On Wednesday, Niece Motorsports announced that Chad Chastain, the 22-year old brother of NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain, will drive the team’s No. 45 entry this week in the United Rentals 176 at Watkins Glen International.
NEWS: Chad Chastain to pilot the No. 45 @NYSGTSC Chevrolet at @WGI in Saturday's @NASCAR_Trucks race.#BuckleUpNY #ProtectYourMelon pic.twitter.com/YW5LauzhC4
— Niece Motorsports (@NieceMotorsport) August 4, 2021
This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Chad Chastain, as he has battled on the local short track scene for his entire career to this point. Now, the driver who cut his teeth in the Pro Truck Series locally in Florida, gets a chance to compete at the NASCAR National Series level.
Chad Chastain won the championship in the Rookie Truck Series at Punta Gorda Speedway in 2012. He was a frequent competitor in the Pro Truck Series in Florida, and won the 2015 Pro Truck Series Track Championship at Desoto Speedway.
Over the last few years Chad has driven late models and modifieds in Florida, while also working on the family’s watermelon farm.
Initially, Ross Chastain had announced he would drive the Buckle Up NY / Protect Your Melon Chevrolet Silverado in a video that posted to Twitter, but then he was informed by many on Twitter that he was actually ineligible, as no NASCAR Cup Series driver is permitted to participate in the final eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races of the 2021 season.
After the official announcement of his brother driving the No. 45 truck, Ross once again hit twitter to add one last video to the Watkins Glen Truck Series race saga. This time, he introduced his brother Chad:
A Chastain will #BuckleUpNY in a @chevrolet Silverado after all this weekend at Watkins Glen International! #ProtectYourMelon
Meet my brother, @chadchastain36! pic.twitter.com/vHKOU3x8CM
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) August 4, 2021
It’s been a huge week for the Chastain family. In addition to Chad Chastain getting this huge shot in the NASCAR National Series ranks, Ross announced on Tuesday that he will be joining Trackhouse Racing for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season in the No. 1 car.
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