NASCAR: Ross Chastain’s Chip Ganassi Racing deal includes 2 races
By Asher Fair
Ross Chastain is set to drive for Spire Motorsports in a car prepared by Chip Ganassi Racing in two races throughout the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Confirming speculation that emerged as a result of several factors, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Ross Chastain is set to drive for the team in two races throughout the 36-race 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.
These factors include but are not limited to sponsor AdventHealth’s expanded relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing, AdventHealth’s expanded relationship with Ross Chastain, Chastain’s ties to the team and the picture of an AdventHealth-sponsored #77 Chevrolet emerging from the team’s shop.
Chip Ganassi Racing confirmed this expanded relationship with AdventHealth on Thursday, and they confirmed that Chastain is set to drive the #77 Chevrolet.
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While the #77 Chevrolet is a Spire Motorsports car, it is set to be prepared by Chip Ganassi Racing for these two races.
This is similar to the team’s deal with Spire Motorsports last year when it was Jamie McMurray behind the wheel of the car, then the #40 Chevrolet, for the Daytona 500.
As speculated, the first of Chastain’s two races with the team is the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway next month on Sunday, February 16. The second is the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24.
Here is what the 27-year-old Alva, Florida native had to say about this opportunity, according to a press release.
"“To have the opportunity to run the Daytona 500 is awesome, and it’s great to do it this year with AdventHealth on board my car. I’ve only had one start in the Daytona 500 (finished 10th in 2019 with Premium Motorsports), and can’t wait to run that race again in what I know will be a competitive car. I’m also looking forward to racing the Coca-Cola 600. That’s another iconic race that all of us want to win.”"
Chastain is set to compete full-time for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series this season, but he stated last month that he wants to continue to compete in the Cup Series and the Truck Series as much as he can. He recently confirmed a part-time schedule with Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series as well.
He remains tied to Chip Ganassi Racing after driving for them in three races during the 2018 Xfinity Series season and being slated to drive full-time for them in the 2019 season before that deal fell through due to a sponsorship debacle with DC Solar.
Additionally, Chastain is a client of Spire Sports + Entertainment, the talent management agency, motorsports consultant and sports ownership firm that own Spire Motorsports. When Chastain made his Daytona 500 debut last season, he drove for Premium Motorsports, the team with which Spire Motorsports have a technical alliance, and finished in 10th place.
In two career Coca-Cola 600 starts, Chastain has finished in 24th and 36th place, respectively.
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Tune in to Fox at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 16 for the live broadcast of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening 62nd annual Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, and tune in to Fox at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 24 for the live broadcast of the season’s 13th race, the Coca-Cola 600, from Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.