Ross Chastain 'beside himself' after winning Phoenix race over Championship 4

Besides Ryan Blaney, there’s another team that will be celebrating in Phoenix tonight. Ross Chastain was the race winner. He is the first driver ever to beat the Championship 4 since the format was created in 2014. Another NASCAR first for Trackhouse Racing.

Ross Chastain might have not been as fast at the end, but he drove a good and clean race. He knew he didn’t have the speed, so he used dirty air to mess with Blaney and others trying to pass him.

After the race, Chastain did his own burnout, he smashed a watermelon, and he was given all the regular festivities. Chastain didn’t care that he spoiled the party for the Championship 4.

“I don’t believe it’s ever happened,” Chastain said in victory lane. “We did something else that’s never been done before. For everyone on this team, this vision for Trackhouse and what this was was goals like this. They were lofty. It started with AdventHealth and the Moose Lodge believing in me, coming over to Trackhouse. Then Kubota, Jockey coming on board.

“Obviously next year with Busch Light, I couldn’t think of anything I would want to do more, is to try to be like Kevin Harvick. Racing him early in the race was bucket list little kid in me, racing that 2005 game, I drove as the 29 GM Goodwrench car. Now I’m driving a Chevy for GM to Victory Lane, a Camaro.

“I am beside myself that we were able to do that. That last caution we were really tight. It saved us. Phil Surgen and this group at Trackhouse, all of our GM support staff, sim staff, everybody came up with a way to make this thing turn, and we drove off into the sunset.”

Another season, another two wins for Ross Chastain.

Ross Chastain keeps Trackhouse relevant

Here’s the thing, with this win, Trackhosue Racing has a lot of momentum. They were a little quiet this season with lackluster results. Chastain made the playoffs but didn’t make a deep run. However, there’s a lot around the corner.

This win is the momentum that Trackhouse Racing needs going into a massive year in 2024. They are bringing in Shane van Gisbergen on that developmental deal. Chastain and Daniel Suárez are both back. Zane Smith is signed to Trackhouse, being raced through Spire Motorsports.

Growth is the future for Trackhouse. They are growing in number of drivers and their influence as an organization. They want more wins, more headlines, and they are well on their way to doing it.

Ross Chastain wins at Phoenix to cap off the season. He’s still got a little bit of that bad-boy streak in him. I’m sure he’s going to make drivers frustrated next season just like he did throughout the year this year, and I mean that in the best way possible.