By Matt Courson, Staff Writer
SPARTA, Ky. — Ross Chastain is eligible for the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Playoffs after finishing fourth at the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway.
“Another step down, another box checked on a crazy scenario we had laid out for us, it seemed crazy to accomplish. Pretty cool to be disappointed with fourth, we definitely want more. We were way too free all night after being way too tight in practice all day.”
Chastain entered the event 10 points outside of the top-20, but propelled himself into the 18th position after the strong result in the Bluegrass State. The Niece Motorsports driver finished fifth in Stage 1 and second in Stage 2.
Chastain says that it is a challenge as the team heads to a new track every weekend.
“It’s the first time this group has been to Kentucky together, and all these places we come to together for the first time is tough for the first time.
“We will keep building a notebook and keep building for the rest of the year. We have a lot more speed in these trucks, we just need to find it””
Chastain originally declared for Xfinity points at the beginning of the season, but switched because of his continued success at Niece Motorsports in the truck series.
That success included a pair of victories at Kansas Speedway and Worldwide Technology Raceway. However, the Florida-native still had to be inside the top-20 in points in order to be eligible for the playoffs. “The wins have been incredible, but you had to get this part as well as a technicality,” Chastain said.