At a pre-race press conference held at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, Ross Chastain was questioned about whether he would consider a strategy similar to Austin Dillon’s at Richmond. Dillon, who was sitting in 32nd place in points before last Sunday’s race, managed to eliminate two of the sport’s top competitors—Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin—to secure a victory and a playoff spot.
Following that race, NASCAR imposed a penalty on Dillon, allowing him to retain the win but forfeiting his playoff position.
Chastain, who is also striving to qualify for the playoffs without a win this season, was asked if he would follow Dillon’s lead. It’s important to note that Chastain is known for his aggressive driving style. His ongoing rivalry with Hamlin and his infamous ‘Hail Melon’ maneuver at Martinsville highlight the lengths he is willing to go to achieve success.
“I’m not sure… I think it really depends on the situation. I never imagined I would slam into the wall in fifth gear at Martinsville until I actually did it. Nobody can truly know what was going through Austin’s mind in that moment. So, I don’t have a set plan for what I would do. It all comes down to racing in those final laps,” Chastain responded.
Chastain expressed strong views about the unwritten boundaries that drivers should respect in their pursuit of victory. He noted that it’s beneficial that these boundaries aren’t explicitly defined in any tangible form, whether through words or visuals.
“It’s all about the collective effort. It’s the result of the choices we all make, and we’re constantly observing one another; we’re listening to the race control, and they’re keeping an eye on us too. We monitor our rivals closely. After each race, I review my performance, and I strive to improve,” he explained.
Chastain acknowledged that while the boundaries may be ambiguous, he remains acutely aware of how his actions on the track might be perceived by others. He emphasized that one cannot stray “too far from the norm.”
As the regular season approaches its conclusion with just three races remaining, Chastain finds himself below the cut line, sitting at -3 points behind Bubba Wallace, who is currently in a qualifying position.
Given his current circumstances and the limited number of races remaining, Chastain was questioned during the pre-race press conference about his strategy for the upcoming events.
“I’m just hoping to improve our speed. If you look at Christopher (Buescher) and me, we’re tied on points and have identical average finishing positions. My only focus is on going faster; that’s what we’re all about—executing our plan,” Chastain stated.
The Trackhouse Racing driver reflected on a recent error at Richmond where he missed the pit road, resulting in lost positions. He stressed the importance of reducing such mistakes, reiterating that the team’s primary objective is to enhance their speed.
According to Chastain, increasing their speed could address many of the challenges they face as a team.
