Ross Chastain is in a big hole with 13 races left in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season. Chastain sits 23rd in the point standings behind Erik Jones and Zane Smith. After wrecking in the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Trackhouse Racing driver must work on gaining ground on the Chase bubble.
Chastain sits 65 points behind Ryan Preece for the final spot in the Chase. The driver of the No. 1 car only has one top-5 and two top-10 finishes through 13 races. This can be attributed to Trackhouse Racing’s inconsistent speed; however, Shane van Gisbergen is in the Chase by 28 points.
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Chastain has the talent to make the Chase, but it is going to be a real grind over the second half of the season. One win can change everything for Chastain. However, can Trackhouse Racing give him what he needs to compete? This might be the biggest question this season.
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This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Ross Chastain facing deep hole in pursuit of Chase spot in 2026
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