Ross Chastain has openly acknowledged the challenges Trackhouse Racing faces in qualifying, particularly on short tracks, describing their pace as “unacceptable.” Despite efforts to improve, the team has struggled to find consistent speed during qualifying sessions.
Chastain noted that while they’ve experimented with different setups, including springs and shocks, the results have been inconsistent. He expressed frustration over the difficulty in balancing car performance between qualifying and race conditions. Chastain also highlighted his personal struggles with qualifying, mentioning that he often pushes too hard, leading to suboptimal lap times.
The team has seen some improvements, with Chastain starting sixth at COTA and third at Richmond. However, his average starting position over the first five races was 22nd, indicating ongoing issues.
Chastain emphasized the importance of qualifying well, noting that starting higher on the grid provides advantages such as better pit selection and track position. He acknowledged that in the highly competitive Cup Series, making up ground during the race is challenging, making strong qualifying performances crucial.
To address these issues, Trackhouse Racing is working on improving their short-track program. They are experimenting with different car setups and seeking to find the right balance that allows for both strong qualifying and race performances. Chastain remains committed to working with his team to overcome these challenges and improve their competitiveness.