NASCAR: Chastain spent bust but happy week after first win

As you might expect following a career first victory in NASCAR’s premier NASCAR Cup Series, Ross Chastain conceded he had a busy last week. The driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevy earned the win last week at COTA in a dramatic action-packed final lap – edging Bowman and colliding with A.J. Allmendinger on the last corner before racing off to his first trophy.

Ross Chastain, on AJ Allmendinger’s bumper, pushes his way past both Allmendinger and the Ally Chevy of Alex Bowman, for his first NASCAR Cup Series win at COTA

The 29-year old Floridian said he did not get much sleep in the immediate hours after his career-changing win at Austin road course. He did extra media interviews, worked with sponsors and just spent time celebrating with friends and his new team. Trackhouse Racing only expanded to two cars – and added Chastain – this season.

“The highlights have been talking to people back home,” Chastain said. “In Charlotte and Mooresville (N.C.), there are a lot of people that have helped get me here that have been a part of this journey.

“But when you look at the people back home, they weren’t paid to do it. They had no real reason other than they liked racing or they were my family. Talking to them, hearing the stories of where they were at towards the end of the race, seeing a couple of videos of them reacting to the race – that’s when it really sank in. That’s when it felt real.” Holly Cain/NASCAR