Ross Chastain - Ecosave 200 Race Recap
Event: Ecosave 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
Round: 9 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Dover Motor Speedway
Location: Dover, Delaware
Date & Time: Friday, May 15 | 5:00 PM ET
No. 45 Drive Sober Arrive Alive DE Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Start: 8th | Stage 1: 4th | Stage 2: 2nd
Finish: 18th | Driver Points: N/A | Owner Points: 6th
- Key Takeaway: Ross Chastain and the Drive Sober Arrive Alive DE team had a shot at the win in Dover, but the strategy did not play out how they had hoped it would. Chastain qualified inside the top-10 and climbed into the top-five for both stages before taking the lead. The No. 45 team was out front for 49 laps, and elected to save a set of tires for late in the race in hopes of a caution. Unfortunately, the yellow flag never flew and Chastain needed to pit under green late in the going. He crossed the line in 18th-place.
- Ross Chastain’s Post-Race Thoughts:
“We didn’t think the entire field was going to try and stretch their tires like fuel there on that last run. I felt like all of the trucks gave up a lot of pace during those first two stages, so the thought of going 75 laps on tires was not something I was excited about. I regret leading the field and staying out. Clearly it was the wrong call, and when I saw they were all pitting, I should have reacted. We stuck with our plan. It was just us and our teammates on the No. 42 on that strategy, but we never got the caution we needed to benefit us. We had a top-three truck for sure and could have been capable of racing with those guys. It was a bad call, but I’ll be the first one to say that it’s on me. I should have stayed out.”
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 Delaware Office of Highway Safety: The Delaware Office of Highway Safety was established on July 19, 1968. We are a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and funded by federal grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. By focusing our efforts on the state’s identified highway safety priority areas, developing statewide partnerships and increasing the public’s awareness of safe driving habits, the Office of Highway Safety is striving to make Delaware’s roadways the safest in the country.
