Ross Chastain escapes major fire after getting caught in Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney wreck at Talladega

Disaster at the end of Stage 2. Alex Bowman gave one push too many and sent Ryan Blaney into the outside wall. NASCAR Playoff drivers were involved in this wreck and Ross Chastain had to escape his car after it caught on fire.

As the field was taking the green and white checkered, Ryan Blaney was wrecking into the outside wall. Bowman gave him one push out of the tri-oval and it sent Blaney into Ross Chastain and the wall.

Logano was involved in the wreck, meaning two of Team Penske’s three playoff drivers were caught up in it. Prior to this there was only one caution for cause, a single car spin from Daniel Suárez.

Trouble coming to the line at the end of the stage. pic.twitter.com/hkCjitm90s

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 6, 2024

What a wild two weeks for Ross Chastain. He went from the highest of highs at Kansas, spoiling the NASCAR Playoffs Round of 12 opener. Today, he was up front, but in the wrong place at the wrong time.

As for Ryan Blaney, he is out of the race. He tried to get his car repaired but it was far too much damage. Earlier in the race, there was a lot of four-wide racing and no accidents. Then right before the line, Bowman felt he had to make one last push. It was too much.

Joey Logano is on the track and racing. He didn’t take a huge hit and has his car healthy enough to get through this race.

Ross Chastain wishes he was invisible

For Ross Chastain, the pressure isn’t nearly as great as it is for those Team Penske drivers. Ryan Blaney now has seven DNFs on the year, most of his career in a single season. He’s going to take a big hit in the points.

For Chastain, it’s another race he can’t win. So, it’s on to the next one.

“I’m not sure what happened with those guys down the middle line,” Chastain said out of the care center. “Coming into the tri-oval I followed the 8, Team Chevy, pushed him in the third lane, fanned out to push a Chevy, and yeah, somebody got chucked up and seeing Ryan in there, I’m guessing it was the yellow blur I saw was the 12.

“For our Busch Light Chevy to kick off hunting season with a camo can, I wish we were more invisible like we’ll be in the woods with that can than we were there coming to the end. Yeah, big hit, this Gen 7 car is super safe though. Kept me safe, they got the fire put out and we’ll go on to next week.”