Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric talk over their final lap wreck after Daytona 500
Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric were the two main drivers involved in the wreck on the final lap of Monday’s Daytona 500.
Chastain, riding behind leader William Byron on the outside line, looked to split him and Cindric, who was leading the inside line. Chastain and Cindric made contact, sending the eighth-generation watermelon farmer sliding into the infield grass. The caution flag came out after Byron took the white flag, making him the winner.
After the race, Chastain and Cindric had what appeared to be a cordial conversation. Chastain is heard telling some media members, “Hey, forget what I said,” after hearing out Cindric’s point of view of how the accident happened.
Chastain officially finished the race 21st, while Cindric came in 22nd. Speaking with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports after the race, Chastain explained his aggressiveness going into the final lap.
“I did everything right and I was just too aggressive with my turn right,” Chastain said. “Should have just waited longer, obviously. I mean, I’m standing here talking to you, [I’m] not out there.”
Austin Cindric calls out Corey LaJoie after Daytona 500 wreck, LaJoie responds in kind
Cindric’s frustration was more so directed at Corey LaJoie, who appeared to create the initial contact which sent Cindric into Chastain. Cindric expressed his frustration with LaJoie after the race.
“Corey finished 4th, so congrats,” Cindric said. “He tried to fit a car where there wasn’t a car and just continued to push through my left rear until I wrecked.”
LaJoie didn’t seem to care one bit.
“The 2 left the bottom open,” LaJoie said. “I tried to fill it kinda lazily, he kinda blocked it lazily. The 16 went with me and he kinda turned off our nose. The 1 called it quick to try to fill that bottom and try to get out front. He then took the move he did to try to win the race and it didn’t work out for him. I’m glad that we came out of the other side.”
LaJoie added of Cindric’s criticism: “It’s the last lap. I’ve seen him do a lot of dumb things, too, and we’re not friends.”