Tensions Flare at Darlington: Ross Chastain Clashes with Elliott and Bell in Heated Battle
Darlington, SC — The Lady in Black lived up to her reputation once again as Ross Chastain found himself in the middle of a dramatic three-way clash with Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series showdown at Darlington Raceway.
The incident, which occurred with just under 40 laps to go, was the boiling point of aggressive driving, tight racing, and rising tempers that had been simmering all afternoon. As the trio battled for position inside the top 10, Chastain dove low into Turn 1, making contact with Bell and squeezing Elliott into the outside wall.
Video replays quickly made the rounds on social media, showing Chastain’s aggressive move triggering a chain reaction. Bell’s No. 20 Toyota wiggled up the track, clipping Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet, who had nowhere to go. Both drivers would lose critical track position, while Chastain escaped relatively unscathed — at least in terms of damage.
But it wasn’t over.
Post-race, Elliott was visibly frustrated, declining to comment in detail but hinting at payback down the line. Bell, who had raced clean all day, was more vocal, calling Chastain’s move “reckless and completely unnecessary” during a pit road interview.
Chastain, never one to shy away from controversy, defended his actions, stating: “I’m here to race. We were three-wide, and I went for the gap. If I lift there, I’m giving up positions. That’s not how I’m wired.”
This isn’t the first time Chastain has drawn heat from competitors, and Sunday’s drama adds another chapter to his growing reputation as NASCAR’s most polarizing driver. With the playoffs looming and tensions running high, Darlington may have just lit the fuse on some unfinished business heading into the stretch run.
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**Pietro Fittipaldi Eyes NASCAR Debut with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91**
Pietro Fittipaldi, the Brazilian-American Haas F1 reserve driver and grandson of two-time Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, is closer than ever to realizing his NASCAR dream after a near-miss four years ago. Now 28, Fittipaldi’s journey from open-wheel racing to stock cars has reignited interest, with Trackhouse Racing’s innovative “Project 91” program emerging as a potential gateway for his debut.
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### **Background: A Lifelong Passion for Stock Cars**
Fittipaldi’s roots in NASCAR trace back to his childhood in Miami, where he began karting at age nine. By 2011, he was competing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, earning a Limited Late Models track championship at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2012. Reflecting on this period, he noted, *“I learned so much from car racing through NASCAR”*—a foundation that fueled his versatility across disciplines like IndyCar, endurance racing, and F1.
Despite his success in Europe—including titles in Formula Renault and Formula V8 3.5—Fittipaldi’s heart remained tied to oval racing. In 2021, a collaboration between Dale Coyne Racing and Rick Ware Racing nearly secured him a NASCAR road course seat, but logistical hurdles derailed the plan. Rick Ware, a Cup Series team owner, praised Fittipaldi’s talent, calling him a “natural fit” for NASCAR.
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### **The Trackhouse Racing Opportunity**
Trackhouse Racing’s **Project 91**—a initiative designed to bring global motorsport stars into NASCAR—has become Fittipaldi’s most promising avenue. The program previously hosted F1 legend Kimi Räikkönen and Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen, who transitioned to full-time NASCAR racing after his Project 91 debut.
In a recent interview, Fittipaldi expressed enthusiasm: *“Of course, it would be amazing. I feel like my roots are NASCAR racing… I’ve always loved oval racing too”*. Trackhouse’s openness to international talent aligns with Fittipaldi’s profile, especially given his dual role as Haas F1’s reserve driver and his current commitments in IMSA and the European Le Mans Series.
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### **Challenges and Logistics**
Balancing F1 duties with a NASCAR debut remains a hurdle. Fittipaldi’s schedule includes reserve drives for Haas, IMSA races with Pratt Miller Motorsports, and ELMS campaigns with Vector Sport. However, Trackhouse’s flexible Project 91 model—which allows for one-off entries—could accommodate his packed calendar.
Another factor is equipment availability. Trackhouse’s No. 91 car is reserved for guest drivers, but the team also fields the No. 88 for van Gisbergen. With van Gisbergen now racing full-time, Fittipaldi could target road courses like Circuit of the Americas or Watkins Glen, where his open-wheel expertise would shine.
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### **Historical Context: F1 Drivers in NASCAR**
Fittipaldi’s potential move follows a small but notable trend of F1 drivers exploring NASCAR. Champions like Jenson Button, Kimi Räikkönen, and Juan Pablo Montoya have all dabbled in stock cars, though none achieved sustained success. Fittipaldi’s unique background—blending NASCAR grassroots experience with F1 technical knowledge—could set him apart.
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### **Conclusion: A Full-Circle Moment**
For Fittipaldi, a NASCAR debut would fulfill a lifelong ambition. As he told *Frontstretch*, *“I was super excited to do it back then… It feels like destiny.”* With Trackhouse’s global vision and his own resilience—honed through a career-threatening 2018 crash at Spa—the stars may finally align for this cross-disciplinary racer.
If successful, Fittipaldi’s journey could further bridge the gap between F1 and NASCAR, inspiring a new generation of drivers to embrace versatility in motorsport.
