NASCAR Cup Series: Ross Chastain to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2019?

With Ross Chastain’s success driving for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will he sign with the team to drive the #1 Chevrolet in the Cup Series in 2019?

Just over two weeks ago, Ross Chastain, who had been competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since the 2015 season and had never driven in a race as a full-time driver in the series for a team other than JD Motorsports, drove in the Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Chastain took the pole position for this race in the #42 Chevrolet before winning its first and second stages and 90 of its 147 laps. However, his involvement in an incident with Kevin Harvick late in the race cost him his chance to win it.

After returning to JD Motorsports as the driver of the #4 Chevrolet in the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and finishing in 12th place, the 25-year-old Alva, Florida returning to Chip Ganassi Racing for the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Chastain qualified for this race in fifth place, but he did not stay there for long. He took the lead early, won its first and second stages and led 180 of its 200 laps en route to his first career Xfinity Series victory in what was one of the most dominant performances by any driver of the 2018 season.

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In two races driving the #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Chastain has led 270 of the 347 laps of competition. No driver has been on his level in either of these two races. But while he has driven in just two races for the team in the Xfinity Series, could he sign with the team in the Cup Series for the 2019 season?

It’s possible.

Jamie McMurray, who has driven for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Cup Series in 12 of his 16 seasons as a full-time driver, including the last nine, will not be returning to the team next year, leaving the seat of the #1 Chevrolet open.

While Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kurt Busch has been tipped to replace the 42-year-old Joplin, Missouri native behind the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet next year as the teammate to 26-year-old Kyle Larson, the 40-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native has made it clear that nothing has been signed in regard to his future in the Cup Series.

Assuming Chip Ganassi Racing do not sign Busch for next season, Chastain would be the perfect fit. It isn’t like he is a young kid who has just two career Xfinity Series starts to his name. He is 25 years old and has driven full-time in the series for four seasons and has started 132 races throughout his career. Those two starts with Chip Ganassi Racing simply proved that he is better than anyone else in the field when given a competitive car to drive.

What Chastain also has to his advantage is the fact that he has 27 career Cup Series starts to his name. While he has driven for Premium Motorsports in each of those 27 starts, of which all 27 have taken place in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, he has actually recorded some decent results.

Despite driving for an underfunded team in an uncompetitive #15 Chevrolet in each of these 26 races, Chastain finished in 20th place in his first career Cup Series start at Dover International Speedway last year and 18th in his first start at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year. He finished in 20th in yesterday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as well. He consistently finishes races as one of the best part-time drivers if not the best part-time driver in the field.

With Chevrolet teams set to enter their second Cup Series season using the new Camaro ZL1 next year, Chastain could compete at a high level if given the opportunity to do so behind the wheel of the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.

Will it happen? Don’t rule it out.

Will Chip Ganassi Racing sign Ross Chastain to replace Jamie McMurray behind the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season? If not, who will the team sign?