Ross Chastain’s day was like a roller coaster with a blend of good and bad moments on the race track. Initially, the situation was not favorable for the Chastain car. His No. 1 Chevrolet was hit, and he even went a lap down. Going against the Chastain racing team’s decision to quit, they chose to keep their cool, make their moves, and carry out a successful turnaround.
In the end, Ross Chastain was once again among the top five drivers, showing a fighting spirit and teamwork, which is always great for the fans to see. It was a tough journey, but his return is what makes him frequently called one of the most tenacious drivers in the field. Ross showed enough class to be happy for his friend William Byron, who made it to the championship.
A Tough Start for Ross Chastain
Chastain Ross said, “There was a time when we did the choice for the restart, and there was only one car behind us.” That means he was almost at the back of the pack. His Ross Chastain car wasn’t handling well. “The left side was torn up from the first half of the race because we struggled,” he explained. Things got rough. Other cars were faster, and he got hit a few times.
He added, “We were getting beat up pretty bad. We went a lap down.” Going a lap down means other cars were ahead of him by a full lap, a big setback in NASCAR. But Chastain Racing didn’t panic. They took the wave around, which gave them another chance to get back into the race. That moment kept their hopes alive.
Teamwork Turned It Around
Chastain’s crew chief, Phil Surgen, played a big role. “We made some good adjustments when we took the wave around. It was a free pit stop, per se, later, and Phil did a bunch of adjustments, and it brought the car back to life,” Ross Chastain said.
Those changes made a huge difference. The Chastain NASCAR car started to feel faster and smoother. Then, luck joined the party, and a well-timed caution flag helped move Chastain from around 10th place into the top five. “We caught that caution, which took us from around 10th into the top five,” he said.
For a driver who started the day fighting to stay on the lead lap, finishing fourth felt like a win. It was a comeback powered by teamwork and strategy.
Proud of a Friend’s Win
Even though Ross Chastain didn’t win, he found something to celebrate. He talked about watching William Byron, his friend, dominate the race. “I think we just watched William Byron cement himself into the championship race,” he said proudly.
Chastain Ross remembered being a kid and watching the No. 24 car win races. “As a kid, I remember watching the No. 24 car win and dominate here,” he said. Now, seeing Byron drive that same number made it special. “To be buddies with William now, I saw at the end of the race a guy go and solidify himself in that car for a very long time.”
He was also impressed by how Byron handled the pressure. “The No. 24 car just flat-out drove by the No. 12 car on the long run and held him off on the short run at the end,” Ross Chastain said. “As a friend, that was really, really cool to watch.”
The day may have tested Ross Chastain’s car and crew, but his determination stood out. From early trouble to a strong finish, the Chastain racing team showed heart, while Ross himself showed class, cheering for a friend and reminding fans that NASCAR is as much about respect as it is about speed.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ross Chastain Battles Back for Fourth in a Wild NASCAR Race appeared first on Heavy Sports.