Ross Chastain and his Trackhouse Racing team have encountered significant challenges during the 2025 season, especially since the Michigan race on June 8. Despite securing only two top-10 finishes amid this difficult stretch, Chastain remains hopeful and within reach of advancing beyond the Round of 12. His recent race at Darlington nearly marked a turnaround, but a fuel issue late in the event forced him to surrender his strong position.
After the Darlington race, Chastain explained,
“We had a fueling issue on the last stop, so we were short on gas.”
This shortage meant he had to drastically alter his approach in the final laps, trying to conserve fuel and avoid running out before the checkered flag.
Conserving Fuel Cost Valuable Positions in Final Laps
Chastain detailed the struggle he faced, saying,
“So, I had to save a lot of fuel just to get to the end of the race. So, I had to give up. I mean, 7th to 11th, just bleeding spots trying to be off the gas, was half throttle the last 30 laps.”
With no caution flags to help him regain lost ground, he had to use fuel-saving techniques such as easing off the throttle, coasting through corners, and even shutting off the engine momentarily.
Though he inquired about pushing for a 10th-place finish late in the race, the decision from his crew was clear: prioritize fuel conservation. As a result, Chastain watched Chris Buescher quietly pass him without resistance, finishing behind him. The experience was disappointing but did not derail his playoff campaign.
Stage Points Cushion Brighten Post-Race Outlook
Despite the setback, Chastain left Darlington with a 21-point cushion above the playoff cutline, a notable improvement from his slim one-point margin entering the race. Still, he admitted frustration about the missed opportunity and the impact of the fueling mishap on his result.
Reflecting on the race, he commented,
“We grabbed a good handful with the stage points. But no, we did not maximize it. The fuel issues, I call that like a stubbed toe. It cost us four spots.”
Chastain’s intensity about racing challenges was further captured in a Tweet where he said,
“I don’t even let it bother me anymore, just try to beat it.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Earlier Mistakes and Fuel Problem Combine for Tough Night
The driver also took responsibility for an error earlier in the green-flag portion of Stage 3 that cost him track position before the fuel troubles compounded the issue.
“We were going to be around fifth, and then we went to seventh, and then the fuel issue took us to 11. So good night, but not perfect,”
Chastain admitted.
Looking Ahead to Gateway with Renewed Determination
Chastain is now turning his focus to the upcoming race at Gateway, determined to make a strong impression. He highlighted the importance of improving speed and performance in order to remain competitive through the playoffs.
“If we want to think we’re going to keep going through these playoffs, we’ve got to go faster like we did tonight,”
he reflected optimistically.
“Tonight was a big step forward for us. I think possibly one of our strongest in, I don’t know, months for sure. So, just had the makings of something special here, and we’ll try to take that to World Wide Technology.”
Chastain also praised the addition of a NASCAR Cup event at Gateway and is eager to capitalize on the opportunity with his Busch Light machine. With one top-10 and a 14.0 average finish in three starts there, he feels the track holds promise for his team’s success.
