Tensions erupted between Chase Briscoe and Ross Chastain during the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday when their battle for a top 10 finish escalated, leading to a heated post-race exchange. The incident, a focal point of the Ross Chastain and Chase Briscoe Mexico City racing incident, saw Briscoe strongly accuse Chastain of attempting to spin him on the track, adding fresh drama to the playoff race.
On-Track Clash Sparks Heated Reactions
Inside the top 10, as Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Chase Briscoe attempted to pass Ross Chastain, the two drivers made contact, with Chastain appearing to nudge Briscoe aggressively. Briscoe’s frustration was clear, as he vented over the team radio in the immediate aftermath and challenged Chastain’s tactics during a post-race interview.
It’s just kind of how he races, I guess,
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
He just tried to spin me out. On that original restart, he door slammed me and then I finally caught back up to him after 10 or so laps. I barely got into him, and he tried to spin me out. Typical.
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that Briscoe expressed his anger over the radio using explicit language, underscoring the intensity of the moment between the two racers.
Briscoe Seizes Solid Finish Amidst Chaotic Race
Despite the altercation, Chase Briscoe capitalized on the ensuing laps and delivered a strong seventh place, continuing his recent run of top-five finishes. Ross Chastain, meanwhile, faded from potential top-ten contention, ultimately ending his day in sixteenth after the incident affected his Chevrolet‘s performance.
Briscoe, driving the Bass Pro Shops Toyota, highlighted both the car’s strength and the obstacles his team overcame throughout the race.
We just had a really good Bass Pro Shops Toyota. It’s sickening getting torn up that early and all the adversity we had to go through because our car was really good,
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
I don’t know that we were good enough to beat Shane [van Gisbergen], but certainly, probably would have run better than seventh. It’s a testament to my guys. We could have given up at multiple points in the race and we continued to just fight. Appreciate them.
—Chase Briscoe, Driver
Implications for the Playoff Battle
This result is significant for Chase Briscoe as he works to remain above the playoff cutline with ten regular season races remaining. His consistent performance, including this Mexico City result, strengthens his bid to secure a postseason spot for a second consecutive year. For Ross Chastain, the Mexico City racing incident could represent a setback as the playoff picture tightens and each finish becomes more critical moving forward.
The lingering tension following their confrontation suggests that interactions between these drivers, and within teams such as Joe Gibbs Racing and others, will remain closely monitored as the season progresses, especially with high-stakes events like the postseason on the horizon at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
