The opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Darlington was nothing short of a roller coaster, with many big names hitting bumps in the road. From Denny Hamlin having a loose wheel to Kevin Harvick getting a slap on the wrist over pit road issues and Chris Buescher‘s car turning into a fireball, it was drama aplenty.

But amid the whirlwind, one driver, Ross Chastain, has been sailing smooth waters, avoiding the limelight and any controversies. In fact, by keeping his nose clean, he clinched a commendable 5th-place finish at Darlington. A former Hendrick Motorsports aficionado weighed in, hinting that Chastain, having learned from past hiccups, could now be a dark horse in the race.

Former HMS insider believes Ross Chastain might be a force to reckon with on the tracks

Casting our minds back to the Darlington showdown during the regular season, Chastain’s bold move to box in Kyle Larson boomeranged on him. Instead of slowing Larson down, Chastain’s maneuver led to a tangle that derailed both their chances at victory. The incident marked the third unintentional misstep by Chastain within a short span of four weeks at that time.

But now, according to Steve Letarte, an HMS veteran named Chastain has had an epiphany. Engaging in a tete-a-tete with Kim Coon and Parker Kligerman about future track contenders, Letarte highlighted a candid chat he had with Chastain, where the latter stated that he has learned a lot from that incident.

Recounting the discussion, he mentioned, “Ross Chastain?he told me at media day he learned a lot from the first Darlington race. He wrecked with Larson, and he was just trying too hard. He hit the wall early with a winning car, and he couldn?t accept that it wasn?t a winning car, and that?s why he over-dropped. And he said, That’s what I learned; that?s what I am going to do differently.”

Letarte was quick to add that, while it is easier said than done, Chastain’s evident growth as a racer might make him a formidable adversary in the races to come.?

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However, when the spotlight was turned on Chastain regarding the recent playoff kickoff at Darlington, he was candid about the bumps in the road he faced, attributing them to his car’s performance.

Is Ross Chastain’s Chevy missing a few beats?

Carrying the torch for Trackhouse Racing into the playoffs, Ross Chastain certainly has his plate full. And if his Chevy is also throwing a spanner in the works, maybe it’s high time Justin Marks’ crew rolled up their sleeves to dig deeper.

Despite clinching a commendable P5 finish at Darlington, the grapevine suggests Chastain seemed to have an uphill battle with his car from the get-go. Shedding light on the matter, he remarked, ?Just not the balance or the grip we needed to start the race, and no speed. And when the sun went down, I thought we were getting better, and then we just kept being too tight or too loose.”

“We just couldn?t really get it where we needed to until the very last run. […] I’m not sure why our Unishippers Chevy was so, like, on edge. It just was either too tight or too loose all the time”, he further added.

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If this hiccup continues, Steve Letarte’s forecast of Chastain being a force to be reckoned with might not hit the mark. All eyes will undoubtedly be on Chastain as he gears up for his sophomore stint in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs this season.