Talladega Superspeedway has long been NASCAR’s unpredictable playground. But no one captured its madness quite like Tony Stewart back in his day. In 2012, in one of his most bizarre and sarcastic interviews, Stewart let loose after finishing 24th at Talladega. He didn’t just complain—he mocked the entire spectacle. With a straight face, he praised the “awesome” racing and even suggested NASCAR should force engines to overheat just to spice things up.
Then he dropped the line that would live on forever. “Honestly, if we haven’t crashed at least 50 percent of the field by the end of the race, we need to extend the race until we crash at least 50 percent of the cars,” Stewart said. Reporters weren’t sure if he was serious. He offered no smirk, no wink, nothing to suggest he was kidding. It was vintage Smoke—dry humor wrapped in biting criticism.
For four minutes, Stewart played the part of an actor, delivering absurd ideas with deadly sincerity. He claimed fans deserved more wrecks and fewer cars finishing races. “It’s not fair to these fans to see any more wrecks than that,” he quipped. The NASCAR world knew Stewart didn’t actually want chaos, but his sarcastic comments underscored the bizarre reality of Talladega—a track that thrives on danger and destruction. Fast forward to 2025, and another driver is echoing Stewart’s infamous words—but this time, he’s not joking.
Ross Chastain embraces the Tony Stewart spirit
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for the next round of the ongoing season. This Sunday, the garage will fight for more than 10 million dollars in the Jack Link’s 500 race. However, as the Cup Series prepares for another high-speed showdown at Talladega, Ross Chastain isn’t asking for calm—he’s asking for mayhem. During a pre-race interview, Chastain addressed the inevitable wrecks that have long defined Talladega, Daytona, and even Atlanta’s reconfigured surface.
“What, chaotic races at Talladega, Talladega, Daytona, Atlanta? Never build the track? I mean, it’s been chaotic since it was built. That’s why we love it… No, that wouldn’t be fun at all. So no, let the chaos ensue,” he told the media. While his comments might sound bizarre but it fits the track’s reputation. Talladega has never been a place for the faint of heart. It’s a track where one wrong move can wipe out half the field in seconds.
“Let the chaos ensue.”@RossChastain doesn’t want boring races at Talladega and worked on watermelon harvest during off week. pic.twitter.com/Sqmtko5UQG
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) April 26, 2025
From the notorious “Big One” to multi-car pileups, the chaos is baked into the DNA of the superspeedway. Drivers draft in tight packs at 200 mph, and any misstep can spark a chain reaction. Former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty has been vocal about the dangers and frustrations of racing at Talladega Superspeedway. Following a significant 28-car wreck during the 2024 YellaWood 500, Petty criticized the drivers’ decision-making and the tendency to place blame on others.
He said, “We praise these guys as the greatest race car drivers in the world. They run three-wide, they run four-wide, and when we have the big wreck, they blame it on Todd Gilliland because he’s a lap car running on the bottom. They can’t run two-wide and pass a lap car?” While many criticize the havoc, Chastain seems to embrace it. And if there’s anyone who fits Talladega’s wild image, it’s Ross Chastain.
The Trackhouse Racing driver has become the face of controlled chaos. His aggressive style has led to viral moments and wreck-filled highlight reels. Whether it’s the Martinsville “Hail Melon” or wrecking Kyle Larson at Darlington, Chastain is no stranger to controversy. He’s wrecked Denny Hamlin, squeezed Chase Elliott, and even tried to shortcut the track at Indianapolis. He’s had rivals call for him to be “punched in the face.” Yet, he keeps doubling down. His career philosophy? High-risk, high-reward.
Talladega is where Chastain’s boldness can pay off. He won there in 2022, surviving the chaos while others fell apart. He thrives in the unpredictability, and he doesn’t shy away from the danger. With his “let the chaos ensue” mindset, echoing Tony Stewart’s decade-old demand, he’s ready to channel his inner Tony Stewart and embrace whatever madness unfolds.
Carson Hocevar on his relationship with Chastain
While Ross Chastain is gearing up for chaos, his relationship with Carson Hocevar is simmering beneath the surface. The mentor-mentee dynamic between the two has taken some hits after Atlanta, where his bold move cost Chastain a potential win. Hocevar compared their relationship to siblings—competitive but built on respect. “We kind of just agreed to disagree,” he said on the Rubbin’ Is Racing podcast.
Notably, the Spire Motorsports driver knows Chastain’s aggressive style because he learned from it. “We’re good at predicting each other or doing things that each other does while the rest of the field doesn’t,” he said. They race each other like they know every move, sometimes to their detriment. As the two drivers head into Talladega, all eyes will be on whether Hocevar and Chastain can stay out of each other’s way.
Both drivers understand the high stakes of superspeedway racing, and both are hungry for results. But if recent history is any indication, fireworks could be on the horizon. Talladega has a way of testing relationships. For Chastain and Hocevar, the next few hours might define whether they are allies or rivals when chaos inevitably strikes.
The post “Crash Half of the Field”: Tony Stewart’s Cursed Talladega Words Get Echoed as Ross Chastain Wishes Chaos appeared first on EssentiallySports.
