Phoenix last year when Chastain threw multiple blocks on him to claim the race win and rain a bit on Blaney’s championship.

Well, it turns out, Blaney knows how to throw air blocks too!

“I knew our balance was going to play into putting two tires on and it did,” Chastain said after the race via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “The 5 [Larson] and I had a few side drafts and knew when we couldn’t get to the lead that we had to play defense and I really just ran as fast as I could there at the end. It was pretty cool to see Blaney blocking me at the end pretty cool to see his evolution with the air blocking. I was proud of him.”

Ross Chastain seems to be back. By that I mean he doesn’t care who he upsets this year. So, get used to seeing him up front again. He will be throwing wild moves and making questionable decisions week in and out now.

When a driver feels good enough to joke around, I love it. Chastain knows he has a target on his back. Why not play into it and accept it?

To his credit, Ryan Blaney responded:

Ross Chastain is ready to win races

The last two seasons have been great for Ross Chastain. He has won two races each in the last two years. Still, it feels like there is more for him to reach for. Earning 3+ wins this season would go a long way to solidify him as a real contender.

Early on this season, starting at Daytona, we have seen aggression from Chastain. That is what makes him an exciting driver. It is why fans love to root for him or cheer against him. He made a strong move to go for the lead at Daytona, and it didn’t work.

Today, after getting down due to a pit road penalty, Chastain took matters into his own hands. On the final pit stops, he only took two tires and almost beat Larson out for the lead. As he said after the race, at that point, he decided he was going to go on the defense and hold his spot as best he could.

Ross Chastain earned a top-5 finish today. He has been a top-5 car through three races this season. He was there at the end of the Daytona 500 before the wreck, he was there at the end in Atlanta, finishing P7 – today he finished P4 against the odds.

Is this the old Chastain? The one who earned himself a phone call from Rick Hendrick himself for wrecking his cars so many times? I hope it is and I hope he keeps it up.