The NASCAR All-Star Open is set to take place at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Fans eager to catch the action can stream the event live for free by availing a trial of fuboTV or DirectTV Stream.
Here’s everything you need to know:
- Event: NASCAR All-Star Open
- Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Watch NASCAR All-Star Open via fuboTV: [Insert URL]
- Location: North Wilkesboro Speedway
- TV Broadcast: FOX Sports 1
- Channel availability: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling.
- Live stream options: DirectTV Stream (free trial), fuboTV (free trial)
Ross Chastain’s undeniable talent is recognized by veteran team owner Rick Hendrick. However, Hendrick also acknowledges Chastain’s sometimes reckless driving style, which has left behind damaged cars and angered competitors.
Chastain’s recent crash during a restart at Darlington took both himself and Hendrick’s star driver, Kyle Larson, out of contention while they were battling for the lead. In a prior incident involving Chastain, another NASCAR champion, Martin Truex Jr., had his chances dashed after leading 145 of the first 151 laps at the Goodyear 400.
Chastain’s actions have once again captured NASCAR’s attention. Hendrick believes that the Trackhouse Racing driver has crossed a line, stating, “You just don’t run people up in the fence. He’s going to make a lot of enemies, and it’s hard to win a championship when you’ve got a lot of paybacks out there.”
These paybacks have been accumulating. Chastain had a confrontation with Noah Gragson in the pits following the AdventHealth 400 event in Kansas two races ago. Hendrick driver Chase Elliott was caught on tape saying, “Somebody’s got to do it,” as he walked by Gragson. Chastain punched Gragson before NASCAR security intervened.
A few months ago, Denny Hamlin was fined and penalized for intentionally not yielding to Chastain during a race at Phoenix. Hamlin later admitted on his podcast, “No, it wasn’t a mistake. I let the wheel go and said, ‘He’s coming with me.'”
At Darlington, Chastain, the points leader, had a fast and competitive car, leading 93 of the 295 laps. He was in the lead as the second stage ended, with Truex closing in from below. Chastain scraped the wall, collided with Truex, and sent him spinning.
Truex, the 2017 series champion, expressed his frustration, saying, “There was plenty of room there, and he just bounced off the wall and hit me.” Truex finished 31st.
After Chastain and Larson’s crash, Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels, vented his anger on the radio, mentioning that Chastain had cost Larson three potential wins at Talladega and Dover prior to Darlington.
Hendrick commented on Chastain’s immense talent but criticized his decision-making, stating, “He’s got all the talent. He just doesn’t know when to race.”
Chastain admitted that his plan was to push Larson against the wall during the late restart at Sunday’s race so that he could move ahead and potentially secure his first NASCAR win since spring 2022 at Talladega. However, the plan didn’t pan out as intended, leading to a disappointing 20th-place finish for Chastain and a 29th-place finish for Larson.
Chastain, 30 years old and in his second full Cup Series season with Trackhouse, stated that he is comfortable making his competitors uncomfortable on the track. He also mentioned that he had resolved the issue with Gragson early last week and is gradually accepting that his style may not be embraced by everyone.
“It’s something I’m growing into off the track,” Chastain said. “Being myself is the best thing I can do, and if people like it, they do.”
Kyle Busch revealed that he had previously spoken with Chastain about not constantly being in the headlines, advice that seems to have been disregarded. “I don’t know the guy,” Busch said. “I don’t need to know the guy.”
Hendrick doesn’t believe that the tensions will be resolved by external entities such as NASCAR or manufacturers. He believes that the drivers themselves are best suited to police the sport. Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, added, “Having multiple incidents, it’s a long list that Ross is now a part of.”
What is fuboTV?
fuboTV is a streaming service that provides over 100 live streaming channels over the internet. It includes popular channels such as ESPN, NFL Network, beIN Sports, as well as news, entertainment, and local channels. fuboTV also offers DVR storage space, catering to cord-cutters who want to enjoy their favorite live TV and sports content.
How much does fuboTV cost?
The family package is the most affordable option at $64.99 per month. It offers 120 channels, 250 hours of DVR space, and can be used on three screens simultaneously.
The fubo Elite package costs $79.99 per month and provides access to over 170 channels, including Showtime channels, additional sports channels, and extra news and entertainment channels.
