DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Ross Chastain, a driver looking to make the most of a three-race Xfinity Series opportunity with Chip Ganassi Racing, led 90 laps on Saturday at Darlington Raceway to try to show people that he deserves more chances in top rides.
But it was his door-to-door racing with NASCAR Cup stars that could turn some heads, though he doesn't have a fan in Kevin Harvick after their crash on Lap 112 of the 147-lap race.
Harvick and Chastain were battling for the lead, and they banged doors while getting through lapped traffic, putting Chastain in the wall. Chastain then hooked Harvick, ending Harvick's day -- but not before Harvick parked in Chastain's pit stall for a moment.
"I tried to stay as low as I could, and he just rode on my door," Harvick said. "That's just a really inexperienced racer and a really bad move there and got the air and got on beside me and just kept going up the race track.
"I couldn't do anything with the wheel."
What incensed Harvick was the hook that appeared intentional.
"[He] then wrecked me down the back straightaway and hooked me to the right," Harvick said. "That's probably the reason that he'll never get to drive many of them again."
Chastain wouldn't admit to intentionally wrecking Harvick, deadpanning, "Once we hit the wall, I was out of control."
For the wreck itself, Chastain said he just ran out of room.
Chastain typically drives for JD Motorsports, which doesn't have the funding of the top Xfinity teams. He is 12th in the Xfinity standings, and the fact that he is on pace to make the playoffs is considered a significant accomplishment.
Ganassi has given Chastain a three-race deal with Darlington, the Las Vegas race in two weeks and the following week at Richmond in its No. 42 car, which uses several drivers during the season. Chastain responded by winning the pole before winding up 25th.
"I don't think I did enough to get this opportunity," said the 25-year-old Chastain, a Florida watermelon farmer. "Nobody deserves this. ... More people win the lottery than get this opportunity."
Brad Keselowski won the race, taking the lead after the Harvick-Chastain battle. Chastain and Keselowski were door-to-door earlier in the race, and Chastain was able to hold off Keselowski, who owned a truck that Chastain raced in 2013.
Keselowski said Chastain did enough to earn more opportunities.
"I don't know how you could not like seeing the guy go fast," Keselowski said. "It's one of the backbones of the sport is just being able to go fast.
"He can go fast, and that's a big part. The rest you hope comes with it, and I can appreciate his work ethic to make the most out of his opportunities."
Chastain didn't seem worried about his future.
"If it all ended today, and I had to go back to the farm, I would have no regrets. ... I just really hope people smile that there was somebody different up there racing with those guys," Chastain said. "Smile about that if nothing else."