Ross Chastain Contract Journey: Amidst the tumultuous shifts of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series offseason, with notable transfers like Kyle Busch departing Joe Gibbs Racing for Richard Childress Racing and Tyler Reddick’s early departure from Richard Childress Racing to 23XI Racing, the anticipation for further developments lingered into 2023.
Several prominent drivers entered the 2023 season without contracts for the following year. However, prior to the start of the season, numerous teams confirmed extensions, such as Hendrick Motorsports securing Alex Bowman’s tenure through 2026.
Another driver entering the season without a confirmed 2024 ride was Ross Chastain, who had marked his presence in 2022 by clinching his first two victories, securing a playoff spot, and finishing second in the championship standings in his debut season with his current team.
Chastain had joined Chip Ganassi Racing on a full-time basis in 2021 but faced uncertainty when Trackhouse Racing Team, owned by Justin Marks and Pitbull and initially operating a single car for Daniel Suarez, acquired the organization.
In a significant change for the 30-year-old from Alva, Florida, Trackhouse Racing Team offered him a two-year contract, a scenario he hadn’t experienced before in his career.
“Trackhouse gave me my first multi-year deal when we signed for 2022 and 2023,” Chastain explained to Beyond the Flag. “Being locked in and secured for more than a year was a new experience for me.”
It was a pivotal transition for Chastain, thrusting him into a position where drivers often face heightened pressure. Despite this, he delivered a standout season, almost clinching a championship for a team that had only been on the circuit for less than two years.
“Many times, I didn’t even have a contract,” Chastain reflected on his pre-Trackhouse racing agreements since 2011. “It was an informal agreement. No written confirmation; it was simply a physical handshake. But we always made it work.”
Before the silly season rumors could gain substantial traction around NASCAR’s leading free agent—although Chastain had loosely been linked to Stewart-Haas Racing as a potential replacement for Kevin Harvick—Trackhouse Racing Team secured his services for the foreseeable future.
“When Justin acquired CGR, it was for two years, then they approached me again, expressing their satisfaction, and extended the partnership for a longer duration. That’s when I was fully committed.”
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