Ross Chastain’s path to NASCAR Cup Series success nearly derailed six years ago when sponsorship turmoil left him without a ride days before the 2019 season. The Trackhouse Racing driver, now a title contender, recently reflected on the crisis that tested his resolve and reshaped his career.
Chastain’s candid admission arrives as he cements his status among NASCAR’s elite. But his journey from abrupt unemployment to playoff regular traces back to a December 2018 collapse that forced him to confront failure and a team’s unwavering belief.
When Ross Chastain’s Career Hung by a Thread After DC Solar Scandal
In December 2018, FBI raids on sponsor DC Solar’s offices upended Chastain’s future. Days later, Chip Ganassi Racing shuttered its Xfinity Series team, leaving the Florida native without a ride.
“Initially, I was probably not very proud, because I didn’t handle it very well for the first couple weeks,” Chastain told The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck
The collapse came weeks after Chastain’s breakthrough Xfinity win at Las Vegas in Ganassi’s No. 42 car. DC Solar’s sudden exit, amid federal fraud investigations, stranded him just as he secured his first full-time opportunity. Team owner Chip Ganassi called the shutdown “difficult” but necessary, citing funding gaps that jeopardized operations.
Chastain retreated home, uncertain whether his NASCAR career would survive. But by January 2, 2019, he resolved to fight. “I got in my truck and drove back to North Carolina. It took me until January 2 to grasp it and decide, ‘No, I’m gonna go keep doing this,’” he said. What followed became a turning point.
“Once I got back to North Carolina, I walked back into CGR and the entire shop that was coming back from the break — from the upper management to the shop floor and everybody in between.”
How Team Loyalty Revived Chastain’s NASCAR Dream
Returning to Ganassi’s shop, Chastain found unexpected support. Employees across the organization reassured him he’d race again for the team.
“They would literally put their arm around me and say, ‘Hey, you’re gonna drive one of these. You’re gonna drive a Cup car next for us.’ And it took a while, but we got it done,” he recalled.
Though Ganassi’s Cup seats were filled, Chastain pieced together part-time rides. He ran two 2020 Cup races with Spire Motorsports, partnered with CGR, before rejoining the team full-time in 2021. The hiatus tested his patience.
“It took several years,” he admitted. But Ganassi’s faith never wavered, even as sponsorship hurdles lingered.
Chastain’s perseverance paid dividends. By 2021, he reclaimed a Cup seat with Ganassi, setting the stage for his 2022 breakout with Trackhouse Racing after the team acquired Ganassi’s assets. His journey, from watermelon farmer to playoff contender, now embodies NASCAR’s unpredictable grind.
“It took a while, but we got it done,” Chastain said. For a driver once sidelined by forces beyond his control, the comeback echoes louder than any trophy.