Ross Chastain Gives Trackhouse Racing Their Best Day Yet

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 ACM Awards Chevrolet, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Ethel M Chocolates Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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Ross Chastain may not have scored a win despite being the class of the field at Las Vegas Sunday, but he was still euphoric. His third place finish in the NASCAR Cup series Pennzoil 400 was Trackhouse Racing’s best-ever finish, and his stage win was their first as well.

“Yeah, it’s dream come true,” Chastain said. “This is what all the work is for. This is why we train and try to build our whole lives and careers once we realize we can race at this level, is to have race cars like that. I couldn’t be more proud of Trackhouse, and thankful for Justin Marks and Chevrolet.”

In addition to third, Chastain’s number 1 Chevrolet was at the front of the field for 83 laps, which is a personal best for the driver, in addition to claiming Stage 2. He made his way up the field after starting 18th. He brought the car home in the final overtime restart as well, where he restarted fifth. 

Speaking to that, he said “It took a lot of patience inside the car. It’s tough for me to not get too aggressive and a lot of neutral thinking.” But he was happy with how it turned out: “That’s progress.”

Following the race, the team posted on social media: “So close, but what a day for Ross Chastain and this entire 1 team! The field knows we’re here to compete for wins.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: The #99 CommScope Chevrolet, driven by Daniel Suarez sits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The team has enjoyed the past two weeks. Daniel Suárez tied the team’s previous best of fourth at Fontana while also in contention for the win. This week, though, he was taken out of contention after being hit by a spinning Chase Briscoe on lap 92. 

NASCAR’s Next-Gen era is intended to equalize the field and give smaller teams the chance to compete for wins. Trackhouse has clearly taken advantage and brought the performance to compete for wins on a regular basis. 

https://twitter.com/TeamTrackhouse/status/1500629920892047366

Owen Johnson