Ross Chastain upsets playoff drivers, wins Cup Series pole award at Watkins Glen

With a clean-shaven face and no playoff pressure, Ross Chastain sped his way to the pole award at Watkins Glen. It was a huge relief as Chastain won the pole over his NASCAR teammates, Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Suárez.

Amazingly, SVG was shut out of the Xfinity and Cup pole awards today, both by fellow Trackhouse drivers. Connor Zilisch won the Xfinity pole and Ross Chastain cleaned up in the Cup Series.

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This is only the second pole award for Chastain in the Cup Series. He is not known as a great qualifying driver. But tomorrow, he leads the field to green alongside Martin Truex Jr.

"Turning right seems so simple, but it's been such a challenge for me."

Ross Chastain WINS the pole after a lot of hard work on road courses. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6rHgUCKb4M

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 14, 2024

This was a huge accomplishment for this team. They now have a great shot at winning on Sunday. Track position is so important at this track. Don’t forget about the new, softer tires. They had a good amount of falloff during practice and it could be more during the race.

Ross Chastain emotional after winning Watkins Glen pole

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.

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.