Ross Chastain talks physical exhaustion and skipping Spanish prep in Mexico city

NASCAR driver Ross Chastain recently opened up about how unprepared and physically drained he felt during his media rounds in Mexico City. Chastain admitted he didn’t even try to learn Spanish for the trip and has been feeling off ever since arriving in the city.

The video was first shared by Steven Taranto on X. Taranto is a NASCAR reporter for CBS Sports. His tweet showed Chastain sitting through a press session while fellow driver Daniel Suárez handled questions in Spanish.

In the clip, Ross Chastain said he did not attempt to pick up the language ahead of the trip. In his own words,

"No Spanish lessons,"

“I am honest with everybody, I didn't even try.”

He also shared that he’s been physically out of sorts since landing. He added,

“I don't feel very good, I'll be honest,”

“I have a headache... I just had to run slower at a higher heart rate than normal... I feel tired, I haven't done a whole lot. I am ready for bed right now.”

As mentioned in the caption, Suárez fielded questions in Spanish, and Chastain waited nearby, visibly fatigued. At one point, he joked that he was ready to call it a day—“after a Frosty.” Suárez, keeping the mood light, asked if he wanted a Chamoy Frosty like the one they had tried the day before. To this, he responded in the negative, saying that he wanted a Baconator instead.

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Ross Chastain says second and third place deserve more credit in NASCAR

In a separate interview with NASCAR insider Dustin Long, Ross Chastain shared his views on podium recognition ahead of the Mexico City race weekend. The upcoming event will feature full podium celebrations for the top three finishers in both the Cup and Xfinity Series races.

Chastain supported the decision. He said celebrating only the winner often overlooks how difficult it is to finish second or third in the Cup Series. According to Long, Chastain explained,

“I love it. I've always been a little disappointed that we don't celebrate second and third more because it means so much... when you do it repeatedly, it can feel like it's a letdown, but yes, we all want to win.”

He went on to say that the sport has done a “disservice” to drivers who finish just shy of first place. Adding,

“Running top three in the Cup Series is so challenging,” he said.

“I think we should have always celebrated it more.”

Ross Chastain, who drives the #1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing, has seen success across NASCAR’s top divisions. He has 13 career wins overall, including six in the Cup Series. His most recent Cup win was at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this season. This weekend, Chastain will compete in the Cup Series race in Mexico City on Sunday, June 15.