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SPORTS Tuesday 9 May 2023
‘Sick of him’: Chastain drawing ire of fellow NASCAR drivers

By DAVE SKRETTA reputation for policing the
AP Sports Writer way drivers acted on the
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — drack, and many others
Ross Chastain used to be from NASCAR’s heyday did
known primarily as the driv- the same thing.
er with the family roots in Yet the furor also begs the
watermelon farming, and question: Is Chastain ex-
whose victory lane cel- actly what NASCAR needs
ebrations usually involved these days? The series has
standing on the roof of his struggled to attract au-
car and smashing a melon diences, and sections of
to pieces on the pave- empty seats at Kansas
ment. Now, he’s becoming Speedway on a bright,
known for an aggressive sunny Sunday were the lat-
driving style that is repeat- est evidence of it. Many
edly rubbing others the drivers have told The As-
wrong way. sociated Press that one of
The latest incident came the series’ problems is the
Sunday at Kansas Speed- lack of identifiable stars in
way, where Chastain first the Cup Series. Perhaps
earned a torrent of exple- Chastain can embrace the
tives over the radio from role of the villain. There’s a
Kyle Busch, then squeezed A fan, left, takes a photo with Ross Chastain, right, before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at fine line to walk between
Noah Gragson into the wall Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 7, 2023. creating drama and cre-
with about 60 laps to go. Associated Press ating havoc, though. Take
The latter dust-up led to ries ran its rain-delayed race guess that’s something he’s at Kansas and leads the the incident with Busch on
a wild scene on pit road, at Dover, and Chastain been known to do here re- NASCAR Cup Series points Sunday. Chastain was rac-
where Chastain threw a got into the back of Bren- cently. Probably needs to standings, was even criti- ing him hard shortly before
haymaker at Gragson and nan Poole, sending him up get his butt whooped.” cized by Hall of Famer Busch crashed out of the
the two had to be pulled the track and taking Kyle Last month, Denny Ham- Rusty Wallace, who was a race Chastain had noth-
apart by security. Larson out of the race in lin had a $50,000 fine and guest analyst on the Fox ing to do with that and the
“I’m sick and tired of it,” the process.Larson vented 25-point penalty upheld broadcast at Dover: “He’s two-time series champion
Gragson said afterward, over his radio about Chas- after he acknowledged got a steering wheel in his often regarded as some-
while dropping a few ex- tain while Poole was more on his weekly podcast that hand and a brake and a thing of a villain himself lit
pletives of his own. “The guy pointed in his criticism dur- he intentionally wrecked gas (pedal) at his feet. He into him over the radio.
runs into everyone. When ing a televised interview. Chastain on the last lap of could have controlled that “He’s pissed because I’m
you have guys like Chase “I haven’t really seen the the Phoenix race in March. a little bitter. That was a pissed that he races like
Elliott and other guys telling replay, but it felt like I just “I got no respect from him,” little too aggressive, in my an (expletive),” Busch told
you to beat his ass, every- got ran over really for no said Hamlin, who won Sun- opinion.” Back in Wallace’s his team, “and so I doored
one is just sick of him.” reason 80 laps into the day’s race at Kansas, “so I day, it wouldn’t have taken him twice down the back-
The incident came six days race,” he said. “Doesn’t chose not to give him any.” long for someone to retali- stretch like, ‘This is your
after the NASCAR Cup Se- make any sense to me. I Chastain, who was fifth ate. Dale Earnhardt had a warning, boy.’” q

Matthews takes Giro 3rd stage, Evenepoel keeps lead

MELFI, Italy (AP) — Michael dropped on the climb so I cause the rain made the
Matthews won a wet and was hoping he would be a roads wet and tricky,” said
long third stage of the Giro little bit pinned for the sprint. Evenepoel, who rides for
d’Italia on Monday while I just knew I needed to go a Soudal Quick-Step.
pre-race favorite Remco bit early, get the jump on “If the seconds are there
Evenepoel extended his them, and it worked out.” to grab, we should not
overall lead. The drizzle, especially on the be afraid to grab them.
Matthews, who rides for second half of the 213-ki- One more second on Pri-
Team Jayco–AlUla, edged lometer (132-mile) route moz and three on the rest
out Mads Pedersen and south from Vasto to Melfi, is good, especially after
Kaden Groves in a bunch caused several crashes but quite an easy day and a
sprint on the final kick up to nothing that appeared too hectic final.”
the line. It was the Austra- serious. Evenepoel has worn the
lian cyclist’s third Giro stage Evenepoel finished safely pink jersey since storming
win and a first since 2015. in the peloton and gained to victory in the opening
“They (his team) were fully bonus seconds in the in- time trial on Saturday. Australia’s Michael Matthews crosses the finish line to win the
committed for me to win termediate sprint edging Roglič, who is considered third stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Vasto to Melfi,
the stage,” Primož Roglič to extend Evenepoel’s strongest chal- Italy, Monday, May 8, 2023.
Matthews said. “It’s been his lead to 32 seconds over lenger, moved up to third Associated Press
such a roller coaster this João Almeida, who moved but was still 44 seconds be- end. There are also three cat-
year. Now already on into second despite being hind the Belgian. In contrast, Tuesday’s egory two climbs, including
stage three with a stage involved in a crash. The stage was one of the fourth stage has hardly any one just before the finish.
win. That’s more than I “We were just there, we longest and flattest of the flat sections on the 175-kilo- The Giro ends in Rome on
could ever dream of. wanted to take the down- Giro, along with two cate- meter (109-mile) route from May 28.q
“I heard that Pedersen was hill in the first positions be- gorized climbs towards the Venosa to Lago Laceno.