Ross Chastain has found himself out of the spotlight over the past few years in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship while struggling to compete with the drivers at the top, but Dale Earnhardt Jr has stated that he’s still the same style of driver he once was, and expects thim to be back.
In 2023, Chastain looked like one of the best drivers in the entire Cup Series, but was embroiled in numerous controversies while especially making Rick Hendrick angry – coming after a number of incidents with their drivers.
With an aggressive style of driver, Chastain was known as a risk-taker and had caused a few crashes and altercations. And while that has not happened recently, Dale Jr believes it’s because he is being held back.
The legendary driver stated that Chastain is in a tough spot with his current car being too slow, seeing him remain in the middle of the pack for the majority of this year so far.
But he still believes Chastain to be the same guy on the track, and would take such opportunities to be reckless if in a position to do so.
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Chastain has remained in the middle of the pack in the 2026 season (Image: Getty)
Speaking on his Dirty Mo Media podcast, Earnhardt Jr said: “Everybody believes that after Darlington and Rick Hendrick got in Ross’s ear that it really changed him.
“Not how it works, it’s not easy to have a conversation from Rick when he’s like stop doing it. You stop doing it. He stopped running Rick’s cars.
“That didn’t change him as a race car driver. Ross Chastain is still Ross Chastain. He’s still that same guy. He’s just decided, look when my car aint good enough, I’m not gonna create problems for myself.
“Wait till his car gets good again. When his cars are good, it’s gonna be the same overall.”
Chastain has not won a race this season with just one top five finish.
He finished in second place in 2022 and ninth in 2023, while battling to be in the playoff picture this year.
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