During practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ross Chastain experienced a tire blowout that caused him to spin, forcing Trackhouse Racing to prepare their backup car for him. Although Chastain showed strong speed earlier in practice, the damage to his primary vehicle prevented him from participating in the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session. His transition to a backup car aims to address the setback ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 race.
Starting Position and Challenges Ahead
With the damaged primary car and an unavoidable last-place starting position, using the backup car became an obvious choice for Chastain and his team. Despite this, the challenges extend beyond the car itself, as track position and pit road selection will be key factors in Sunday’s race. Chastain’s poor starting spot means he faces a disadvantage even before the green flag drops, requiring significant effort to recover ground.
Official Confirmation of Backup Car Use
Chastain confirmed during an interview on PRN before the Xfinity Series race that he would be switching to the backup car. Alan Cavanna from PRN shared this update on social media, providing a direct report from Chastain in the broadcast booth.
“Ross Chastain is in the @PRNlive booth for the XFin race. He just said his team will go to a back-up car for the Coke 600” —Alan Cavanna
Implications of Using a Backup Vehicle on Race Strategy
While Chastain can still aim for a respectable finish on Sunday, his chances of winning are significantly reduced due to the switch. The backup car will require adjustments in setup and feel throughout the race to optimize performance. Additionally, starting from the back limits his options for gaining track position early, which is crucial at Charlotte.
Pit stall selection will also play a critical role, as advantageous pit positions are scarce at this track. Even if Chastain manages to advance towards the front, pit stops—which can exceed ten during the race—could continually setback his progress, creating a cycle of recovery that is difficult to overcome.
Trackhouse Racing’s Struggles Extend Through the Weekend
This season has been challenging for Trackhouse Racing and Ross Chastain. Speed during qualifying has been consistently lacking, and today reflected the same pattern. Among Trackhouse drivers, Daniel Suárez qualified highest, starting in 25th place, while Shane van Gisbergen and rookie Connor Zilisch started 30th and 33rd, respectively. Zilisch is making his NASCAR Cup Series oval debut this weekend.
Chastain Faces Uphill Battle on Sunday’s Charlotte Oval
Consistent with his season so far, Chastain will have to overcome many hurdles to finish well on Sunday. He has frequently expressed frustration with the lack of speed in qualifying, which complicates his race-day efforts. The difficult layout and surface bumps of the Charlotte oval add additional layers of complexity, making it one of the toughest tracks for drivers to handle.
These factors contribute to the decision to start with a backup car, attempting to mitigate the impact of the tire failure. However, starting at the rear for a grueling 600-mile race presents significant challenges. It remains to be seen how Chastain will navigate this tough situation as the race unfolds.
