Ross Chastain Makes NASCAR History in Phoenix After 9 Years
In a surprising twist, Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing rewrote NASCAR history at Phoenix, despite being ineligible for the Championship 4. His remarkable performance left the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion shocked.
Breaking the trend of the Championship 4 winner being crowned the season champion since 2014, Ross Chastain, driving the #1 Chevy for Trackhouse Racing, secured a historic win at the 1-mile Phoenix racetrack, making it nothing short of extraordinary.
Chastain's Triumph
Ross exhibited a burst of speed, taking the lead from Denny Hamlin on lap 282 and maintaining it until the checkered flag. He led the final 31 laps, becoming the first driver ineligible for the championship to win the season finale under the current playoff structure.
Celebrating the Unthinkable
Chastain celebrated his remarkable win by indulging in watermelon and Busch Light beer, remarking, “I don’t believe it’s ever happened. We did something else that’s never been done before," marking his second win of the season and fourth overall.
Chastain also expressed his excitement about driving for the Chevy team, mentioning, "Racing (a NASCAR video game) in 2005, I drove as the 29 GM Goodwrench car (of Harvick). Now I’m driving a Chevy for GM to victory lane, a Camaro."