Ross Chastain Stranded in Scary Wreck as Corey Heim Claims First Stage Win of the Season at COTA

Ross Chastain’s Truck Series start of the 2024 season at the XPEL 225 on the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for Niece Motorsports’ #45 Silverado has been tainted due to pit road speeding penalties one more time. He finished the Stage in P16 after making a stellar qualifying run which had placed him P5 on Row 3 behind Nick Sanchez. However, on the final lap of Stage 2, the #45 truck and the #15 of Tanner Gray spun in a “scary wreck” on Turn 13, which pushed out the Melon Man from top-15 contention and resulted in a P22 finish in Stage 2, behind his other Niece teammates.

Ross Chastain’s 2024 Trucks Debut Ruined… Almost

Chastain is a mainstay at the Texas circuit and has won his first Cup Series race here in 2022. The #45 truck’s debut at COTA had been discussed for a while, as Chastain has seemingly become a favorite at the 3.426-mile circuit. The Austin Truck Race has seen plenty of spins since the beginning of the 42-lap race, and even 17-year-old pole winner Connor Zilisch had to lose his P1 spot due to errors and the “track limits”. The events unfolded as Corey Heim picked up Stage 2 in his first stage win of the season.

Chastain finished Stage 2 in P22 as Niece Motorsports teammates Bayley Currey (P20) and Matt Mills (P18) placed themselves above #45. The resurgent Florida native then proceeded to pick up the pace in Stage 3 as he tore past the pack on his way to an impressive P5 finish. Track position was visibly key to success in the Truck race and Corey Heim’s #11 managed the perilous track limits like an expert as he secured his 6th Craftsman Truck Series win in just 3 years with Tricon Garage.

His Tricon teammate Taylor Gray (P2), and Thorsport Racing’s Ty Majeski (P3) joined him at the podium, while a phenomenal Connor Zilisch came back from violation penalties and spinouts to finish fourth in his first-ever race in a top-3 NASCAR National Series.

British Debutant Battles the Melon Man

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The final laps saw Chastain face an unlikely battle with IMSA standout Jack Hawksworth, also debuting at COTA with the #1 Toyota Tundra of Tricon Garage. The Brit was not able to get the best of Chastain however, as the Melon farmer was decent, to say the least, in one of the most exciting Truck races of the season, yet. The 33-year-old Hawksworth was Tricon Garage’s fifth entry for the day.

On the other hand, Chastain’s Niece Motorsports teammates Currey and Mills finished in P16 and P24 respectively. The Melon Man will now get ready to handle the wheel for Trackhouse Racing in a bid to reclaim his 2022 COTA glory from the P6 position. We await the 2024 EchoPark Automotive Grandprix to thrill with its incredible twists and turns at 3:30 PM ET tomorrow.

Read More: Self-Critic Ross Chastain Confesses Lacking Speed to His Playoff-Sealed Teammate