Ross Chastain: The peacemaker?

Is the notably aggressive Melon Man also skilled in the art of conflict resolution?

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

You all saw the final turn of the final lap at the Charlotte Roval. Ross Chastain did it again.

But it’s Ross we’re talking about, so “…did it again” could mean anything. Did he drive too aggressively and ship another car into oblivion? Did he deliver a haymaker across the face of an unsuspecting competitor on pit road? Did he once again defy the laws of physics and go viral with a move that is equal parts awesome but also totally going to be prohibited next year?

Well, a little bit of the third, but nothing that will result in a new rule. With his playoff spot on the line, Ross Chastain absolutely sailed his car into the final turns, spun out both himself and Denny Hamlin, and drove in reverse across the start/finish line. Did he advance? No. Did he make another move that makes you ask “Didn’t Ricky Bobby do that in ‘Talladega Nights’?” Yes. Yes he did.

But Ross, well-known for raising the ire of other drivers, is doing something else amazing.

He is, from time to time, making verifiable, on-camera peace with those he once wronged. This was evident after the Charlotte Roval. Watch this video.

Is your heart sufficiently warmed? Good. You see, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano are two drivers with whom Ross has very, very, very significant drama.

The feud with Denny Hamlin from 2022 alone was tense – we didn’t know if Denny would send Ross into the fence, swing at him on pit road, or worse, deliver scathing anti-Chastain rhetoric on his podcast.

And that ‘OMG’ incident with Joey Logano happened a mere four months ago at the Chicago Street Race. You know how Joey always smiles? Look at him – he is not smiling, and if you have made Joey Logano not smile, you have committed a most unforgivable malfeasance.

But fast forward to the end of the Charlotte Roval. Here is Ross Chastain, sad and defeated after giving it every ounce of watermelon-flavored effort in his body.

Here comes Denny Hamlin. Oh no – get security to pit road! No need – Denny puts a comforting arm around Ross and they quietly discuss the events of that final lap. Hamlin said in the post-race interview that Ross did nothing wrong. Peace has been achieved. They may have had a delightful brunch the following morning; we’ll never know.

Then there’s Joey Logano – that big smile plastered across his face because he advanced to the Round of 8 at the Roval, and unlike last year, didn’t have to wait until 9:30 p.m. to find out. He and Ross had battled all day for that final spot. Ross, the gentleman, comes over and shakes the hand of the driver who eliminated him. Pleasantries are exchanged. They’re probably Facebook friends now.

But above all else, we need to credit Chastain for his peace-making skills. He’s a driver who will drive aggressively, and that inevitably leads to incidents of varying severity with other drivers. But he’ll acknowledge it, be contrite, and sooner or later, you’ll see him in a moment of fellowship with those drivers. Those two moments after the Roval? In 2022, if you had told us “Denny Hamlin will be consoling Ross Chastain after a race within five years” and given us 100,000/1 odds, we’d have liquidated our 401Ks before that sentence was even complete.

It’s why we appreciate Ross Chastain. He’s a highlight reel on four wheels and he’ll ruffle some feathers. But he’s a Cup Series veteran now, and has matured to a point where he knows that resolving conflicts is key to success.

But he also knows that conflicts provide great content so we appreciate him even more.