Ross Chastain enters NASCAR off weekend looking for more speed in 2026

Ross Chastain has proven he can contend for a NASCAR Cup Series championship, but the No. 1 car for Trackhouse Racing needs more speed. Through seven races of the 2026 NASCAR season, Chastain sits 19th in the point standings with a 31-point deficit to the final spot in the Chase.

It has been a miserable start to the 2026 NASCAR season, as the driver of the No. 1 car hasn't shown much speed. Chastain hasn't spent much time in the top 10 spots, and that trend continued with a 16th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway.

Chastain was the second-best Trackhouse Racing driver behind Shane van Gisbergen. The Trackhouse Racing competitor hopes that NASCAR's first off weekend of 2026 can act as a reset for the No. 1 team.

Chastain is capable of winning races at NASCAR's top level; however, the current performances coming out of Trackhouse Racing aren't going to cut it moving forward. More: Carson Hocevar discusses 17th-place finish at Martinsville in 2026 This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Ross Chastain enters NASCAR off weekend looking for more speed in 2026