Ross Chastain - Bully Hill Vineyards 167 at The Glen Race Recap
Event: Bully Hill Vineyards 167 at The Glen (72 laps / 167.4 miles)
Round: 8 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Watkins Glen International
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Date & Time: Friday, May 8 | 4:30 PM ET
No. 45 Protect Your Melon New York Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Start: 33rd | Stage 1: 6th | Stage 2: 20th
Finish: 28th | Driver Points: N/A | Owner Points: 6th
- Key Takeaway: Ross Chastain and the Protect Your Melon team fought for the race win in Watkins Glen, but were unable to see the end of the race. Chastain started from the rear of the field after discovering an electrical issue in qualifying, but it did not take his team long to strategize a way to get to the front of the field. After finishing sixth in stage one, the No. 45 team elected to flip the second stage to gain track position. Chastain took the lead for a total of 17 laps in the final stage and was controlling the race when he was dealt an costly restart violation penalty. While he was working his way through the field, contact from another competitor sent Chastain careening hard into the wall, resulting in a disappointing 28th-place finish.
- Ross Chastain’s Post-Race Thoughts:
Interviewer: Well Ross, today ends early when you were caught up in a wreck near the back of the pack, but I imagine more of the frustration was on that restart violation.
“Yeah, I haven’t seen a replay, but if they said I went early, then I’m pretty sure I did.”
Interviewer: What is your thought overall on the day and what you were able to do when you had a chance earlier in the race to go for the win?
“Yeah, Phil Gould and our Protect Your Melon Chevy, we definitely went aggressive on the strategy and we needed those cautions that we got. We found a grounding issue with a lack of a crimp on a wire earlier in qualifying, but it was an incredible effort by Niece Motorsports to bring a couple new trucks here to the track for a couple of us drivers. I just mis-executed. I mean, I completely failed on that restart by going early. I crossed the line and went on the wrong line, clearly. That hurts, and then to double down, I tear it up back for 20th. Very humbling day here.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.
Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).
About The New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee: The New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) coordinates traffic safety activities in the state and shares useful, timely information about traffic safety and the state's highway safety grant program.
The Committee is comprised of thirteen agencies who have missions related to transportation and safety. The GTSC is chaired by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and acts as the state's official liaison with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
