Ross Chastain Takes a Brutal Dig at Notorious Cup Mentee Weeks After 

Ross Chastain isn’t just another NASCAR driver rolling into Homestead-Miami. He’s a Florida boy through and through. Hailing from Alva, a small town known more for watermelon farms than race cars, Chastain grew up dreaming of making it big in NASCAR. And Homestead? It’s practically a home track for him.

Now, Chastain is back at Homestead for the 2025 Truck Series season, reunited with Niece Motorsports. There’s a lot of history (and pressure) riding on it. But before he even strapped in, he found himself face-to-face with a familiar figure. The exchange was lighthearted, but let’s just say Chastain didn’t hold back when the moment to take a jab presented itself.

Ross Chastain’s return to the Truck Series at Homestead-Miami was supposed to be about nostalgia, racing, and honoring Niece Motorsports’ ten-year anniversary. However, this Friday also marked the ‘drivers only’ broadcast from FOX. This featured Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski in the booth, while Austin Cindric and Chastain’s mentee Carson Hocevar were on pit road! Naturally, the young Cup Series sophomore turned interviewer caught up with Chastain pre-race, setting the stage for what seemed like a routine exchange.

Chastain spoke fondly of his history with Niece Motorsports, recalling his first races with the team in 2018. “It’s been an incredible journey for him [Al Niece] and I and his team,” he said, emphasizing his loyalty to the organization. “I’ll run for Al as long as he’ll have me.” For Chastain, driving for Niece was more than just another race. It was a homecoming.

That Atlanta race saw Chastain’s playoff hopes plummet after Hocevar got into him in the overtime restart. At the time, Chastain had kept his response measured, saying, “I lost because of him.” But the frustration was clear. Now, with Hocevar temporarily off the track and behind a mic, Chastain couldn’t resist the opportunity for a subtle dig.

While the comment was lighthearted, it was impossible to ignore the underlying tension. Chastain may have smiled as he said it, but NASCAR fans haven’t forgotten how aggressive Chastain can be on the track. Whether Hocevar took it as a joke or a reminder of their unfinished business remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure—Chastain knows how to keep things interesting, both on and off the track.