For Ross Chastain, victory was a “wrenching” experience

KANSAS CITY, KS - MAY 10: Ross Chastain, driver of the #45 TruNorth/Paul Jr. Designs Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Digital Ally 250 at Kansas Speedway on May 10, 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

In the continuation of a remarkable season with under-funded Niece Motorsports, Ross Chastain scored his eighth top-10 finish in eight NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series races on Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

That 10th-place run, however, paled in comparison with last week’s emotional victory at Kansas Speedway, the first in the series for both Chastain and his team.

All that was left for Chastain was to find a way to commemorate the win.

“In the post-race interview with our crew chief (Phil Gould), he mentioned that he didn’t have a 1/16 wrench when he started the team,” Chastain said. “I thought it would be good to get him and the general manager (Cody Efaw) two-sets of 1/16 wrenches, put them in a shadow box and put a plaque with the first win.

“How are we supposed to expect it until you win and know if you can do it? You have to prove it. We all thought we could, but until you do it, you don’t know.”

Greg Engle