Ross Chastain punched Noah Gragson on pit road Sunday at Kansas Speedway after Gragson approached Chastain, complained about how Chastain raced him and grabbed Chastain’s uniform.
Video shows Gragson approaching Chastain after the race on pit road, displeased that Chastain doored him and pinched his car on the track. Chastain can be heard on the video saying he thought he would clear Gragson, who then repeated that Chastain had hit the door of his car. The video shows that after Gragson grabbed Chastain, Chastain grabbed back and said, “Stop it.”
Gragson responded by shaking Chastain and saying: “What the (expletive) is your problem?”
Chastain swung his right fist and connected on the left cheek of Gragson. Gragson then went to punch with his right hand but was stopped by a NASCAR security official.
Series officials separated the two drivers, and Gragson could be heard on the video saying: “What’s your deal, dude?”
Afterward, Chastain explained what happened on the track with Gragson.
“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 each other’s -- every little bit about each other.
“Yeah, definitely crowded him up off of (Turn) 4, and he took a swipe at us in (Turn) 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. Gragson placed 29th.
🔊: @NoahGragson had sharp words for @RossChastain on pit road. pic.twitter.com/XJPhvXGGSw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 7, 2023
"We see each other every day."- Noah Gragson on what it may be like working with Chevrolet teammate Ross Chastain after Kansas. pic.twitter.com/pPO9YSHX8X
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 7, 2023