Ross Chastain has alienated one essential NASCAR constituency whereas ingratiating himself to a different.
That is not any small enterprise for a driver who spent 5 fruitless seasons on the Cup Series Tour hustling to realize respect and a spotlight beneath the umbrella of Trackhouse Racing.
Chastain’s outsized ambitions on the tough and tumble of the Cup Series Tour had been realized in 2022 when he emerged as one of many prime drivers on the circuit. He began 36 races with two wins, 15 prime finishes, 21 within the prime 10 and completed second total in his first playoff look.
Chastain, 30, was emboldened to up his recreation this season by racing nearer to the sting, a follow that didn’t go unnoticed by the opposite drivers within the subject.
While Chastain’s enemies listing on pit highway would rival the Nixon White House, his widespread reputation among the many hardcore bleacher creatures has cracked the ozone layer. Over 19 races this season, Chastain has cultivated his dangerous boy picture whereas pulling off, with caveats hooked up, the final word tradeoff.
“I’ve said it and I’ve meant it and I believe it,” mentioned Chastain. “I’m snug making different drivers uncomfortable however I don’t want all of them uncomfortable with me on the identical time.
“I can’t fight all of them but I’m sure I can race them all hard if they are all going to race me hard. I am learning to balance that while staying true to who I am and what got me here. Basically, it is keep finding the best ways I can to win and that is not always having every driver on the track mad at me.”
Chastain is the operator of the No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and on Sunday (2:30 p.m.) he’ll compete within the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The Magic Mile is a brief flat observe with low banked turns and tight straights. Favorable observe place is the important thing to success and the race is competed at shut quarters.
The distinction between aggressive racing and reckless driving is extra of a grey space than a wonderful line. Chastain, together with most different drivers, routinely drifts into that chasm whereas conducting enterprise on the Cup Series Tour.
Chastain finds it ironic that lots of the drivers who’ve pointed the finger and hurled verbal brickbats in his path are the identical guys he’s tried to emulate since coming of age behind the wheel of a inventory automotive.
“I feel like at time that the guys that claim I am driving aggressive I learned from them,” mentioned Chastain. “I’ve studied them and I’m racing towards my heroes in numerous methods out right here on the Cup Series.
“I have studied them for years and I have watched them since I was a kid. I’ve tried to be like them and then when I get here, they point the finger at me and say, ‘no.’ I am doing a lot of the things I’ve seen them do and I’m just trying to be better at it.”
Nashville blitz
After his run by means of the playoffs in 2022, Chastain obtained a vote confidence from higher administration at Trackhouse Racing and was tendered a contract extension. That is the form of job safety Chastain has sought since graduating from the Xfinity Tour.
“Going through the process, there were not many times in my past that I knew where I would be racing next year, let alone several years from now,” mentioned Chastain.
Chastain grew to become the flag bearer of Trackhouse Racing and he paid again his benefactors with a victory within the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25. Trackhouse Racing is predicated in Nashville so the staff claimed its first win of the season at its dwelling observe.
Chastain made his presence felt early by securing the pole place for the beginning of the race. Chastain fended off a late problem from Martin Truex Jr. to take the checkered flag. The victory secured a spot for Chastain within the Cup Series playoffs.
“For us, Nashville is that fourth crown jewel of NASCAR and it was a heck of a race to win from that point of view,” mentioned Chastain.
Making Magic
Chastain enters the Crayon 301 fifth total within the driver standings with a win, six prime 5 finishes and eight within the prime 10. Chastain positioned third at Richmond on an oval shorter than NHMS. If you’ll be able to run properly at Richmond, you are able to do the identical at New Hampshire.
Chastain might be making his fifth Cup Series begin on the Magic Mile and he’s nonetheless getting a really feel for the observe. His common end is 16.5 however he positioned eighth within the final two races.
“We are looking to qualify well and that’s number one,” mentioned Chastain. “New Hampshire is so flat and I’ve honestly struggled there despite the last two years, which are a bright spot.”
Chastain has a long-distance connection to the Boston sports activities scene. He grew up in Alva, Fla., which is one city over from the Red Sox coaching facility in Fort Myers. Chastain’s father, Ralph, went to highschool with former Red Sox All-Star left fielder Mike “Gator” Greenwell.
Source: www.bostonherald.com