Ross Chastain's ballsy "wall-ride" pass in this past weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race inspired shock and awe, and not just from fans. The drivers who watched it happen in front of them had a similar reaction to those watching in the stands and at home. They knew they witnessed something extraordinary.
NASCAR put together a quick video of the radio communications between various drivers and their crew chiefs/spotters on that last lap.
Joey Logano laughs out loud in disbelief at what's unfolding, while Chase Briscoe describes it as "literally the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life."
Unsurprisingly, that was Denny Hamlin, who would have made the Championship Four were it not for Chastain's leap of faith, wasn't thrilled by the move.
"I guess we just lost on that?" he asks, crossing the line.
Chastain seems like he can't believe the move worked. "Holy cow! Oh my god," he exclaims after being told that he would be in the Championship Four.
After the race, Joey Logano, who's in the Championship Four with Chastain, reiterated his amazement at the move, but also said it should be banned.
"I mean, it was awesome, it was cool," he said, per Motorsport.com. "It happened for the first time. There's no rule against it. There needs to be a rule against this one because I don't know if you want the whole field riding the wall coming to the checkered flag... God bless him, that's awesome, [but] I don't think we need to do that every week."
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins is Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist. He joined the staff in 2016 and no one has figured out a way to fire him since. He street-parks a Porsche Boxster in Brooklyn, New York, much to the horror of everyone who sees the car, not least the author himself. He also insists he's not a convertible person, despite owning three.
