Ross Chastain faced significant handling problems during the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21, which hampered his performance despite a promising start. The Trackhouse Racing driver struggled through multiple adjustments throughout the race as he tried to overcome these issues and secure better track position.
Chastain began the race in eighth place but fell outside the top 10 by the end of each stage, finishing 12th in Stage 1 and 13th in Stage 2. While the No. 1 team eventually addressed the handling concerns and mounted a comeback, Chastain ended the race one position below where he started, in ninth place.
Chastain describes challenges with car handling and race adjustments
In a post-race interview, Chastain detailed the difficulties he and his team encountered, emphasizing how the car’s handling did not meet expectations coming out of the Goodyear tire test. He explained,
“We started the race just way too tight coming out of the Goodyear tire test here. We tried to shore up the entry and exit, and thought we could still make it turn in the center and that just wasn’t the case. So, long day of adjustments for the one boys at Kubota Chevy, and with Phil Surgeon to get some wedge out of it and get it turning.”
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing driver
He went on to discuss how balancing the car’s handling was a continuous challenge, particularly managing the exit and forward drive. He said,
“And then I just had to keep dealing with the exit because we never had good forward drive like we thought we would. So, when we were too tight, we went backwards. And when we had it turning better, I magically went forward. So, yeah, I just took us too long to get any stage points, but, cool to be disappointed with ninth.”
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing driver
Recent performance trends and playoff standings
This ninth-place finish marked Ross Chastain’s first top-10 result in the NASCAR playoffs, following near success at Darlington, where he finished 11th. His previous race at Gateway saw a performance dip, ending in 24th place after starting sixth. Similarly, a tough outing at Bristol Motor Speedway left him a lap down and in 19th position.
Currently, Chastain ranks ninth in the playoff standings, trailing the playoff cutline by 12 points. Despite these challenges, the next race at Kansas Speedway offers promise, as Chastain has previously won at that track, providing a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming event.
Chastain’s ambitions for the Kansas Speedway race
Ross Chastain’s last race at Kansas Speedway resulted in a finish around mid-pack, but he still holds a victory from last year’s playoff race at the same venue. When asked about his goals for the upcoming Kansas event, Chastain offered a simple but determined response:
“Go win. Smashed watermelon there last year”
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing driver
This season, Chastain’s only victory came at the Coca-Cola 600, where he proved his ability to compete at the highest level. With Shane Van Gisbergen eliminated from the playoffs after early setbacks, Chastain remains the sole Trackhouse driver still vying for the championship.
Meanwhile, Van Gisbergen is expected to excel at the Charlotte Roval, a track that suits his style well. Chastain hopes to draw lessons from his teammate’s success and hopes to add another win to his record during the remainder of the season.
Outlook for Chastain as the playoffs progress
Ross Chastain’s handling issues at New Hampshire highlight the fine margins of NASCAR competition, where small setup problems can cost vital track position and points. While last weekend’s race tested the team’s adaptability, the experience gained could prove valuable moving forward.
With solid previous results at Kansas Speedway and a strong desire to improve, Chastain is poised to use lessons from recent races to strengthen his playoff campaign. How he and his Trackhouse Racing team tackle the next challenges will be pivotal in determining their progression toward the championship.
