By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Following a successful three-race run this year, Ross Chastain will return with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2019 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. This time, for the championship.
The Floridian was signed as the full-time driver of the No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet for the 2019 season, making it his first full season outside of JD Motorsports.
Showing potential in 2018, Chastain was speechless of the opportunity to come next February.
“I’m just trying not to throw up,” Chastain said. “It’s unreal. They kept telling me stuff was going to come up in the next couple years but I definitely didn’t think something like this would come up this soon. I did see movement in the sport and thought there were ways I could fit in.”
After winning the pole and leading 90 laps at Darlington in September, Chastain went on to win at Las Vegas after leading 180 circuits. The victory came in only his second start with the team and was his first in the series. He completed the three-race run with a second-place finish at Richmond.
Team owner Chip Ganassi was impressed with Chastain’s immediate performance, partnering with Jeff Carpoff, CEO of DC Solar.
“We’re putting him in the car because we think he can win races and compete for championships,” Ganassi said. “In the short time we’ve gotten to know him, you’ve seen the kind of performance he’s capable of. I want to thank Jeff for pushing me to hire him. I probably couldn’t pick Ross out of a lineup of all women and him.
“He kept pushing me and I couldn’t be happier.”