Ross Chastain comments following his first dirt late model test at Cherokee Speedway; Set for Georgetown Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain is set to enter a new chapter of his racing career. The driver will compete with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series next week.
Chastain will drive the No. 41 car at Georgetown Speedway in Georgetown, DE. The car is owned by Al Niece of Niece Motorsports.
“I am looking forward to piloting the Niece Motorsports dirt late model at Georgetown Speedway,” said Chastain. “Al [Niece] and Cody [Efaw] are passionate about dirt racing, and the opportunity to drive for them at Ken Adams’ facility is a great addition to my Dover race weekend.”
Chastain has very limited dirt racing experience. He’s raced three NASCAR Cup Series races on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. He also ran one truck race at Eldora Speedway.
This week, the No. 41 dirt late model was unloaded at Cherokee Speedway in South Carolina. Chastain climbed behind the wheel for a test session ahead of the Lucas races.
In the early portion of the test, the driveshaft snapped in half. Carson Hocevar last raced the car in The Dome for the Gateway Dirt Nationals. It appears the driveshaft just barely survived that event.
Ross Chastain comments after his dirt late model test
“Bucket list, life goals,” Ross Chastain told FloRacing after his first test in a dirt late model.
“But, it did not drive how I thought. It has so much grip, when I drive it right. Which I didn’t do much of.”
Dirt late model star Chris Ferguson as well as NASCAR Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar were on hand for the test.
“Anybody who knows me, knows I can spin a race car out. Just give me a minute. I looped it. I was smiling as I spun because I had a 90% chance I wasn’t going to hit anything.”
“I don’t know what I’m getting into actually racing other cars. But, I’m just here to learn. I don’t really have any competition goals other than learn it and experience it. I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody, other than myself.”
“I don’t feel like I understand a dirt track when I look at it. And, I don’t like that. I realizing more and more, even tonight, how much I don’t know.”
Chastain concluded, “So, this is dirt track summer school for me.”
Cody Efaw
“Dirt racing is something that is near and dear to our hearts at Niece Motorsports,” said General Manager Cody Efaw.
“A lot of us got our start in racing at a local dirt track, so anytime we can go dirt racing, we jump at the opportunity. It’s a discipline of racing that Ross is looking to improve, and the only way you can do that is by getting more laps.”
Efaw added, “We’re excited to go racing with him at Georgetown Speedway.”
Ross Chastain
Dirt Late Model
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Links
Ross Chastain | Niece Motorsports | Cherokee Speedway | Georgetown Speedway | Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series | NASCAR
