After an early-race crash sparked by Ross Chastain parked Brennan Poole in Monday’s Cup race at Dover Motor Speedway, Poole said Chastain “probably needs to get his butt whooped.”
On Lap 81, Chastain bumped the rear of Poole’s car, sending Poole up the track and into the outside wall. Kyle Larson rolled into the crash area with nowhere to go and slammed into Poole. Poole left the race. Larson returned to the track after repairs.
“I did not mean to do that at all,” Chastain told his crew via radio.
After the race, Chastain said on FS1: “I first have to say I’m so sorry to Brennan and everybody at Rick Ware Racing. I owe a big apology and a bit more. When I get home from Skip Barber (Tuesday), I’ll head over there and talk to those guys and make some of that right.”
The wreck happened in the first stage of the race, a fact both Larson and Poole pointed out after the crash.
“I feel like I just got ran over,” Poole said. “As soon as he ran into me, I just kind of got shoved into the corner, like way too deep, and then I was just immediately turned around. So, I think it was the No. 1? (Chastain). Go figure. I mean, just a joke... 80-something laps into a race? No reason. I was side-by-side with (Austin Dillon), just got to the outside and it’s not like I can go anywhere or give him any more room than what I had. He just ran me over.
“So, it’s kind of pathetic. I don’t know. It seems to be something (Chatain) does a lot recently. Just uncalled for. It was my first time in a new Cup car, and 80 laps out... for what?
“I just drove in side-by-side with No. 3, rolled out of the gas and just got ran over. It may have even been before I needed to roll out of the gas. I don’t know. I’ll have to look at the replay. I just feel like it’s not necessary.”
The race was Poole’s first Cup start of the season.
Brennan Poole on Ross Chastain at Dover ... 👀 pic.twitter.com/cyj2TBODqL
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 1, 2023
