During the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, a heated moment unfolded between Ross Chastain and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. near the end of Stage 2. Chastain’s spotter, Brandon McReynolds, issued a stern warning over the radio after Chastain and Stenhouse made contact heading into Turn 1 under caution.
As the caution flag waved to end the second stage, Chastain was closely racing alongside Stenhouse’s No. 47 Chevrolet, leading to a situation known as “door-slamming,” where Chastain forced Stenhouse’s car toward the wall. When the pace slowed under yellow, Stenhouse briefly pulled alongside Chastain, but no further collisions occurred. Despite this, McReynolds’ message was clear: Chastain needed to keep his distance from Stenhouse.
Spotter’s Strong Words Reflect Team’s Concerns
McReynolds delivered a blunt caution via radio to Chastain, stating, “Don’t fu*k with him,” emphasizing that Stenhouse was already two laps behind in the race, making any further altercation unnecessary and risky. Motorsport reporter Noah Lewis shared video evidence on social media, showcasing the initial contact and the tension as Stenhouse shadowed Chastain under caution. The viral clip highlighted the intensity of the on-track incident as the stage came to a close.
Ross Chastain door slammed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. down into turn 1 as the caution flag flew to end the stage.
The No. 1 team told Ross “don’t f*ck with him, he’s already two laps down.”
This was them once they came back around…Stenhouse pulled alongside Chastain this time. No… pic.twitter.com/WCbG4Y7mHS
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) July 20, 2025
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s History of On-Track Conflicts Raises Stakes
Stenhouse has been involved in several post-race and on-track conflicts recently, escalating the caution from Chastain’s team. In 2025 alone, Stenhouse confronted fellow drivers Carson Hocevar twice, incidents occurring in Nashville and Mexico City. His reputation for confrontations extends back to 2024, when he engaged in a physical altercation with Kyle Busch following the All-Star Race. Given this volatile past, Chastain’s team sought to avoid provoking Stenhouse further during the Dover race.
Chastain’s Race Takes a Turn for the Worse
Despite the warning to steer clear of Stenhouse, Chastain’s session did not improve. On Lap 385, while running 13th, Chastain lost control exiting Turn 1 and slammed hard into the outside wall, prompting another caution. This happened just before rain forced an early end to the race, with fewer than 15 laps to go. The damage to Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet was severe enough to require towing from the track. NASCAR officials confirmed that Chastain was examined in the infield care center and subsequently released without serious injury.
Recent Incidents Add Pressure on Chastain’s Season
This clash with Stenhouse came shortly after another collision involving Chastain and his Trackhouse Racing teammate, Daniel Suarez, at Sonoma Raceway. On Lap 45 at Sonoma, Chastain misjudged braking and collided with Suarez, pushing himself back to 29th place. Chastain publicly accepted responsibility, apologizing to Suarez and his crew chief, emphasizing that the incident was accidental. At Sonoma, Suarez finished 14th, while Chastain ended up 24th.
Nonetheless, Chastain remains committed to finishing the regular season strongly. Having secured a playoff spot earlier this year with a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chastain currently holds 12th place in the standings with 517 points, aiming to build momentum despite recent setbacks.