Ross Chastain, the driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, approached this year’s NASCAR Playoff Media Day with a clear determination to elevate his performance, as he and his team navigate the high-stakes phases of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Reflecting a blend of intensity and uncertainty, Chastain focused on the crucial question of speed and execution as Trackhouse Racing prepares for Darlington Raceway, a focal point for the competitive field.
Chastain Analyzes Strengths and Weaknesses of Trackhouse Racing
During his media session, Chastain gave an honest account of the team’s current standing, emphasizing both uncertainties and capabilities as they look ahead to Darlington. He recognized the challenge of staying fast not just during practice, but throughout all phases of the race weekend, noting that executing the smaller details could be decisive. According to Chastain, holding the team accountable for doing the basics well, instead of relying on past success, would be central to their playoff ambitions.
“I’ll start with the weakness, because it’s the easiest one. It’s just, are we going to be fast? Are we going to roll off the truck fast for practice at Darlington, and are we going to be able to stay fast on lap10 of that run, lap 20, lap 30, and transfer that through into qualifying for one lap, and then back to long run for the race? That’s the ultimate question for Trackhouse, in my mind is, can we go fast? And if we can do that, can we execute? We can call strategy right. We’ll miss calls. All the little things, I think we can do really well, but it’s holding ourselves accountable to keep doing them well. I don’t just rest on what we’ve done, but you need to make sure we do the little things right.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
This concern returned during further questioning, as Chastain once again zeroed in on the importance of raw pace heading into Darlington. While execution and attention to detail are important, the overarching uncertainty remains: will the car be fast out of the gate, then able to maintain that speed through the practice runs, qualifying, and the race itself? Chastain made it clear that everything hinges on that factor and that being consistently fast remains a major challenge at this stage in the season.
Insights Gained in New Hampshire Testing
Chastain recently participated in an extensive tire test in New Hampshire, gathering an unprecedented volume of data across more than 700 laps. The team collected vital information that could inform strategies at Darlington, although whether these findings will translate to race-day performance is still unclear. This testing gave Chastain the opportunity to experience various tire set-ups, giving insight into potential approaches that Trackhouse Racing may use as the playoffs progress.
“We found a lot of data. I can’t even imagine how much stuff they downloaded off that car over the course of more than 700 laps. I got to explore as a driver, I got through in all different feelings of Goodyear tires, and I know kind of what they’re going to settle on. So, yeah, learned a lot. Whether we can put that into action into speed, on race weekend, is to be determined.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
When questioned about the possibility of transferring this knowledge to other tracks, Chastain was candid about the limitations of his input on the technical side of the car, acknowledging the reliance on engineers and team specialists to set up the vehicle for success elsewhere.
“I don’t really know to be honest, I don’t understand how that works. I know what I need to go faster, feeling out of the car, but I’m not the one assembling them, bolting them together, making decisions for springs and shocks and geometry. I don’t know.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Recounting Milestones and Career Turning Points
Chastain reflected on meaningful moments from his journey to the Cup Series. He vividly remembered his Cup debut at Dover in 2017, racing for Premium Motorsports, an experience that left a lasting impression. That race, which saw him regaining a lap by passing Paul Menard and later competing alongside Dale Earnhardt Jr., stood out as a key turning point in his early career. This underdog experience, paired with the lessons learned, continues to shape how he approaches high-pressure events.
“I did. It was 2017 spring Dover, racing for Premium Motorsports, and partway through the race we were a lap down, and they were telling me just ride around the back. We’d put tires on, but they wanted me to just wait on the next caution or something. And I said, ‘the free pass is right in front of us’. And they’re like, ‘oh, yeah, go see if you can pass them’. And I went past Paul Menard for the free pass and got my lap back. We had better tires, but that kept us in a higher spot, and I think we finished 20th or 18th or something that day. So, passing him for the free pass was a big deal that stood out, and then racing around Dale Jr.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
This theme of mentorship and continuing legacy surfaced again as Chastain described the possibility of one day inspiring a new generation of drivers in much the same way that his heroes influenced him.
“I hope they do. It means I’m doing something right. That means that I’m around for a long time, so I plan on this being still the early part of my career and being here for a long time.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Resilience from Life on the Farm to the NASCAR Circuit
Chastain often draws parallels between the demands of racing and his childhood experiences working on his family’s farm. He credits a work ethic shaped on the farm for his daily mindset in NASCAR, reinforcing the importance of effort, accountability, and tenacity when competing at the highest levels of motorsports.
“It’s not as tough as farming. I promise you that. There’s a lot of tougher jobs out there. This is not. I mean, this is not that difficult. If you show up and can go fast, and then do all the work off the track, you keep everybody happy, and do what is expected. Our farm name is JDI. It stands for just do it. It’s my dad’s life motto, and he has said it my whole life. And anytime anybody that works at the farm ever has a reason why they’re not going to do something, he says, just do it. There doesn’t have to be any more reason than that. He’s boss, the owner, so he gets to say that. And that’s my mentality for when I wake up every day if I question, ‘oh, I don’t know, I want to stay in bed today or I want to sleep in’. Alarm’s going off, get up, go do it.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
This ethic continues to drive him daily on and off the track. His commitment is not only to his own progression, but to ensuring everyone around him remains motivated to perform, regardless of the day’s challenges. Chastain credits his father’s influence and the family’s farm business for this “just do it” philosophy, applying it whether behind the wheel or facing tough decisions away from the circuit.
Defining Performance as Playoffs Begin
As the playoffs commence, Chastain’s self-assessment centers on the same themes of speed and execution. He maintains that while the team excels at handling small details and making smart decisions during race weekends, the single biggest unknown is if Trackhouse Racing can produce the raw pace needed to compete at the top. Looking ahead to the opening rounds, the answer to that question remains elusive—adding to the tension and uncertainty experienced at this stage of the season.
“The weakness is the question of, can we go fast? It is a simple question, and a really tough one to answer until we get on track, starting at Darlington. Then carrying it through week after week through these rounds. The best part, the biggest thing we good at is the little things and executing through the weekend and making the most out of our race on Sunday. We’re confident in that I’m going to continue to push that and not rest on what we’ve done in the past.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Momentum from Charlotte and Recent Victories
Chastain referenced the team’s earlier success at Charlotte, where he delivered a high-level group performance resulting in a significant win. That race, particularly the feeling of confidence upon entering the first turns during practice, set a tone that Chastain is eager to replicate at Darlington. Achieving a comparable sense of car balance and control this weekend would, according to him, create an atmosphere for success and enjoyment during the challenging race ahead.
“We have the potential to pull on track at Darlington and have the same level of group that we had that Saturday. I felt it into the first corner, off pit road in practice and rolled down in turn three, and when I came off turn four, I felt right away that the car had grip and then it was up to me to go make lap time. If we have that feeling at Darlington and that balance in the car, it’s going to be a fun weekend.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Mindset Approaching the Playoff Races
After qualifying for the playoffs with his victory at Charlotte, Chastain noted that his approach remains focused on constant improvement and accumulating playoff points. Rather than relying on a single moment or strategy, he emphasizes accumulating every possible point through consistent speed and aggressive racing in each round.
“Well, I’m not going to hail melon”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
With each position and stage bringing valuable points, Chastain prioritizes seizing all available opportunities, as winning has the potential to resolve the challenges of any given round.
Observations on Shane van Gisbergen and Team Dynamics
Chastain also addressed questions surrounding teammate Shane van Gisbergen, acknowledging the progress van Gisbergen has shown on oval tracks. Chastain observed the narrowing gap between drivers, expressing confidence that if Trackhouse Racing is competitive, van Gisbergen could be expected to match the pace and contribute to the team’s efforts throughout the playoffs.
“Yes. The gap from the 1 to the 88, on the ovals, has shrunk. If we’re fast, I expect him to be right there with us. He’s put the time in and learned the cars. You will always be better with more experience, but there’s enough there if Trackhouse performs the way we want to, we can make a lot of people wrong. And one of them won’t be me, I expect him to be right there with me wherever I’m at.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Handling Pressure and Learning from Past Errors
Discussing playoff nerves, Chastain admitted to experiencing increased pressure and having made notable mistakes in previous seasons—such as risky moves for stage points at Talladega and unforced errors at the Roval—that proved costly. While he usually shows a composed exterior, he reflected on these lessons as reminders that consistency and caution are essential to advancing through the playoffs.
“There are definite times where butterflies are flying a little more in the playoffs than they would have earlier in the summer.. The biggest mistake I’ve believe I’ve made is two. I’ve made one at Talladega where I tried to go four wide for stage points in the 2023 fall race. And then Roval, I believe, in ’22 or ’23, I wrecked by myself at the Roval. So, both of those stand out as unforced errors. I should have been off the gas, and I was on it, and I crashed. One cost me moving on and one I got away with. So usually, you don’t get away with those.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
Darlington Raceway Holds Special Meaning for Chastain
For Chastain, Darlington is not just another venue on the NASCAR calendar; it represents the pinnacle of his aspirations. He considers Darlington his favorite circuit, describing the process of mastering the track as a unique learning journey. Winning a Cup Series event there ranks as a career-defining goal, comparable only to major victories like the Coca Cola 600.
“It’s my favorite track. It’s just absolutely top of my list. Whenever I look at tracks that I want to win at, and I want to work to be better at, Darlington is it. I’ve been through an incredible learning process since I first drove on that track of how to drive it and getting a Cup win there is absolutely top of my list.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
The personal significance of capturing a Darlington win cannot be overstated in Chastain’s view, as he describes it as a life achievement equal to, or higher than, any previous accomplishment. The pursuit of this victory will drive not just his efforts at the Southern 500 but also motivate him across other key playoff venues like World Wide Technology Raceway and Bristol, knowing the weight a win at Darlington would carry for himself and his team.
“It would mean everything. I mean, it’s a life achievement, similar to winning the Coca Cola 600, but I put Darlington at the very top. So, any fall race, Southern 500 race, is what I will work a long time to win, whether that’s this year or sometime later in my career. I know when I get done, I’m going to put a full body of work into trying to win there, and whether we ever do it or not is to be determined. But short term, it would mean say at World Wide Technology Raceway and Bristol, I would be walking around a whole lot lighter than if we don’t.”
—Ross Chastain, Driver
The Next Chapter: Trackhouse Racing’s Playoff Drive
As the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin, Ross Chastain and Trackhouse Racing embark on a campaign shaped by high expectations and underlying uncertainties. With lessons learned from previous races and tests, they face the ultimate question of speed, seeking to answer it amid some of the most competitive conditions of the season. Their journey through Darlington and beyond will test not only their strategy and execution, but the resilience and determination that have defined Chastain’s rise in NASCAR.
The intensity and complexity of Chastain’s mindset, mirrored in his open yet cautious reflections, indicate a season poised for drama and transformation. The outcome at Darlington could set the tone for both Chastain’s trajectory and Trackhouse Racing’s impact on this year’s playoffs, with each passing week taking on greater significance in the push for NASCAR glory.
