Ross Chastain Snaps 42-Race Winless Streak at Nashville

Ross Chastain will not smash his new Gibson guitar after winning at Nashville Superspeedway. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

LEBANON, Tenn. – Despite all the talk about incidents and debates regarding his aggressive approach, Ross Chastain silenced such notions in Sunday evening’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

After a fifth-place finish in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, Chastain experienced a three-race slump, finishing 22nd or worse from Darlington to Gateway. As a result, the Trackhouse Racing driver dropped from first to fifth in the championship standings.

Following a respectable 10th-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, Chastain and his No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team aimed to regain their early-season form. And it appeared that they had found it in impressive fashion.

In Saturday’s practice session, the Alva, Florida native posted the third-quickest time and the second-fastest 10-lap average. He backed up those efforts by securing his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole, also marking the first pole for his team.

On Sunday evening, Chastain made his presence known by leading the opening 42 laps. He finished second in Stage 1, regained the lead on Lap 98, and eventually settled in third in Stage 2. Along the way, he accumulated 17 valuable stage points.

By Stage 3, Chastain and crew chief Phil Surgen found the winning combination with their No. 1 car. His Camaro had the pace to compete against the dominant Toyotas of Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

Thanks to Chastain’s smooth and steady driving and superb pit stops by the No. 1’s over-the-wall crew, the conversation shifted from controversial storylines to recognizing them as legitimate race contenders.

Chastain and his No. 1 team kept up with the changing conditions at Nashville Superspeedway. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

Reclaiming the lead on Lap 267, Chastain was determined to secure his first trip to Victory Lane since the 2022 GEICO 500 at Talladega. And after 42 races, Chastain celebrated as a NASCAR Cup Series winner once again.

Following his trademark watermelon smash, the Floridian processed the intense emotions of his latest stock car triumph.

“That’s just a desire to win,” Chastain said. “I have to tell you, it’s incredibly challenging at this level. It’s the best of the best. It’s where I’ve wanted to be since I was 18 years old, after studying for over 10 years just to qualify better, let alone go race for a Cup win.”

He also addressed both the critics and supporters, particularly regarding his rough stretch in May.

“Throughout this journey, I’m so grateful for my team and everyone who supports me,” he said. “Look, it’s a Cup win. I don’t care what happened last month or for the rest of my life; it’s a freaking Cup win.”

In a role reversal from the Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, a concrete track, Truex secured the runner-up position. Leading for 50 laps, the Mayetta, New Jersey native expressed disappointment with his outcome in the Volunteer State.

For a while, Truex looked like he had the makings to win at Nashville. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

“Just needed to get the lead,” Truex said. “Once we lost it, I probably made a move picking the bottom on the restart, but the car was too loose on the long run. I could keep up with whoever was leading, but I couldn’t get off the corner to make a move. Overall, we lacked side-bite, and I burned off the rear tires a little bit too much.

“I was really loose towards the end of the race too. We just needed a little bit more. I’ve got a lot of speed; we just couldn’t get the balance where we needed it to be.”

Likewise, Hamlin, the second-most dominant racer of the evening, observed the aerodynamic struggles for those trailing the leader, not to mention the challenges of finding passing opportunities during long, green-flag runs.

“The side-by-side battles happen because whoever gets out front sets the pace,” Hamlin said. “With all the cars being equal, track position means more than anything else. You just have to fight for it. I saw some great three-wide racing early on during those restarts, but I just wish I had a little more speed. That’s what we needed.”

On the other hand, Chastain had everything he needed with a fast car, an exceptional pit crew, and a support system that believed in him through the highs and lows. By earning a spot in the playoffs, the three-time Cup race winner rewarded his loyal supporters in kind at the 1.33-mile concrete track.

The search is over for a third career Cup win for Chastain. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)

“You have to rely on your team, trust the process, educate yourself, have faith in a higher power, and keep getting up and going to work,” Chastain said. “I got to tell you, there has been a lot of self-reflection throughout all of this.

“I had a group of people who believed in me and never let me get down. They bring rocket ships, and I just try to guide them to Victory Lane.”

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Tyler Reddick
2. Ross Chastain
3. William Byron
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Chase Elliott
7. Kyle Busch
8. Kyle Larson
9. Christopher Bell
10. AJ Allmendinger

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Ross Chastain
4. William Byron
5. Christopher Bell
6. Bubba Wallace
7. Chase Elliott
8. AJ Allmendinger
9. Kevin Harvick
10. Erik Jones

Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway Race Results