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Ross Chastain gives emotional response after winning NASCAR Cup Series pole at Watkins Glen

JHby:Jonathan Howard•09/14/24•

Jondean25

Ross Chastain pole Watkins Glen
Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

This afternoon at Watkins Glen, Ross Chastain won his second career pole award in the NASCAR Cup Series, first on a road course. Chastain has worked incredibly hard on his racecraft and qualifying performances.

Winning the Busch Light Pole in the Busch Light Chevy Camaro is a big deal. For Ross Chastain, it has to be surreal. This was a driver who at one point did not have a future in the sport, now he’s one of the faces of it.

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Despite being out of the NASCAR Playoffs, Chastain was emotional after his achievement today. He should be, it’s a big deal. He outpaced Martin Truex Jr., Shane van Gisbergen, and more to win the pole.

“So much, so much work, Kim. Turning right seems so simple, but gosh, it’s just been such a challenge for me,” Chastain said to Kim Coon on the broadcast. “I’ve went to Skip Barber Driving School to learn how to turn right, I’ve leaned on Josh Wise and Scott Speed, so much, the instructors at Skip Barber.

“Chevy has taken us out to Spring Mountain and done schooling with Ron Fellows and instructors there. It wasn’t any one thing it was so many years of trying to learn how to do this. For our Busch Light Chevy, this is just a career moment, a lifetime achievement to go faster than everybody in the Cup Series. It’s just unbelievable for Trackhouse and myself.”

Trackhouse Racing had a huge day today. They were able to get both Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez in the final round of qualifying. Shane van Gisbergen, via Kaulig Racing, also made the final round to give Trackhouse a trio of drivers in the top-10.

Watkins Glen is an old-school racetrack. Many believe Chastain is an old-school kind of racer. Let’s see if the two line up on Sunday.

Ross Chastain looking to play spoiler

This is only the second week of the NASCAR Playoffs. Still, Ross Chastain is making the case as one of the spoilers. Let’s not forget he won at Phoenix last season, taking the win away from the Cup Series champion, Ryan Blaney.

Without a win yet on the year, Chastain is hoping to be the spoiler. He wants to take one of those auto-bids to the Round of 12, 8 or Championship 4 away. His job right now is to make everyone else’s job as hard as possible.

Of course, his teammate Daniel Suárez is in the playoffs. He has to be mindful of the 99, but other than that, Chastain is only out there for himself.

The NASCAR Playoffs raise the level of performance across the board every year. Even drivers not in the championship hunt are looking to win poles, races, and piss off those playoff drivers in the process.