NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty doesn't want 'hard-nosed' Ross Chastain to change
NASCAR team owner Brad Daugherty believes Ross Chastain’s aggression on the rack is what brings him success. So, it’s simple, don’t change your ways. After a dominant performance at Nashville that seemed to show a changed Chastain, Daugherty warned about expecting too much change from the Melon Man.
In fact, Daugherty doesn’t want Ross Chastain to change at all. On the latest edition of NBC’s NASCAR America Motormouths, the JTG Daugherty owner talked with Marty Snider and Jeff Burton about Chastain’s win.
From Daugherty’s perspective, that “hard-nosed” style of Chastain is the secret.
“I still think Ross [Chastain], he’s not going to venture from who he is when it comes down to it. He is a hard-nosed racer, and if he goes too far away from that we won’t see this success. This is who he is and he needs to maintain that.”
Later, the team owner assessed the championship capability of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing team. They made it to the Championship 4 last season and finished runner-up to Joey Logano. However, they made it in on the once-in-a-lifetime Hail Melon move at Martinsville.
Do they have more to prove? That they can get to Phoenix without a wild move at the end?
“I agree with that I think they’re dangerous but I also agree with what Jeff saying [about] they still have to learn how to go through the process to win a championship, to put yourself in position to win a championship,” Daugherty continued. “They were close last year, but that’s not enough you have to be there several times to have the opportunity.”
Could Ross Chastain build another championship run this year?
Ross Chastain back in Victory Lane
Not only did Chastain and Trackhouse Racing earn their respective first pole awards, they also came away with a win. It was the first win for Chastain since Talladega in 2022. It also happened to be his first oval win, a traditional oval.
To win from the pole and lead 99 laps is impressive. That move he made by splitting the lappers, including Aric Almirola who had it out for him, showed maturity and great control. Let’s not forget he was the top lane on that three-wide battle for three laps as well.
All around, it felt like Ross Chastain was flexing his muscles a bit. That qualifying run could not have come at a better time, to be honest. You could see the relief on his face and in his reaction to the pole.
Many times, racing is about momentum. Right now, Ross Chastain has all that he needs to go on a big run.