Chastain, Suarez Feud Stems from Lack of Accountability

The two NASCAR drivers have a history of on-track incidents and off-track conflicts.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:18pm

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NASCAR drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez were involved in a post-race altercation at Phoenix Raceway, with Chastain saying the root of their issues is Suarez's lack of accountability. Chastain admits he could have handled the situation better, but says he was frustrated by Suarez's refusal to take responsibility for their on-track incidents.

Why it matters

The ongoing feud between Chastain and Suarez, who were once teammates, highlights the intense rivalries and bad blood that can develop between top-level NASCAR competitors. Their conflict also raises questions about how drivers should handle disputes, both on and off the track.

The details

The incident at Phoenix began with hard racing over the final laps, with Suarez saying his car started to fall off but he wanted to race it out as Chastain approached. Chastain gave Suarez the middle finger down the backstretch, and the two then got into a heated exchange on pit road after the race. Chastain says he was frustrated by Suarez's lack of accountability, while Suarez says he refrained from physically fighting Chastain due to concerns over sponsorship and potential fines.

  • The on-track incident occurred during the final laps of the race at Phoenix Raceway on March 17, 2026.
  • The post-race confrontation took place immediately after the race on pit road.

The players

Ross Chastain

A NASCAR driver who has had an ongoing feud with his former teammate Daniel Suarez, stemming from what Chastain sees as Suarez's lack of accountability.

Daniel Suarez

A NASCAR driver who was involved in an on-track incident and post-race confrontation with Ross Chastain, his former teammate at Trackhouse Racing.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, in the moment, I definitely was hot and angry and would do things different if I had time to think about it. I would not have swerved into him after the race and if I could go back, I wouldn't have shoved, sure.”

— Ross Chastain (Yahoo Sports)

“I was actually very proud of myself in the way I handled the situation because the Daniel from three years ago probably would have kicked his butt. But I have come to understand and I'll give you a few reasons. Reason No. 1, to punch him and put him on the ground, it was going to cost me $50,000. Reason No. 2 is sponsors never like that. Sponsors like exposure, but they don't like bad media, bad PR. And reason No. 3, I mean, if I want to fight Ross — and he knows this — it's not gonna last five seconds.”

— Daniel Suarez (SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

What’s next

Chastain and Suarez are expected to continue their rivalry throughout the 2026 NASCAR season, with the potential for more on-track incidents and off-track confrontations.

The takeaway

The feud between Chastain and Suarez highlights the importance of accountability and sportsmanship in NASCAR, as well as the challenges drivers face in maintaining composure when emotions run high. Their conflict serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unresolved disputes between top-level competitors.