The Dale Jr. Download – Episode 698
Title: What’s Going On With Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez?
Air Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Co-Hosts: TJ Majors, Russell
Podcast Network: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM
EPISODE OVERVIEW
In episode 698 of The Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and co-hosts TJ Majors and Russell deliver candid and insightful commentary on the latest NASCAR headlines. This week, the show’s main focus is the escalating tension between Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, two drivers with intertwined histories and recent on-track friction. The crew also covers the state of the Cup Series after Las Vegas, Denny Hamlin’s 61st win and championship chances, the performance of major teams (Hendrick, Gibbs, Penske, RFK), an Ask Jr. mailbag, paint scheme nostalgia, and betting previews for Darlington. True to form, Dale and his crew keep it real, blending deep racing knowledge with laid-back banter and memorable stories.
MAIN THEMES AND DISCUSSION POINTS
1. The Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez Situation
[06:18–18:57]
- On-Track Incident: At Las Vegas, Chastain and Suarez raced each other aggressively, leading to some questionable moves, air-blocking, and a dramatic post-race pit road confrontation.
- The Footage: Dale and TJ rewatch the incident, noting hard racing but no obvious foul play. They point out Chastain's swerve at Suarez post-race and both drivers exchanging words on pit road.
- Suarez’s Perspective: Dale shares Suarez’s vlog statement, including that he approached Ross to apologize but took offense to "chicken stuff" Ross said after the race.
- Quote [14:12]: Suarez: “I have known Ross for a long time, and I’ve always known that he and I were very different kinds of people. But that’s okay. I have a lot of respect for him, but the kind of words that he said after the race, it’s just completely unacceptable… That’s chicken stuff.”
- Underlying Tensions: The team attributes the friction to “bad blood” from prior years as teammates and Suarez’s departure from Trackhouse.
- Chastain’s Silence: Ross refused to comment, a shift since his high-profile dust-ups (notably with Denny Hamlin after Darlington).
- Analysis of Personalities: The crew notes that both drivers have chips on their shoulders—Suarez trying to prove himself after being let go, Chastain with an aggressive reputation.
- Will It Continue?: Both drivers aren’t afraid of confrontation and likely will butt heads again. Dale notes: “I don’t think it’s over... That’s far from it.” [12:29]
- Is It Overblown?: TJ downplays the incident itself but admits underlying tension will persist.
2. Las Vegas Recap & State of the Teams
[21:13–40:51]
- Denny Hamlin’s 61st Win: The hosts break down Hamlin’s milestone win, discuss tire fall-off, race conditions, and Hamlin's ability to “overcome a speeding penalty, which he seems to do every other race.” [04:46]
- Hamlin as a Champion: Dale boldly declares Hamlin his pick for the year’s championship:
- Quote [25:34]: “I’ve seen enough. Denny Hamlin is my pick for the championship this year.”
- Hamlin’s Aging Like Fine Wine: The group admires Denny’s consistent performance as a veteran, discussing parallels with legends who maintained speed in their 40s and 50s.
- Hendrick and Chevy’s Form: Discussion of the new nose on Hendrick Chevys, solid performances by Chase Elliott, Byron, and Larson, and adaptation to subtle aerodynamic changes.
- Bowman & Vertigo: Dale shares inside stories of Alex Bowman’s health challenges and the impact on the 48 team.
- Ford’s Struggle: Penske and RFK’s lackluster showing at Vegas provokes questions about Ford’s competitive standing. RFK is seeing incremental improvement, and hopes are pinned on the summer swing.
- Team Power Rankings: Lively debate over whether Penske still belongs in NASCAR’s “Big Three,” with indications the hierarchy is shifting to Gibbs and Hendrick (1A/1B), Penske next, and 23XI/RFK closing the gap.
3. The Playoff Picture & Points Talk
[40:52–47:55]
- New Points System: The importance of stage points is emphasized; top drivers stack them weekly.
- Dale: “Stage points… are telling us they're very critical this year.”
- Bubba Wallace highlighted for accumulating the most stage points and staying near the top of the standings.
- Cutoff Lines and ‘Who’s Out’: Dale draws a hard line at 8th place as the lowest realistic championship contender:
- Quote [43:15]: “My cutoff line is eighth place, William Byron.”
- Arguments follow about which drivers (e.g., Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch) could break into title contention by getting hot over the summer.
- Consistency vs. Wildcards: The updated format puts a premium on regular, strong performances—wildcards can’t sneak in with just a win.
4. Ask Jr. Mailbag
[51:11–66:35]
- Truck Series Drama: Deep dive into the Sheldon Creed–Taylor Gray incident, debating the etiquette of blocking and retaliation:
- Dale: “I don’t think either one of these guys are looking too good right now… You can block a lane, but you can't block the whole race track.” [54:21]
- Paint Scheme Nostalgia: Dale geeks out on Carson Hocevar’s Darlington car, which pays tribute to Dale Sr.’s underrated 1981 scheme.
- Throwback Weekend: Clarifies that NASCAR hasn’t abandoned throwback paint schemes; teams now have more flexibility to honor the past without restriction.
- Breakfast Debate: Patties vs. links (team patty, unless there's no biscuit).
- Driver Wave Etiquette: Tangent into the lost art of waving at fellow drivers—should it make a comeback? Fun cultural commentary from the entire crew.
5. Dirty Mo Do / FanDuel Bets & Darlington Preview
[77:03–89:59]
- Darlington Expectations: The group anticipates dramatic tire fall-off (3–4 seconds), which will reward tire management and produce more green-flag chaos.
- Dale: “If we have green flag pit stops, you’re going to see some guys run over some guys. You know, you’re going to see… that’s a one-lane racetrack.”
- Driver Picks and Odds:
- Favorites: Denny Hamlin (+500), Kyle Larson (+600), Byron, Reddick, and Bell.
- Roll-the-Dice Picks: Bubba Wallace (strong run history), Erik Jones (two-time Darlington winner, +4500), Ryan Preece.
- Skeptics: Briscoe and Kyle Busch – talent for Darlington, but recent form casts doubt.
- Spotter’s Strategy: TJ explains how spotters and teams manage pace, pit timing, and tire allocation through high fall-off races.
- Basketball Bracket Talk: Brief aside on NCAA tournament bets—Dale prefers “just one bracket” for true fandom.
QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS
- On Chastain/Suarez animosity:
- Suarez: “The kind of words he said after the race, it’s just completely unacceptable. That’s chicken stuff.” [14:12]
- Dale: “There seems to be some bad blood between the two drivers that exists from the past or is it the company?” [09:20]
- TJ: “I don’t think it’s over. That’s far from it.” [12:29]
- On Championship Cutoff:
- Dale: “My cutoff line is eighth place, William Byron.” [43:15]
- Russell: “NASCAR mocked it… If you’re outside the top six… you wouldn't have won.”
- On Denny Hamlin’s career:
- Dale: "He still has that passion… I think he’s an extremely, extremely talented driver just by the seat of the pants, the feel of the car… He’s a unicorn." [27:56]
- On Throwbacks:
- Dale: “No one ever, ever, ever, ever said, we’re no longer doing throwbacks… Now if teams want to do them, they can do them.” [61:24]
- On tire fall-off at Darlington and excitement:
- Dale: “I was excited about tire fall off, excited about horsepower, excited about less downforce, anxious about tire allotment. This sounds like a great recipe for awesome race.” [87:02]
TIMESTAMPED KEY SEGMENTS
- 06:18–18:57 – Main discussion of Chastain/Suarez incident and lingering bad blood
- 21:13–29:53 – Denny Hamlin’s win & championship analysis
- 32:45–41:58 – Ford/Penske/RFK updates and shifting power rankings
- 40:52–47:55 – Points standings breakdown, playoff cutoff lines
- 51:11–61:16 – Ask Jr.: Creed vs. Gray block, paint schemes, throwback culture
- 77:03–89:59 – FanDuel segment: Darlington tire wear preview, favorites, and dark horses
SUMMARY
This episode of The Dale Jr. Download is a must-listen for NASCAR fans who want behind-the-scenes context on one of the sport’s emerging rivalries. Through playful banter and expert analysis, the show breaks down the layers behind the Chastain-Suarez drama, Denny Hamlin’s sustained excellence, and the weekly shuffle of team rankings as the season heats up. Dale Jr. and his crew aren’t afraid to call it like they see it, blending nostalgia, stats, and locker-room humor, all while keeping the tone authentic and accessible.
If you missed the episode, you now know exactly “what’s going on with Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez”—and a whole lot more about where NASCAR stands as it heads into another classic race at Darlington.