Despite Coming Off a Win, Ross Chastain Is Concerned With Phoenix and Its Struggles

Stock car racing driver, Ross Chastain had a remarkable win at the Phoenix Raceway last year. Leading by an impressive 157 laps, including the final 31, Chastain had created history on the track of the formerly known ISM Raceway. Despite not aiming for a championship, he had clinched the title, making him the first driver after Denny Hamlin in 2013. Although Chastain carries a history of victory at the 1-mile tri-oval, he was still seen being concerned about the struggles he faced at the venue. The Trackhouse Racing Team’s #1 driver spoke in details about the same in a recent pre-race interview.

For Ross Chastain, attaining balance is easier said than done

In the lead-up to the Cup Series weekend race at Phoenix, Ross Chastain sat down for a full pre-race presser on Friday. And one of the most important things he discussed was how he was somewhat falling short of mimicking his 2023 final race performance at the track, as was evident from his statements. When a reporter inquired about Ross Chastain’s performance and whether the racer felt confident during the long runs, especially after completing 15 laps in slightly warmer and windier conditions, the latter replied, “We’re just focused on getting a grip. We really struggled yesterday just for balance.“

“And yeah, I couldn’t believe that we were 15th on fast lap. We were 12th early on, and my crew chief field said 12th, and I [felt] like, ‘Wow, I feel like I’m 35th’. I just did not feel like I had the grip on the car. So it’s a little bit tough though, because we’re coming off the wind. So I feel like a lot of my memories are of the really good laps. The laps were driving away from the field,” continued Chastain.

Ross Chastain attained the number one spot in the windy practice session at Phoenix Raceway, driving at a staggering 184.27mph. His teammate Daniel Suarez ended at 23rd position, driving at 180.11 mph. Chastain highlighted the difficulties in finding a grip on his car during the qualifying sessions. The speedster also faced challenges along the way. Reflecting on past moments of erratic driving and car balance, he acknowledged feeling frustrated due to recent speeding penalties.

Read More: Ross Chastain “Doesn’t Feel Sorry” for Drivers With Lack of Resources and Information

Chastain explained that there were a lot of instances since last season where he had to go through a lot of erratic steering and heavy braking. He said, “I had a whole off season to just think back through and dream about all the good that happened. But there were some bad.” He added that there were moments where he was not happy with his car’s performance last season. However, the 2024 season also comes with its own set of challenges as Ross Chastain’s run-in with penalties seems like an unending story.

Chastain has yet to solve his pit road debacles

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Ross Chastain has been abruptly unlucky so far this season, receiving penalties on three occasions in three Cup Series. Even in the last Pennzoil 400 race at Las Vegas, Chastain received a pre-race penalty due to an “unapproved adjustment”. As fate would have it, the Trackhouse Racing driver also received a penalty for speeding during a pit stop during the same race. This marked his second speeding penalty since Atlanta Motor Speedway the week prior. Not just that, the driver also received another similar penalty during his qualifying race at Daytona.

Frustrated to have sped on pit roads for three consecutive weeks, Chastain was seemed distressed as he shared his disbelief.  “Like, I can’t believe that I’ve sped on Pit Road all three weeks… We were strong enough to fight with the five and the 45, and I took us out of there. I cannot believe I did that,” the driver shared.

“Slow down, trying too hard; it’s just ridiculous, it’s unnecessary, and I know better, I train better, my team prepares me better, and I’m just not pushing the pedals right, and it’s just cannot believe I’m standing here talking about it again 3 weeks in a row,” Ross Chastain further said.

Read More: “It’s Just Ridiculous” – Ross Chastain is Frustrated With Himself After Self-Inflicted Problems Cost Him Another Win

Having said that, Chastain’s aggressive driving on track showcases his will to succeed in each and every race. Despite the penalties, this willingness and determination is sure to work wonders for the 31-year-old. Do you think he’ll be able to put aside these penalty woes in the upcoming races? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!