NASCAR saw tempers flare after the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain, former Trackhouse Racing teammates, had a heated exchange on pit road after the race.
The issue started late in the event as both drivers battled for position. Contact on track and actions on the cooldown lap carried over once the cars stopped. Suárez walked to Chastain’s car, and the two argued face-to-face.
Chastain then shoved Suárez before crew members stepped in to separate them. The moment drew attention across the garage, and Suárez later explained on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio why the situation did not turn into a fight.
NASCAR on-track contact led to a confrontation
The tension began in the closing laps as both drivers fought for 17th place. Chastain, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet, made an outside move on Suárez and appeared to gesture out the window. Earlier contact in Turn 2 had already left Suárez frustrated.
The situation escalated on the cooldown lap. Chastain made contact with Suárez’s car, and Suárez responded with contact of his own. Once both drivers reached pit road, Suárez exited his car and walked directly to Chastain.
They stood near the No. 1 car and argued for about 30 seconds. The exchange ended when Chastain shoved Suárez. Crew members quickly stepped in and separated both drivers as the shouting continued.
Daniel Suárez Explains the Decision not to Fight
Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Suárez addressed why he did not take the situation further.
“To punch him and put him on the ground, it was going to cost me $50,000.”
He also pointed to sponsor concerns as a key reason.
“The sponsors never like that. The sponsors like exposure, but they don’t like bad media and bad PR.”
Suárez added another comment when asked about the situation.
“If I want to fight Ross, and he knows this, he’s not going to last five seconds. So, what am I going to gain from that?”
History Between Suárez and Ross Chastain
Suárez and Chastain spent four seasons as teammates at Trackhouse Racing. During that time, they had multiple on-track incidents, including moments at Circuit of the Americas in 2023 and Sonoma Raceway.
Suárez now drives for Spire Motorsports. He said the recent events have changed how he views his former teammate. He stated that he has lost “a lot of respect” for Chastain and suggested that Chastain has acted “two-faced.”
The incident at Las Vegas adds another chapter to their history. Despite the heated exchange, the situation ended without further physical action after crew members separated both drivers on pit road.
Daniel Suárez Reveals Why He Didn’t Fight Ross Chastain After Heated NASCAR Clash