08 May 2023 , 14:34
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Security intervention was needed at the Kansas Speedway NASCAR race on Sunday after a bust-up between Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson.
Denny Hamlin won the race to go up to fifth in the Cup Series standings, but events off the track overshadowed the race. The incident took place on pit road shortly after the event had finished.
Gragson was unhappy with Chastain, and was visibly angry as he approached the 30-year-old after the race. The pair then had a heated verbal exchange, before Chastain threw a punch at Gregson.
The duo had a brief fracas that was quickly halted by members of security who broke up the quarrel. Gragson spoke afterwards about the race and could not hide his frustration about Chastain.
Gragson expressed his irritation towards Chastain’s racing style, in particular in the race at Kansas on Sunday. The 24-year-old was asked about the bust-up on pit road in an interview with Fox Sports.
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"There's no talking to the guy," Gragson said. "It sucks that [NASCAR security] get involved. Let us two work it out and finish it off."
Gragson added: "He just fenced us off of [Turn] 4 [with] 60 laps to go in the race.
Security intercepted Gragson before he had an opportunity to throw a punch of his own (Twitter@https://twitter.com/NASCAR)“I don't get it. ... Nobody confronts the guy. I went down there and grabbed him and showed my displeasure.
"I'm sick and tired of it. The guy just runs into everyone. When you've got guys telling you to go beat his a**, everyone is sick and tired of him but no one has the b**** to go up and get him."
Gragson finished 29th in the race, some 24 places behind Chastain who ended up in 5th place. The result leaves Gragson in 32nd place overall in the Cup Series, while Chastain is in first place and 29 points ahead of second-placed Christopher Bell.