Ross Chastain, a NASCAR Cup Series playoff contender, expressed disappointment after finishing ninth in Sunday’s Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Despite achieving his best starting position of the season for this race, the Ross Chastain NASCAR New Hampshire performance did not meet his expectations as he struggled with car handling early on.
An Up-and-Down Day at the Track for Chastain
Chastain began the race from eighth, which was a notable improvement compared to his typical season starting position of twentieth. However, his No. 1 car for Trackhouse Racing began losing ground soon after the green flag. Chastain ended the first stage in twelfth and the second in thirteenth, missing crucial stage points at a pivotal moment in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 schedule.
Efforts by crew chief Phil Surgen to improve the car’s performance did not pay off until the race’s later stages. By that point, too many competitors had passed, and gaining back lost positions was challenging. Chastain had to accept a ninth-place result, knowing more might have been possible had adjustments come earlier.
“We started the race just way too tight,” Chastain told USA Network. “Long day of adjustments for the 1 boys, the Kubota Chevy. Phil Surgen (took) some wedge out of it to get it turning, and then I had to keep dealing with the (corner) exit because we never had good forward drive like we thought we would.
When we were too tight, we went backwards, and when it started turning better, I magically went forward. Cool to be disappointed with ninth.”
— Ross Chastain, Driver
Narrow Playoff Hopes Ahead for Chastain
After the New Hampshire result, Chastain now finds himself just outside the cut line for advancing in the playoffs, facing a twelve-point deficit. With two races left in the Round of 12, Chastain’s outlook hinges on strong performances in the approaching events. The next race will take place at Kansas Speedway on September 28. Chastain, who won the Kansas fall race last year, could secure advancement to the Round of 8 with another victory at the 1.5-mile oval.
Looking at the Road Ahead
Chastain’s ability to adapt at Kansas, the event where he has prior success, will be crucial for his playoff run. Crew chief Phil Surgen and the Trackhouse Racing team may use lessons from New Hampshire to improve car setup and strategy. Meanwhile, fans and analysts continue to monitor how drivers like Chastain, Phil Surgen, and other key figures perform as the competition intensifies. With so much at stake in the remaining races, Chastain’s determination takes center stage, and his actions in Kansas could reshape the playoff landscape for the NASCAR Cup Series this season.
