The NASCAR world was upended by the 2026 return to the Chase format, which no longer provides playoff assurance to regular-season winners, creating new strategic headaches. Amidst this upheaval, the Ross Chastain NASCAR mentality challenges fans’ beliefs about competitiveness and priorities on race day, making it clear that the pursuit of victory remains unchanged despite evolving rules.
Chastain Confronts Common Misunderstandings in the Sport
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing’s dedicated driver, recently tackled what he sees as a major fallacy among both fans and observers of NASCAR—namely, the belief that drivers sometimes settle for less than first. Addressing media at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Chastain did not shy away from criticizing what he calls “fake sportsmanship,” insisting this does not align with the real nature of stock car competition.
“In my opinion, a win is so massive in life, to win in the Cup Series, that every driver that straps in on race day is willing to do whatever it takes,”
Chastain declared—leaving little doubt about his personal standard and, by extension, what he expects from all drivers in the field.
He insisted that any competitor who claims otherwise is not being upfront:
“Any of them that say they won’t try to win and everything they know how to do, I don’t think is telling the truth,”
Chastain explained. According to him, the championship structure is irrelevant when the competition begins—victory is always the ultimate aim.
Fans and Drivers Debate the True Priorities on Race Day
Tension around this mentality extends beyond just the drivers. A recent social media post from a longtime fan spotlighted contradictions in how the sport’s priorities are discussed publicly, especially on outlets like SiriusXM NASCAR Radio: “Where did the notion that @NASCAR drivers aren’t always trying to win, start? I hear it on @SiriusXMNASCAR,
“we had a good points day,”
the fan tweeted, questioning whether drivers are ever satisfied with anything less than contending for the top spot.
The phrase
“we had a good points day”
typically means a driver extracted maximum results from a car that might not have been competitive for victory—a reality that many Cup Series regulars face. Yet this stands in stark contrast to Chastain’s hardline stance: winning is the only acceptable target.
Winning Instinct Is Built Early in Every Racer
Chastain tied his outlook to experiences all drivers share from the very start of their journeys. He described the hunger for first place as a mindset formed during youth, whether racing karts, competing on short tracks, or navigating the junior series up the racing ladder.
“That’s why we started racing as kids and kept trying to move up, and we wanted to win at a higher level, we chased that,”
he said, connecting his own story to that of rivals across the Cup garage.
The Climb Through Racing Ranks Only Intensifies the Drive to Win
For Chastain and his peers, the progression from lower series only adds fuel to their ambition, never dulling their desire for victory.
“That’s what I see. A lot of my competitors did as well when I look back at their upbringing,”
Chastain added, insisting that there is a shared drive, whether in the Cup Series or beyond, to keep raising the bar for themselves and each other.
The hurdles get bigger at NASCAR’s top level, from nail-biting qualifying rounds to gritty mid-race confrontations and unpredictable safety-car situations. And, as Chastain’s record shows—117 Truck Series starts, five wins, 53 top-10 finishes—no achievement ever truly satisfies a competitor who craves more. Multiple victories on legendary tracks like Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway merely heighten the appetite for future triumphs.
Chastain’s Aggressive 2026 Plan Underscores His Ruthless Commitment
Looking forward, Chastain’s choice to pursue a double schedule in 2026, following NASCAR’s rule overhaul, only reinforces his message: there will be no holding back, no playing it safe, and no counting points at the expense of outright wins. For Chastain and his fellow competitors, the only acceptable outcome is standing atop the podium. Their careers, shaped from youth by relentless competition, remain defined by a singular, unwavering mentality—winning isn’t just the goal, it is the very core of their identity in NASCAR’s unforgiving environment.
"We'll all do whatever it takes… it's that special to win these Cup races."
Even without the "win and you're in" format, @RossChastain is still as motivated as ever to capture victories 🏁
Listen to more driver opinions on today's Garage Pass with @AndrewKurlandTV 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/QL0GKhs6Jx
— PRN (@PRNlive) January 14, 2026
Where did the notion that @NASCAR drivers aren’t always trying to win, start? I hear it on @SiriusXMNASCAR, “we had a good points day”. Their sole purpose is to go out and win, we had a good points day means we took a car incapable of winning and got all we could get out of it. https://t.co/stb0M6YWpV
— 🇺🇸 Family Man (Dave) 🇺🇸 (@TeamKFBfan8) January 14, 2026
