DARLINGTON, S.C. — Car owner Rick Hendrick issued a warning to Ross Chastain after Kyle Larson was wrecked for the third time in the last four races due to Chastain’s actions.
“I don’t care if he’s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars,” Hendrick said of Chastain, who drives a Chevy for Trackhouse Racing. “I don’t care. I’ve told Chevrolet that. If you wreck us, you’re going to get it back. If you don’t do it, they’ll run all over you.
“I’m loyal to Chevrolet, but when somebody runs over us, then I expect my guys to hold their ground. I’m not going to ask them to yield just because of Chevrolet.”
Hendrick wasn’t done.
“He doesn’t have to be that aggressive,” Hendrick said of Chastain. “I guess at this point in the race maybe you’re super aggressive, but you just don’t run people up in the fence. He’s going to make a lot of enemies. It’s hard to win a championship when you’ve got a lot of paybacks out there.”
Asked if he needed to get involved, Hendrick mentioned Chastain’s team owner, Justin Marks.
“I would think Justin would have a conversation” with Chastain.
As for the message Marks should deliver?
“If you have a lot of people wanting to pay you back, then it’s hard to win a championship that way,” Hendrick said.
As for all the incidents with Chastain, Hendrick said: “It’s really getting old with these guys.”
Hendrick’s words filled a void left by Larson, who left the track without talking to reporters.
Hendrick’s comments came after one of his drivers — William Byron— won his series-high third Cup victory Sunday at Darlington Raceway.
But it could have been Larson had it not been for Chastain.
Chastain and Larson were battling for the lead on a restart with six laps to go when trouble struck.
Chastain made
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