TRACKHOUSE RACING DAYTONA 500 POST RACE REPORT

MEDIA RELEASE/Trackhouse Racing – Photos: supplied

Trackhouse Racing have sent through their review of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race with quotes from all three drivers.

• Ross Chastain led Trackhouse Racing with a 20th-place finish in the DAYTONA 500 Sunday afternoon at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Shane van Gisbergen finished 30th while Connor Zilisch was credited with 33rd in the final rundown.
• Chastain started deep in the field and used Stage 1 to work his way through traffic and towards the front of the field before his scheduled pit stop. Van Gisbergen started 13th and quickly made his way inside the top-10 where he was able to maintain his position. Zilisch struggled with balance issues in the early laps but remained in the lead draft throughout the opening segment of the race.
• Early in Stage 2, Chastain and van Gisbergen found themselves running first and second, each taking turns leading laps. Chastain led 12 laps while van Gisbergen was out front for three circuits. Following his teammates, Zilisch drove to the front of the pack and made a move for the lead when he was nudged in the left rear. The contact sent him spinning off Turn 4 and a brief stay in the garage area for minor repairs. Zilisch returned to the race but lost several laps to the leaders.
• Late in Stage 2, van Gisbergen was collected in a multi-car accident, leaving his Chevrolet with nose damage. The team worked to make repairs, and he rejoined the field two laps down.
• Chastain ran towards the front of the field for most of the final stage and saw himself in 12th place with four laps remaining in the event. Unfortunately, Chastain was involved in an incident on the final lap, leaving the driver of the Busch Light Chevrolet in 20th-place. Van Gisbergen and Zilisch worked to gain their laps back but unfortunately neither were able to make up the lost distance.

The NASCAR Cup Series will return to action next Sunday, Feb. 22 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

Shane van Gisbergen

“Well, that’s a shame. Ran up front for a while and my SuperFile Chevrolet showed a lot of speed. Unfortunately, we got collected in an accident during stage two. It’s disappointing our result couldn’t show for the day we had but learnt a lot and will be ready for Atlanta next weekend.”

Ross Chastain

“We led some laps today and survived almost all of the accidents in our Busch Light Chevrolet. I had a good first points race with my new crew chief Brandon McSwain so I’m really looking forward to this year. It’s been a pretty good week in Daytona and leaving here with a 20th-place finish feels pretty good considering what it could have been. I’m looking forward to next weekend at Atlanta with these guys.”

Connor Zilisch

“It was a long day after the wreck, but our No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet was getting better as the race went on and as the sun went down. We struggled a little bit when it was really hot out, but as the shade came in, we definitely started to excel a little more. We were able to get up to the front and lead a lane. But right when we got up there, we wrecked. Overall, it was a good day for me. I learned a lot and I got to experience my first DAYTONA 500. I know there will be more to come.”

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