Ross Chastain Ready for EchoPark Speedway s Historic In-Season Tournament Debut
Georgia’s Hampton (WMGT/41NBC) Drivers are preparing for an unprecedented high-stakes racing weekend as NASCAR begins its first-ever in-season tournament at the recently renamed EchoPark Speedway, formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway. Cup Series driver Ross Chastain is one of them; he visited the 41NBC station to express his opinions prior to Saturday night’s Quaker State 400, which is accessible at Walmart.
Indeed, until we arrived and were seeded, we simply didn’t know what to believe,” Chastain said.
After the Pocono race, Chastain, who drives the No. 1 Wendy’s Chevrolet, learned that he will face Erik Jones in the legendary No. 43 car, which was originally piloted by NASCAR star Richard Petty, in the first round.
We’ll advance to the next week’s bracket and go on as long as we finish the race ahead of the 43, Chastain said.
Chastain gave a straightforward response when asked if his team’s strategy was altered by the tournament format.
“No, man,” he answered, “we can’t try any harder.” I’m pressing the pedal as hard as I can, even if the 43 car is directly in front of me or next to me at the finish line. Actually, the 43 vehicle is the least of my concerns. It is the culmination of all the other automobiles.
Chastain stated that increasing playoff points and raising his team’s present eighth-place position in the standings are among their more ambitious objectives.
He went on to say, “We want to continue being fantastic like we were that weekend {at Charlotte}.” We want to be great, but we’ve been good this season.
Chastain emphasizes the value of execution as the weekend draws near, particularly when it comes to pit road strategy, lane selection during restarts, and drafting choices—especially when it comes to 400 miles of fierce super speedway racing.
He responded, “You can lose it on the first lap, but you can’t win it.”
Chastain explained what fans may anticipate from the action as a historic weekend drew them in from all over the world.
With 200 miles per hour and nearly 700 horsepower, you can feel the power and energy these automobiles emit. We had a lot of pit time. He stated, “There’s a lot of action and racing, side by side, two and three wide.” Toward the end, you are unsure about the winner until you cross the finish line.
Chastain brought up a memorable three-wide finish from the previous spring, in which Daniel Surez, a teammate from Trackhouse, won at the finish line. A Chevy pickup vehicle, a motorcycle, and a bunch of fresh Georgia peaches—all part of the new EchoPark sponsorship—are up for grabs this time.
Early on Wednesday, I visited Southern Belle Farms, which is located east of the raceway. “You have to choose which peaches will be in victory lane,” Chastain remarked. In any case, I got to choose them, and after the marathon, someone will be enjoying some delicious Georgia peaches.
Chastain also unveiled a fun addition to the weekend: a swear jar with charitable donations for anyone caught referring to the song by its previous name.
At 11 p.m., the second segment of Chastain’s interview will run on 41 NBC News.
