The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at COTA wasted no time in delivering drama, as tensions flared between Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain before even completing a full lap. Heading into the challenging Turn 1, Chastain made an aggressive move, dive-bombing Elliott and sending him into a spin. The incident left Elliott and his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, frustrated, with Gustafson making it clear over the radio that he wanted payback.
“You did nothing wrong,” Gustafson reassured Elliott. “It’s just stupidity, but we’ll have to return the favor because I’m tired of drivers like that constantly making dumb moves. When we get the chance, we’re sending that No. 1 car.”
Elliott, determined to respond strategically, replied, “That’s totally fine. I’ll do what I need to do, but I just need to be sure I wasn’t in the wrong before I act on it.”
This early clash added an extra layer of intensity to Elliott’s race. The seven-time road course winner, who started in third place, was now forced to battle his way back through the field after the contact. Despite the setback, he stayed out for all 20 laps of Stage 1 and managed to recover, finishing the stage in fifth.
Chastain, on the other hand, faced his own challenges. After being involved in an altercation the previous week at Atlanta—where he confronted Carson Hocevar over aggressive driving—he now found himself in another controversy. To make matters worse, Chastain’s race took a hit when his team received a pass-through penalty due to a crew member going over the wall too soon.
With Elliott determined to fight back and Chastain already at the center of multiple incidents, the tension between the two could escalate as the season continues.
