DARLINGTON, S.C. — I’m calling my shot for Friday night at Darlington Raceway, and it starts with a familiar name dropping down the ladder.
Ross Chastain is pulling triple duty this weekend, and I’ve got the Cup regular making an immediate impact — winning the NASCAR Truck Series race in the Niece Motorsports entry.
Chastain’s aggression and comfort running inches from the wall make him a natural fit for Darlington’s abrasive surface and tight racing groove. It’s a track that rewards drivers who aren’t afraid to flirt with disaster, and that’s basically Chastain’s brand. Add in Cup-level experience against a Truck field, and the edge becomes pretty clear.
Track position will matter, as always here, but long-run speed and tire management separate contenders from pretenders at “The Lady in Black.” Chastain checks both boxes. If he keeps the fenders mostly clean and stays out of trouble on restarts, he’ll be right where he needs to be when it counts.
Bottom line: Cup talent, Darlington skill set, and a driver not afraid to mix it up. I’ve got Chastain parking it in Victory Lane Friday night — and kicking off a weekend where he’s going to be a factor in every race he enters.
