Ross Chastain, the driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, spoke with the media ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway. As Chastain focuses on the upcoming Bristol event, widely known for its unique atmosphere and intense racing, the driver also reflected on recent internal changes within his team and how they might affect performance.
Experiencing the Unique Bristol Racing Environment
Chastain described the experience of racing at Bristol as unmatched, comparing it to driving through iconic NASCAR venues like Daytona and Darlington. He remarked on the striking features of Bristol Motor Speedway, including the stadium-style seating and the distinctive tunnel at turn three, which contribute to a memorable atmosphere for drivers and fans alike.
He recalled,
“Sunny, no clouds. Yeah, it’s incredible walking through the tunnel… it never gets old. For me, I equate it to driving through the tunnel at Daytona and driving down to Darlington. But here, it’s pulling up and seeing the stadium and then also walking through the turn three tunnel. It just never gets old. It’s so cool looking up at the banks and then the steepness of the grandstands.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Chastain also mentioned his enjoyment of simply being at the Speedway, highlighting his observation of the truck practice from the grandstands and time spent in the Food City suite. He emphasized how the feeling of being at Bristol is special regardless of whether a race is ongoing or not.
Points Pressure and Team Focus at Bristol
Positioned 19 points above the playoff cutline, Chastain acknowledged the pressure to perform and avoid mistakes at the Bristol Night Race. He pointed out the fine line between fast performance and the risk of damage due to Bristol’s unforgiving walls, which recently received a fresh coat of black paint, emphasizing the track’s demand for precision and endurance through 500 laps.
“I think it puts us in a spot where we are fast enough to stay above the cutline, but a failure or an error, it’s easy to hit the wall here. They’ve painted them back to their old all-black. They’re waiting on you if you make a mistake, so we’ve got 500 laps to get through.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Chastain’s recent Bristol performances have been promising, with two top-10 finishes in his last three races at the track. He expressed enthusiasm for the racing style Bristol demands, recalling a challenging early experience when he ended up involved in a multi-car incident but remained determined to improve.
He shared,
“Yeah, I love it. I love the track. I love driving up here. I love driving on it, even when I’ve been slow and was really bummed. One of my early races here, I remember I think McDowell spun off of (turn) four and I was running last in the Premium Motorsports car. I piled into Truex and a couple of them. I was like, wait for me, I want to join the wreck. I remember I was so bummed, just because I wasn’t going to get to run a full night race here.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
He also credited his crew chief Phil Surgen with delivering strong race cars, noting the team’s goal to move beyond consistent top-10 results to become real contenders for wins at Bristol.
Impact of Team Structural Changes
Chastain spoke about recent strategic adjustments within Trackhouse Racing, including appointing Todd Meredith to oversee daily operations in the shop, a move aimed at improving the team’s execution and performance. He expressed trust in team owner Justin Marks’ vision for these changes and confidence in the direction they are heading, though the direct effects on car setup are still unclear to him as a driver.
He noted,
“I don’t know. I mean, I think that the idea and the direction Justin (Marks) wants to go; appointing Todd Meredith to be boots on the ground every day… wake up, be on the shop floor, upstairs or downstairs at Trackhouse. But to actually execute it… if Justin Marks believes in it, then we’re going that direction. So, we’re going to go that direction.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Chastain admitted his technical knowledge is limited when it comes to the mechanical details of the car, emphasizing that decisions on parts and setup are handled by Todd and his team, while he focuses on driving.
“I wouldn’t know a right-front upper control arm if you sat it here on the table. So, I wouldn’t be able to tell. I look at them and I’m like — I mean, I could bolt it together. I could physically do it, but deciding where to bolt it, deciding what spring to put in the right-front, what shock clicks to put in the left-rear shock, what angle to run the diffuser… I don’t know that stuff. So, that’s for Todd to implement the right processes for then him to hire the right people to execute it. I don’t know. I really don’t. I stay in my swim lane when it comes to that stuff.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Balancing Aggression and Caution for the Race
Looking ahead to the night race, Chastain emphasized the importance of finishing the race while maintaining competitive pace. He recognized the challenge of finding the right balance between aggression and caution, especially given the points standings and the risks inherent at Bristol.
“Yeah. Well, we have to finish the race. We have to be rolling at the end, for sure. That’s every race if you want to do good. I don’t want to walk out of here with a sore shoulder (laughs). So, yeah, we have to finish and see. Today will set the tone for how fast we are, right? Long run in practice. How can we qualify? We have actually qualified last here in a Trackhouse car. I hope no other Trackhouse driver ever has to endure that because that was terrible. So, we’ll try to be better than that. Tomorrow, we’ll see where we start and that kind of sets the attitude for how we’re going to approach the start of the race at least.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
The outcome of practice and qualifying sessions will influence their race strategy, as starting position often sets the tone for how competitors handle the physically demanding event.
Driver Perspectives on Racing Challenges at Bristol
Chastain addressed the unpredictability that often accompanies Bristol races, including tire management and track conditions. He highlighted that Bristol has rarely seen a “standard” race due to its unique characteristics and evolving challenges, keeping drivers consistently alert and nervous.
“I don’t think there’s been a standard Bristol race since they built the place. So, yeah, I think it’s always been like this. I think drivers always come in here nervous. I think they were more nervous back in the day because the safety of the cars wasn’t there. We’ve seen that they could literally knock the fence down. I mean, they would punch holes in the gates or whatever, the guardrail. We are in such a better spot. These really are the good old days at Bristol, from a safety perspective, I believe. It’s my opinion. I think drivers have been nervous walking into Bristol since they built it.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Response to NASCAR’s Enforcement of Post-Race Conduct
Following recent disputes involving several drivers, including Shane van Gisbergen, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano, NASCAR issued rulings on post-race conduct related to spinning and aggressive driving. When asked about these decisions, Chastain deferred to NASCAR’s authority without extended commentary, focusing instead on racing performance.
“No, sir. NASCAR sets the rules. I just ask for the rule book, the schedule and let me go race.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Outlook for Ross Chastain and Trackhouse Racing at Bristol
As the Bristol Night Race approaches, Ross Chastain and his team face a critical weekend that could impact their playoff positioning and momentum. With recent improvements from his crew chief Phil Surgen, ongoing organizational changes under Justin Marks’ leadership, and the challenging nature of Bristol, Chastain aims to capitalize on his race experience and technical support to secure a strong finish. The race’s outcome will likely influence Trackhouse Racing’s strategy going forward as they continue to pursue victory and playoff success.
