“No Chance”: Ross Chastain Dismisses Being a Part of Trackhouse’s ‘Too Fast’ International Plans

Ross Chastain is just one of the many shining stars on Trackhouse Racing’s vast, global roster. From making a remarkable entry in 2021 with the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race, Daniel Suarez, to entering the leather-clad lunatics of MotoGP in 2024, Justin Marks and rapper Pitbull seem to be boosting the international acclaim of the Trackhouse with each passing year.

Amidst all the excitement for a relatively young race team, the driver of the #1 Chevrolet has emerged as their winningest representative in the world of motorsports. However, as Trackhouse’s all-American, Aprilia-backed efforts get ready to excite with a debut at the Circuit of the Americas on April 13th, Chastain seems hesitant to give the crotch rockets a chance in the shadow of an extensive NASCAR career.

Ross Chastain says “no way” to MotoGP, but the team hints at big plans

Before the Melon Man made his 14th start at Martinsville’s half-mile of mayhem, he spoke to Davey Segal during his pre-race interviews. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Segal wanted to talk to Chastain about Trackhouse Racing’s attempt at ‘the world’s most expensive motorcycle game of tag,’ considering the home-ground advantage at Austin.

When asked by Segal if he’d ever consider riding a MotoGP bike, driver #1 quickly shut down the idea. “No chance,” he declared, shutting down any ideas of a two-wheeled adventure. Chastain explained further, “Not even the second seat. I’ve seen Ben Kennedy was showing me some stuff. He’s ridden back seat with a guy. They did like, I mean they’re on one wheel on the straightaways going forward they’re on one wheel slowing down. Just no, not at all. It’s way too fast and I don’t like to be out of control. At least when I’m driving, I’m going to crash into something I get to hold the wheel.” 

This Sunday, Ross Chastain got behind the wheel of the #1 Camaro ZL1, finishing P14 at Martinsville. But as the NASCAR season, as well as the MotoGP season, gets ready for some tussles in Texas next week, Trackhouse may pull out a surprise for the fans, not just at the Cup race in Fort Worth but also at the battle of the 1000 CCs at COTA.

“It’s nothing, brother, just wait…” Was that Justin Marks’ Le Mans hint?

As news spreads of a 4.2 billion-dollar acquisition of MotoGP by the owners of F1, Liberty Media, the world’s premier stock car racing experience will put its own twist on the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Trackhouse Racing alongside Chevrolet has been announced to provide a “demo” at COTA next Saturday, and to top it all off, the exhibition display has been titled “G56 demo lap” in a recent update by SBJ’s Adam Stern.

Are these anticipated events a precursor to a Hendrick Motorsports-esque destiny at Le Mans next year? Ross Chastain had an interesting insight to add to the developmental drive of Trackhouse Racing. In 2021, three years after co-owner Justin Marks drove for Chip Ganassi’s Xfinity Series race team, the part-time road course ringer acquired the rights to CGR’s NASCAR operations. 

The driver of his second full-time chartered entry in the Cup Series had an interesting story to share. “Before they ever ran a race or anything and then when I got brought in to drive, you know. obviously, as the second driver, there was more talks about what’s next. I kind of thought wow he bought CGR right? He acquired that and everything Chip had built and that was going to be our foundation and I was kind of locked in on like this big thing. And Justin sitting across from a campfire with me one night just looked at me. He was like, “It’s nothing brother, just wait…’”

It appears the wait may be over soon, and then some more, considering Trackhouse does follow HMS for another all-American entry in the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nevertheless, with a cast of global superstars like Suarez and MotoGP team members, Miguel Oliveira, and Raul Fernandez, the future looks set to go “worldwide” for Pitbull and Justin Marks.

Read More: Is Trackhouse Racing Following Rick Hendrick and Co. to the 24 Hours of Le Mans?