Chastain Shows Strength Despite Setbacks at Darlington
Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, showcased notable performance at Darlington Raceway despite ultimately finishing 11th following a late-race fuel issue. This race marked one of Chastain’s strongest outings of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, where he averaged a sixth-place running position and spent over 95% of the laps within the top 15.
“I could see the leader,” Chastain said post-race. “It was great. I had a shot on a restart and a restart on the front row… So, yeah, more of that, please. More of that.”
Chastain’s consistency is emerging as a key factor in his playoff campaign. He earned the fifth-most points at Darlington, following a strong performance at Daytona, where he secured the third most points. His victory at the Coca-Cola 600 earlier this season earned him a playoff berth, and he is currently ranked 12th, having increased his cushion over the cutline from one point to 21 points after the recent race.
“The effort at Darlington was great,” he stated. “It was a great experience going through practice, qualifying, and then the race.”
Chastain attributed his recent success to the speed of the car, asserting the importance of a solid setup right from practice: “If we’re fast here like we were at Darlington… it’s just Phil Surgeon now trying to teach me how to be fast and maximize the car.”
As the postseason progresses, Chastain’s ability to convert performance into points will be crucial as he aims to maintain his position and advance further in the playoffs.
