A clean race and a win? Ross Chastain’s 2023 Nashville run certainly had the NASCAR community in disbelief. Named NASCAR’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ and the villain of modern-era NASCAR, the Cup Series Ally 400 saw the #1 Trackhouse Racing driver emerge as a new man. Given his knack for altercations with fellow drivers, Chastain’s Nashville win was bejeweled with a controversy-free run. But, after earning praise for his racing finesse at the Ally 400, Ross Chastain’s new persona soon came crashing down.

Having made a new enemy in almost every race in recent history, Chastain’s aggression was back on display at Chicago. Ending his short-lived clean streak, Chastain has supposedly added another name to his ever-growing list of enemies.

Ross Chastain Adds One More Name to His Long List of Enemies

Receiving a stern warning from NASCAR giant Rick Hendrick after his tango with Kyle Larson at Darlington this season, Ross Chastain was forced to introspect his actions. With NASCAR shortening the length of its Grant Park 220 race, Chastain’s aggression flared up.

A few laps after the pile-up triggered by William Byron and Kevin Harvick in the final stage, Ross Chastain was tailing Front Row Motorsports’ #38 driver, Todd Gilliland. Approaching Turn 2 before barreling towards Museum Campus, an aggressive Chastain bumped into the right rear of Gilliland’s #38 Mustang.

This action from him saw Gilliland’s car enter a spin and hit the tire barriers at the outside wall of the right-hand turn. As Gilliland’s spin was somewhat contained after the rear end of his #38 Mustang caught the tire barriers. The #38 car then proceeded to bump into the driver’s side of Chastain’s car, which was attempting an overtake after the altercation. Frustrated by the action of Chastain, Todd Gilliland’s spotter, Brit Anderson radioed to his driver, “**ck that #1 car. Get back to his a** and put him into the fence.”

Anderson’s message to Gilliland made it crystal clear that Ross Chastain had officially added another name to his growing list of enemies. His message also warranted that the #1 driver would receive an appropriate reaction for his action, in NASCAR’s currency, ‘payback’.

Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Doesn’t Think Ross Chastain Has Changed Despite His Brutal Response To Rick Hendrick

As Chastain added another name to his enemy list in Chicago, let’s take a look back at The Watermelon Man’s most famous feuds.

Ross Chastain- NASCAR’s Most Revered Antagonist

Having a long list of scuffles with the likes of Ryan Reed, Brendan Gaughan, and Joey Gase in the Xfinity Series, the #1 driver even got into it with Kevin Harvick at the 2018 Darlington Xfinity race. Things were fairly quiet till 2022 as Ross Chastain again made headlines at Gateway. Firstly sending Denny Hamlin crashing into the wall, Chastain then sent Chase Elliott into a spin. He then went on to wreck Austin Dillon in Atlanta. 

Ross Chastain’s villain arc continued in 2023 as he wrecked Kyle Larson a record three times. The Trackhouse Racing driver then had a very hands-on approach at Kansas, where he punched Noah Gragson square in the face post the AdventHealth 400 event. These actions caught the eye of Hendrick Motorsports owner, Rick Hendrick, who even had a private call with Chastain. 

Read More: “Going to Be at the Expense of Someone” – Carl Edwards Lets Slip His Blunders While Deciphering the Controversial Ross Chastain Approach

Making enemies with virtually every race, can Ross Chastain bag the 2023 Cup title, or payback cut short his championship hope?