Surprise two-time winner also getting a reputation as a mindless, reckless, and disrespectful driver.
Icon SportswireGetty ImagesBefore this spring, maybe two or three NASCAR fans in 10 had heard of this Florida watermelon farmer named Ross Chastain. He wasn’t as obscure as, say, Josh Bilicki, but he certainly wasn’t a household name anywhere except Alva, Fla.
But today—just past halfway on the 36-race Cup Series season—Chastain has become both famous and infamous for his unexpected eye-opening success and his on-track misbehavior. Indeed, there’s been plenty of both to keep the suddenly controversial driver on Page 1.
For that reason and that reason alone, the 29-year-old Chevrolet driver for relatively inexperienced Trackhouse Racing is the obvious choice as the surprise driver of the first half. At this point, it’d not even close.
First, the success: Chastain got the first victory of his 121-start career at Circuit Of The Americas in Austin, Tx. in April. Four weekends later, at the circuit’s most unpredictable venue, he won at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Today, after 19 races, he stands third in points based on those two victories, plus 10 top-5s and 13 top-10. (He has more top-5s and more top-10s in 19 starts this year than in his 115 previous starts). He’s solidly in the 16-driver, 10-race championship-deciding Playoff Series that opens Sept. 4 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
Dismiss him as a championship contender at your own risk.
Ross Chastain, left, and Denny Hamlin, right, have had a few run-ins in recent weeks.
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Nasty Reputation
But there’s this: Chastain is building an ugly reputation as a mindless, reckless, and disrespectful driver. He wrecked Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Michael McDowell in the May race near St. Louis. He stood up to the public criticism and admitted he had to do better… then went out last weekend at Atlanta and wrecked Hamlin again, along with Austin Dillon.
Chastain said the Atlanta incident with Hamlin was purely accidental, not as egregious as what happened at St. Louis. Hamlin simply said he’d reached his peak with Chastain, that the situation will resolve itself at the appropriate time. Trackhouse owner Justin Marks stands foursquare behind Chastain, but must be aware that several drivers won’t hesitate to retaliate against his team in the Playoffs, when it counts the most.
Kevin Harvick hasn’t won in the Cup Series since 2020 at Bristol.
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Struggling Stars
While Chastain is the year’s biggest surprise – for better or for worse – a handful of established stars are struggling. Former champions Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick are 0-for-19 and on the verge of missing the playoffs. (Nothing short of a victory and top-30 in points will help Keselowski in his first year as owner/driver for the Roush Fenway team).
With 13 winners already virtually assured of Playoff spots, Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. will advance if they stay near the top in points. (Blaney is second; Truex Jr., a former champion, is sixth). But their fortunes rest largely on whether three or more new winners emerge in the next seven races. Winless Christopher Bell is eight in points, and will advance if no more than two new winners emerge.
Daniel Suarez broke through for his first NASCAR Cup Series win earlier this season.
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Rise of the Mid-Packers
Five breakthrough winners have validated preseason speculation that the new Next Gen car might level the playing field and bring lifetime mid-packers closer to the front. Austin Cindric’s win in the season-opening Daytona 500 was the first of them. Chase Briscoe followed at Phoenix, then Chastain won at COTA, Daniel Suarez at Sonoma, and Tyler Reddick at Elkhart Lake.
Seven races remain in the 26-race regular season: Loudon this weekend, then consecutive weekends at Pocono, the Indy road course, Michigan, Richmond, Watkins Glen, and Daytona Beach.
The Playoff Series begins Sept. 4 at Darlington and goes no-stop each weekend to Kansas City, Bristol, Texas, Talladega, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville. The championship race featuring the Fast Final Four is Nov. 6 at Avondale, Az.
Keyword: For Better or Worse, Ross Chastain Heads List of NASCAR's Biggest Surprises of 2022