Ross Chastain has been the subject of many controversies throughout his entire NASCAR career, even at every level. His most notable incidents involve Denny Hamlin and, more recently, Kyle Larson. He even got into an altercation with his own teammate in Daniel Suarez at COTA this year. But he has been quiet as of late.
The last handful of weeks, he’s steered clear of controversy and his finishes have been…modest, to put it lightly and lackluster to be more truthful. His last top-5 was at Kansas where he finished 5th. At Darlington, Charlotte, and Gateway, he finished outside the top-20, the most controversial of those races being the Darlington run-in with Kyle Larson where he finished 29th.
Since that incident, his team has not shown the same speed as Chastain largely kept a low profile, his best finish coming a Sonoma where he finished 10th. This sparked many drivers and fans to wonder if it was a conscious shift in his driving style which caused him to simmer down in the media.
During an interview this week on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90), Ross Chastain was asked the question: Has he changed his driving style within the past few weeks? Ross gave his answer in the clip below. Let’s break it down:
First, we ought to note that Trackhouse team owner, Justin Marks, sat Chastain down after the whole ordeal with Larson at Darlington. This came after a history of doubling and tripling down on his driver’s style in Ross Chastain. So, what really triggered this to happen? Well, Mr. Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, was very upset with Ross basically taking out the No. 5 of Kyle Larson.
Now, one of Mr. H’s cars still went on to win but it didn’t matter. Mr. H and Jeff Gordon didn’t like seeing their cars raced against that way. So, as was hinted by the men themselves over the radio, it is assumed that Hendrick Motorsports had a conversation with Chevrolet, who then had a conversation with Team Trackhouse, in order for Marks to sit down with the driver of the No. 1 car and tell him to cool it.
In the interview above, Chastain responds to the question with first an explanation, which I think is telling. To me, the explanation seems almost…rehearsed. So, this could be some bleed over from the sit-down his Justin Marks. In the explanation, he states that he’s evolving and learning.
I had to unlearn a lot of habits I learned fundamentally at twelve years old in the Fast Kid class of the Pro Trucks division in south Florida, through late models, and then back-of-the-pack Truck, Xfinity, Cup, up through middle-of-the-pack and now the front, there’s a lot of habits I learned that don’t exactly work all the time when you’re in the spotlight.
Chastain, in similar ways as Alex Bowman, is a sort of modern-day journeyman driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. They’ve been with every kind of team in the three largest divisions of NASCAR from back-markers to mid-packers all the way to the top-marker teams. If Chastain is believed to be genuine here, that means that you race differently, depending on where you are in the pack. Maybe back of the pack racers view it to be a free-for-all, especially in the rare instance that one of them can sniff the front. That’s a fair claim and I think it’s a fair point for Chastain to point out, even if it does sound like sort of an excuse as he tends to dish out.
When it comes to the answer of the question, Chastain says bluntly that no, he hasn’t changed his driving style. Well, in very least, it was not a conscious effort. He says that he’s a driver and he was hired to do a job and he will continue to do that job the only way he knows how. He also said that he had the opportunity to listen to various “very powerful people” and has taken their considerations into account.
Okay, so, has Chastain changed his driving style? I don’t think he has changed his approach, at least that’s what I’m gathering from the interview. He’s still the same old Ross Chastain everyone knows and either loves or loathes. But has his talks with Justin Marks and, potentially, Chevrolet executives shaped his driving style in any way? Well, I don’t think he makes the same sorts of Hail Melon moves he has become known for in recent weeks. I think he races a tad bit more passively than before and that has scrubbed some speed off. They’ll find it, though. The best of teams always do.
Also Read:
Charles predicts for Chastain to make another catastrophic mistake and soon…
Nicholas Bianco notes that he’s just listening to the sacred teachings of Yoda.
Michael of I like racing was hoping that the “adjustment” he would make would be to quit and disappear off into the sunset.
What do you think, NASCAR fans? Have you seen a shift in Ross Chastain as of late? Let us know your thoughts and opinions on all of our social media platforms!
NASCAR’s documentary series “Full Speed,” which used to live on Netflix, had its first two seasons look back at entire playoff runs. But now, NASCAR is shifting the series to Amazon Prime Video for its third season, and the scope of the series will also shift to new storylines.
Dropping on March 5, the new season is aimed at zooming in on one event: the 2026 Daytona 500. Instead of a multi-episode run, this time it’s a single-episode documentary that goes all in on one race.
The film will follow big names and storylines from the Daytona 500. It will spotlight the winner, Tyler Reddick, and lean into driver storylines around the weekend. That includes Kyle Busch trying to get his groove back, Brad Keselowski clawing his way back after a broken leg, Connor Zilisch being pushed as the next big thing, and Noah Gragson bringing chaos wherever he goes.
Some fans might question the move away from Netflix, especially after Season 1 pulled in 3.4 million views in the first half of 2024. Then in 2025, the docuseries clocked 900,000 views after its early May release and added another 200,000 between July and December.
But with Prime Video stepping in as one of NASCAR’s broadcast partners, moving the series lines up with a bigger play to keep content under one roof.
Amazon has already dipped into NASCAR storytelling with projects like the docuseries Earnhardt about Dale Earnhardt. Moving Full Speed to Prime follows the same playbook. And for fans who still haven’t seen previous installments, the first two seasons are also heading over to Prime Video.
However, Reddit fans are divided in their opinions about the decision. Some fans actually get why NASCAR changed the format and platform, while a chunk of fans think leaving Netflix is risky because Netflix is where casual viewers stumble into shows. Others push back, pointing out that Prime actually has a massive reach in the U.S. and strong marketing muscle.
While one fan commented, “Makes sense. I highly doubt they were gonna make a new season around a points format they don’t use anymore,” another stated, “Idk the semantics and numbers and everything behind it so I’m probably talking out of my ass….buttttttt….at what point does nascar take the less money for the exposure. You need to be on Netflix, people watch Netflix. People don’t watch Amazon video as much. Who’s gonna watch this that isn’t a nascar fan already. You have a higher chance of getting people lost on Netflix than lost on Amazon Prime Video.”
One fan commented on the news, saying, “100%. I have Amazon Prime and Netflix. AP is a train wreck for videos especially now with their ad program with videos. I steer clear because Netflix is still ad free.” Another fan supported NASCAR’s move, saying, “Prime actually has slightly more subscribers in the USA and in my opinion is better at marketing. It’s a lateral move.”
Another backed NASCAR, stating, “Most NASCAR fans will find some way to be on prime in the month of June. I think they are counting on people watching it then if they have not already seen it. Similar to the Earnhardt documentary that dropped in June last year.”
Another fan comment implied something less glamorous yet very real, pointing out that the Netflix seasons didn’t see a surge in viewership. The first season did okay, but later numbers dipped: “Netflix didn’t seem to work that well for the 2 playoff seasons.”
Will you be watching on Prime Video? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
NASCAR driver/owner Brad Keselowski says that he plans to race the entirety of Sunday’s DuraMax Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, despite his ongoing recovery from an injury suffered this past offseason.
What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Shane van Gisbergen, who won five of six road and street races last year, will have the odds in his corner heading to Circuit of the Americas (COTA), even with a P6 there last season. But on the other side, there are some drivers who have often drawn the short straw at COTA and will line up on Sunday. Let’s take a look at both ends of that deal ahead of this weekend at COTA.
Daniel Suarez
Despite previous ties to Trackhouse Racing, whose lineup sits near the front of most road course previews, Suarez owns the roughest ledger among current drivers at COTA. Across five starts, the Spire Motorsports driver carries an average finish of 30.2, with a best of P24 after starting second in 2022. Last year, Suarez had started P5 but spun on the opening lap of the final stage, then got tagged by Connor Zilisch.
Across his five starts, Suarez’s average starting position sits at 9.2, yet races keep slipping through his fingers due to luck swings and on-track incidents.
Bubba Wallace
The 23XI Racing driver has five COTA starts and has suffered more heartbreak than highlights, with an average finish of 29.8. His best result on the track came in 2024, a P15 after starting P10. Last year also, he qualified second and locked out the front row with teammate Tyler Reddick. Wallace flashed pace early but burned through tires and slipped to P20. Even so, he did manage to bag a stage win.
Ty Dillon
The grandson of Richard Childress has yet to crack the code at COTA. In four starts, his average start sits at 33.5, with finishes hovering at 27.0. Last year, he climbed from P34 to P28, inch by inch. He has shown more life in lower series on the track, though, including an 11th in the 2024 Truck race. In 2026, now with Kaulig Racing, he enters after top-20 runs at Daytona and Atlanta, hoping to turn the tide.
Ryan Preece
Preece has had races where promise showed before slipping away. One outing saw him run inside the top 15 on pace (back in 2021). But last year, despite grabbing Stage 2, he fell to 33rd following a late pit call and a fuel pump issue. He started 28th, climbed through the field, hovered in the mid-teens late, then lost ground after a caution cycle. On raw numbers, he ranked 13th in total speed and late-run metrics, though.
Brad Keselowski
The RFK Racing co-owner carries an average finish of 18.2 on road layouts, yet COTA has not been kind. While his driver, Chris Buescher, has found a groove on left-right tracks, Keselowski’s best here is P14 from a P26 start in 2022. In 2025, he came home 15th after battling a cool-suit failure that left him needing help just getting out of his car.
This year brings another hurdle as he is recovering from a broken right femur, leaving his status for COTA up in the air. He has kept Joey Hand on standby, ready to swap mid-race if the shifting and G-forces at the 17-turn layout take their toll.
Shane van Gisbergen
Going by his road course history and previous runs, SVG walks into Sunday with the wind at his back. Entering the race, the No. 97 car from Trackhouse Racing rides a five-race road-course streak, a run matched only by Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. He also paced the field for 301 laps in 2025, putting him at the head of the table.
Yet Circuit of the Americas remains one track where the trophy still slips through his fingers. Away from COTA, he has ruled road layouts, sweeping Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and the Charlotte Roval in 2025.
Even so, COTA stands as the odd one out. In his 2024 Xfinity debut, he led 20 laps and fought for the win in overtime before a penalty pulled the rug. In the 2025 Cup race, he showed pace, led laps, but finished P6, still knocking on the door.
Tyler Reddick
Already two-for-two this season after wins at Daytona and Atlanta, Reddick heads to COTA with momentum in his pocket. His numbers here point toward another swing at the front, with an average finish of 4.6 across five starts. The No. 45 driver has never finished worse than P9 at this track, and his average starting spot sits at 2.2, putting him on the front foot when the green waves.
Connor Zilisch
The 19-year-old has only one Cup start here, and the 37th-place result hides more than it reveals. His weekend last year split into two halves at COTA, where he grabbed an Xfinity win on Saturday before Sunday slipped away.
The Trackhouse Racing driver started P14 but got caught in Turn 1 chaos, picking up a flat and heading to pit road. After falling back, he clawed forward, set the fastest lap for a stretch, and cracked the top 10 by Lap 41. But then on Lap 50, teammate Daniel Suarez spun in Turn 20, sending Zilisch into a wall of smoke and into the stalled car, ending both days.
Yet, given his road-course background and Xfinity record, he could still give SVG a run if he finds his rhythm in the Next Gen car.
Alex Bowman
The Hendrick Motorsports driver has kept a steady hand on road layouts. He owns an average finish of 5.2 at COTA and 15.1 across road and street tracks, and even came home second in 2022 after starting P5.
In 2024 and 2025, he finished P4 and P9 despite starting P17 and P21. The No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driver has never finished outside the top 10 in five starts on the track. In fact, Bowman and Reddick are the only drivers to log a top-10 in every Cup race at COTA from 2021 to 2025. Entering the March 1, 2026 weekend, Bowman looks to steady the ship after sitting 32nd in points following Daytona and Atlanta.
Ross Chastain
The third and final driver of the Trackhouse Racing team is also very much expected to be in the mix. Chastain showed in 2022 that COTA could be his playground, scoring his first Cup win here in the Next Gen era. In five starts, he has never finished outside the top 12 and carries an average finish of 5.6, along with a perfect lap completion mark at the circuit.
Last year, he started P9 but finished P12 after an early clash with Chase Elliott that put both on the back foot. Chastain later owned up, saying he felt he had wrecked both days and even moved aside later to let Elliott through.
But even with the Lap 1 drama, he fought back into the top 10 mix before settling just outside it.
