Ross Chastain and Joey Logano remain at odds after their confrontation at the Chicago Street Race last Sunday, with no sign of reconciliation as they prepared for the upcoming event at Sonoma Raceway. The ongoing Ross Chastain Joey Logano rivalry was evident during Saturday’s media session at Sonoma, where both drivers gave curt responses about the incident and their strained relationship.

Neither Driver Has Reached Out to Mend Fences

When asked if he had contacted Chastain since the Chicago incident, Logano gave a brief response.

It is what it is. He made his choices. I’ve just got to go race my car.

—Joey Logano

Chastain confirmed that he had not reached out either and does not expect any communication before the race at Sonoma.

I didn’t (feel the need to talk with Logano),

he said.

He definitely aired all his grievances (in the media after the race).

—Ross Chastain

Dispute Over the Cause of the Wreck and NASCAR’s Response

Logano previously claimed that Chastain admitted to purposely wrecking him, a statement Chastain neither verifies nor denies. While fans and commentators anticipated some form of NASCAR discipline, Chastain described the review process between NASCAR and himself as routine.

I definitely think that NASCAR looked at everything, like they do every week,

Chastain said.

I have conversations with NASCAR all the time. So there was nothing out of the ordinary. We talked about it and I think there’s three sides to every story.

He added that the loudest complaints came from one party and noted the chaotic nature of the closing laps.

One side of it was a lot louder this week than the other. I think that a lot of people were all running into each other for the last couple laps. So, that’s what I saw.

—Ross Chastain

Despite this, Chastain continues to place blame on Logano for the incident, despite Austin Cindric initiating the initial wreck, which spiraled into Chastain retaliating by sending Logano into Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s car.

Possibility of Future Payback Looms Over Upcoming Races

Neither driver promised retaliation following the incident, but NASCAR analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes Logano will seek payback at some point. Earnhardt suggests that any reprisal from Logano may not come immediately in Sonoma but could arise unpredictably later in the season. This potential retaliation could be critical if it occurs during the ten-race NASCAR Cup playoffs.

Joey will probably get Ross back at some point,

Earnhardt said.

It might be a year from now. It might be at some point. And we might not even notice or recognize it, but Joey will (do something), something will happen somewhere at a racetrack and it might just be Joey air-blocking Ross and costing him a few spots on a restart.

—Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Advice from Analysts on Settling the Conflict

Steve Letarte, another NASCAR analyst, offered his opinion on how Chastain might handle the situation, suggesting a direct conversation with Logano.

If I’m Chastain, I’m calling Joey Logano this week (and) taking my butt-chewing,

Letarte advised. —Steve Letarte

What Lies Ahead for the Rivalry Between Chastain and Logano

The unresolved tension between Ross Chastain and Joey Logano sets the stage for continued friction as the NASCAR season advances. Their rivalry is likely to influence the dynamics on the track, especially during crucial moments like the playoffs, where small maneuvers can have significant consequences. Fans will be watching closely to see if either driver escalates the conflict or chooses to de-escalate as the competition intensifies at Sonoma Raceway and beyond.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Why did Ross Chastain hit the wall?

A. Dispute with Denny Hamlin NASCAR stepped in and informed Hamlin that he had already conveyed his message. Later in that race, Chastain collided with Chase Elliott, causing Elliott to spin out. During the restart, Elliott nudged Chastain into the wall, and Hamlin executed a close pass to show his annoyance once more.

Q. What is the Ross Chastain rule?

A. On Tuesday, NASCAR revealed several rule updates for the 2023 season. One significant change is banning the exciting wall-riding move that Ross Chastain used last fall at Martinsville in the “Hail Melon” race.