Ross Chastain Earns Trackhouse Racing’s First Win

by
Peter Stratta
March 27, 2022

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images for NASCAR

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Become Cup Series Winners at COTA

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Trackhouse Racing had a banner day at Circuit of the Americas, leading 46 of 68 laps with both drivers. While Daniel Suarez won Stage 1, the remainder of the day belonged to Ross Chastain.

The No. 1 Chevrolet earned career win number one, after a race-long duel with AJ Allmendinger. Chastain had to outlast an overtime finish where he was third, and made contact with AJ on the last lap. This nudge sent Allmendinger spinning into Alex Bowman. After this push, Chastain regained the lead to take his maiden NASCAR Cup Series win.

“It’s insane,” Chastain said in victory lane. “To go up against some of the best with AJ (Allmendinger) – I mean, I know he is going to be upset with me; but we raced hard, both of us, and he owes me one. But when it comes to a Cup win, man, I can’t let that go down without a fight. So, Justin Marks, Trackhouse, AdventHealth, the Moose. A million Moose members, they better be celebrating tonight all across the country and the world. Phil Surgen (Crew Chief), man. He is so good. People don’t know how good this group is. I can’t believe Justin Marks hired me to drive this car.”

A watermelon was smashed on the frontstretch at COTA, after Chastain had to survive numerous late restarts. On the last lap, Allmendinger had position on Chastain, only for the 1 to send the 16 around, right into the path of Alex Bowman. After the 1 stormed his way through the 16, the Justin Marks/Pitbull owned team celebrated as NASCAR winners.

After recent finishes of third, second, and second, Chastain becomes the third first-time winner of 2022. Through six races, there have been six different drivers in victory lane, as well as 12-straight winners under the age of 30. Because of the COTA win, both Chastain and Trackhouse are in their first Playoffs.

“If we had a long run, nobody was going to touch us,” Allmendinger said post-race. “I’m so proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing. All these men and women have had a lot of sleepless nights trying to just get these cars to the next race. I was doing everything I could do to try to sweep the weekend for them. We were that close. We know we had a shot to win the race. It’s tough to win a Cup race, so when you put yourself in a position to legitimately run up front all day and have a shot to win it, it’s a pretty great day. Unfortunately, just we needed about two more corners.” After spinning on the last lap, Allmendinger finished 33rd.

Behind Chastain, the top 10 were Bowman, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Cindric, Erik Jones, and Austin Dillon.

The Cup Series returns to Richmond Raceway next week for the Toyota Owner’s 400. Coverage begins Sunday at 3:30 ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. In the first true short track of the year, who can win their way into the Playoffs?