March 28, 2024

Ross Chastain wins NASCAR Truck race week after DQ at Iowa Speedway

MADISON, Ill. (AP) — Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Truck Series race Saturday night at The Raceway at Gateway, a week after losing a victory at Iowa when he was disqualified for failing a postrace inspection.

Chastain grabbed track position with a gas-only last pit stop in Niece Motorsports’ No. 45 Chevrolet. He finished 0.740 seconds ahead of Todd Gilliland in the 160-lap race on the 1.25-mile oval.

“Phil Gould, Lonnie Rush they believed in me,” Chastain said. “I didn’t want to take tires and then it was up to me to freakin hold them off, I don’t know how.”

At Iowa, Chastain was disqualified after his truck was found to be too low. NASCAR upheld the race-day decision after an appeal.

“These Niece guys went home, and we were mad, felt like we had one taken from us,” Chastain said. “I’m going to take that money home and they’re not taking it from us this time.”

Chastain also won in May at Kansas Speedway.

Stewart Friesen was third, followed by Chandler Smith, Iowa winner Brett Moffitt, Grant Enfinger, Sheldon Creed, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton and Myatt Snider. Johnny Sauter sat out after being suspended for one race for intentionally ramming into Austin Hill at Iowa.