“Don’t Try to Overdo Things!” Kevin Harvick SLAMS Ross Chastain for Overthinking

Ross Chastain flew back home from Charlotte Roval, as one of the most heartbroken drivers from the weekend alongside 23XI Racing duo of Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, after R-12 elimination. 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick analyzed the Chevy driver’s elimination and explained who is to blame for it.

Ross Chastain was in a strong spot to get promoted and get into R-8, as the eighth best racer. But a desperate attempt overtakes Denny Hamlin on the final corner resulted in a spin, giving Joey Logano the opportunity to get ahead of him. On the latest episode of the Fox Sports’ Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick shared his thoughts on the disappointing exit.

The ex-SHR driver highlighted the work ethic of the Florida native and how the honesty of the Chevy driver can never be questioned. At the same time the questions can be raised regarding the overall results considering the championship standpoint and consequences his mistakes not just on the last lap but the whole race had; Chastain didn’t deliver under pressure.

Ross Chastain is very well prepared week in and week out. His work ethic is over the top. He’s very honest; he gives it all that he has. There’s no questioning any of that. I think in these types of moments, this is when you find out where people are from a championship standpoint. Is it real, or is it not, when you get to the last level?

Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.

Furthermore, he hinted that the reason behind the elimination might be the fact that Chastain tries too much and overthinks things during races. He made mistakes in the pit-road as well as on the track, unforced errors that none one else to blame for other than the No:1 Chevy driver. The “Watermelon Man” overdid things during the race and suffered consequences.

I think he just tries to do too much. I think he overthinks some of these things to the point where, ‘Do I really need to race that hard to the end of pit road so far that I’m trying to gain a spot on the 77 (Carson Hocevar) car that I go so far that I hit the wall driving off pit road?’ You got to draw the line between realistic and unrealistic, right? Don’t try to overdo the things that you’re doing.

Kevin Harvick added.

Ross Chastain’s playoff exit was unacceptable

The veteran race himself made comments that aligns with Kevin Harvick’s assessment after the race. On his interview, he admitted that everything started going downhill for his team after the bit-road mistake and the unforced error ruined his chances.

I’d restart the whole day. For Trackhouse Racing, they expect so much more out of me. And to speed on pit road, I went off the end of pit road and didn’t turn. I had more room and just trying to get to the yellow line. and just completely started the downfall there, and then came out of the pit stall and double-clicked up into third (gear) and Just unforced errors.

Ross Chastain said.

The final result was heartbreaking for everyone at Trackhouse Racing who coming into the weekend gave him a solid car, fast enough to finish in the front raw. It was an unacceptable day, considering he was signed to the team to be the leader of the garage on and off the track.

It’s just terrible. So, it’s heartbreaking for almost 200 employees at Trackhouse, our teammates, our ECR engines. Everybody that makes this go around. Justin (Marks) hired me to carry this 1 car and to drive it and to be the leader, and I just completely unraveled our day. So, yeah, not acceptable. Like, just completely unacceptable.

Ross Chastain added.

The fact that Trackhouse racer Shane van Gisbergen won the race with a massive 15 second lead shows the car had enough pace for the No:1 team to finish inside the top 5. It was his mistakes whole being under pressure that caused the elimination.

Also Read: Kyle Petty Declares “Denny Hamlin’s Worst Nightmare Happened” at Charlotte Roval

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