2026 presents NASCAR drivers with recent prospects. The tweaked championship format is one, as the main focus is lastly on consistency throughout the season as an alternative of one-off wins. Nonetheless, the factors format isn’t any simpler, as drivers might want to focus extra on their race craft. Calls for for precision, perfection, and dodging DNFs require ability – which Ross Chastain is keen to gamble with one other new provision.
Ross Chastain lays out his new yr’s ambition
“Nicely, all of it begins with only a love for racing. I wish to be the very best NASCAR driver I could be. I believe one of the best ways to be good at driving a race automobile is by driving race vehicles. Actual ones, on the monitor, actual penalties. And if I can do this on the identical weekend on the identical monitor because the Cup automobile, then I’m going to do it,” Ross Chastain
Commercial
NASCAR has expanded the bounds of races that Cup Collection drivers can begin in 2026. And the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing driver has already introduced his plans as effectively. will run the utmost allowed variety of Truck races (eight) for Niece Motorsports. Within the O’Reilly Auto Elements Collection, Chastain will wheel the No. 32 for Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport. His confirmed venues are the primary Atlanta race, the Circuit of the Americas, Sonoma Raceway, and Watkins Glen Worldwide.
#1: Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, Jockey x Folds of Honor Chevrolet
However Ross Chastain intends to increase his racing limits, all for one aim. “All the pieces revolves round Sunday’s Cup automobile. If I don’t go quick there, nothing else issues. So sure, previously it’s been 5 and 5 within the Truck and O’Reilly Collection, now you are able to do 8 and 10. So we’ll be in each doable race that NASCAR will permit us this yr,” he continued.
In 2025, Ross Chastain got here dangerously near acing the playoffs. He gained the celebrated , clinched 12 prime tens and 4 prime fives, and completed tenth in factors. With the elimination-style format gone, Chastain can deal with honing his racecraft and displaying pace each weekend.
Commercial
“I certain assume I can, I certain do,” Ross Chastain replied when requested if a championship is inside attain. “And I believe I can by taking ten races after making the playoffs, which isn’t any straightforward feat. However I’d be the highest 16 in factors, and yeah, you’ve received ten races to beat 15 folks in factors. It’s a simple arithmetic equation, simply gotta get extra factors.”
Whereas he prepares for a diversified schedule inside NASCAR, Ross Chastain has his eyes outdoors as effectively.
Exploring a brand new sport
On a go to to Daytona final weekend, Ross Chastain toured Motion Categorical Racing’s Whelen Cadillac set-up. As a visitor of Common Motors and Motion Categorical Racing, Chastain admitted that observing IMSA occasions firsthand from the pit field was a totally totally different expertise. He marveled at how swift the staff and the racers are by way of operations. A driver had been ready forward of time after a crimson flag got here out for a stalled automobile.
Commercial
“It was attention-grabbing to see the depth of the staff and ask Connor [Zilisch], in all probability, some foolish questions. But it surely’s just a few stuff that I by no means discovered,” elaborated Ross Chastain. “It was simply cool to study. We might be on this very pit stall for the Daytona 500 subsequent month, and it doesn’t examine in any respect to this, which is nice in our respective collection.”
, a Rolex 24 at Daytona winner within the LMP2 class, will likely be Ross Chastain’s new teammate in 2026. Zilisch will begin his first full-time Cup Collection marketing campaign with Trackhouse Racing after a star-studded Xfinity yr.
As Ross Chastain will get into place for 2026, the thrill could be no much less. Let’s wait and see how our melon farmer navigates the season.
The publish appeared first on .
