Ross Chastain will be promoted to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021. Chastain is set to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing next season, taking over the No. 42 car from Matt Kenseth, who will leave the team at the end of the 2020 season.
As per Motorsport.com, an official announcement from the team will soon follow.
Ross Chastain will thus be promoted to the Cup Series from the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he currently races full time with Kaulig Racing.
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Chastain ran three races with Chip Ganassi Racing in the Xfinity Series in the 2018 season. He was supposed to race full time with them in 2019, but the deal did not come through. He has two race wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and three wins in the NASCAR Truck Series.
Ross Chastain to drive car formerly driven by Kyle Larson
Chastain will thus drive the same car that was driven by Kyle Larson before he was suspended by NASCAR in April for using a racial slur during an online event.
Chastain has participated in the Cup Series as well. He ran a few races in 2019, before again partnering with Chip Ganassi Racing for two races in the 2020 season. He raced in the Daytona 500, where he finished 25th, and the Coca Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, where he finished 21st.
The 27-year-old was the favorite to drive the No. 42 car next year. Reportedly, Chip Ganassi Racing also had talks with Bubba Wallace for a seat next year. However, those talks slowed down.
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Dream come true for Chastain
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This season, Chastain is yet to win a race in the Xfinity Series but made the Playoffs. He started the Playoffs strongly, finishing second. He is currently in eighth place in the Xfinity Series standings.
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After the race, Chastain showed high excitement when asked about his views on the potential opportunity with CGR for the Cup Series. He has 6 Top-5 finishes in his last 7 Xfinity Series races. The good run seems to have come at just the right time for Chastain.