Ross Chastain could know Street America, however he’s rapidly studying that racing the 4.048-mile 14-turn circuit in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 vs. his acquainted NASCAR Cup and Xfinity equipment is an entire new ballgame.
Chastain, usually racing in NASCAR with Trackhouse Racing, will make his first IMSA begin in Saturday afternoon’s Street America 120 for the Michelin Pilot Problem, becoming a member of Ken Fukuda within the No. 16 Skip Barber Racing Aston Martin. Coincidentally, Chastain’s background consists of watermelon farming, and he’s competing in his first sportscar race on Nationwide Watermelon Day. A number of elements got here collectively to create the chance — NASCAR’s Olympics break; a relationship with Skip Barber Racing that goes again to his utilizing the college to be taught Circuit of The Americas (the place he received); and a need to return to the repaved circuit that NASCAR left off the schedule in favor of the Chicago avenue race.
“After the repave I wished to return up right here and run it,” Chastain explains. “If NASCAR wasn’t going to return up right here, I used to be gonna discover a approach. I didn’t know the way, however this chance got here collectively. With this automobile, I’m driving previous each brake marker I’ve ever realized, and I’m nonetheless large open – and and I’m nonetheless not driving deep sufficient. This automobile, the brakes, the ABS, the tires — they simply have a lot extra potential than our Xfinity or Cup vehicles ever had right here. It’s a bit of unnerving. I’m going slower getting there – for me it’s human nature to resort again to some outdated habits – however I’m breaking these habits and Ken’s on me to drive additional, push the brakes more durable.”
Chastain had teaching from Fukuda, having revisited the college to enhance his highway racing abilities or be taught a brand new monitor, so Fukuda is properly outfitted to assist him stand up to hurry within the Aston Martin, even when it’s not taking place as rapidly as Chastain would love.
“About lap three on monitor, they keyed up and requested me if I used to be totally working, like totally pushing the automobile but and I mentioned yeah. I used to be on the market with my tongue hanging out, making an attempt to be taught, and I used to be pleased to let vehicles go by – they have been positively making much more lap time. I used to be like, ‘OK, yeah, I’m lower than pace right here.’ However a few breaks for cautions and a few checking tire pressures and stuff simply gave me a minute to suppose, and watching Ken then run was useful. I did finish each classes sliding off in Flip 14, so I’ve mowed the grass properly. I didn’t need to cease, simply rolled on again to pit lane, so discovering the bounds for positive. These first couple of laps have been sluggish, however in my thoughts, I used to be flying round right here, however we’ve made fairly a little bit of lap time since then.”
Within the race, Chastain will make his first driver change since he was 14 doing a avenue inventory switch-off race, one other factor he has to be taught together with the capabilities of the Aston Martin, ABS, and traction management. Fukuda, who’s the IMSA Driver Variety Scholarship winner for 2024-’25, has respect for NASCAR veteran even making the try.
“I feel it’s a courageous factor,” Fukuda mentioned. “He’s a longtime determine in his collection, in his wheelhouse, although he can drive something as a result of he’s a wheel man. However to return over right here, and to return to IMSA … I imply, Michelin Pilot Problem, it’s extraordinarily aggressive, if not essentially the most aggressive collection on the earth. It’s a premier collection, and it’s a totally totally different automobile. To say, ‘I don’t care, I like driving. I wish to be taught, I wish to determine this out…’ And he’s interacting with each single fan.”
The Street America 120 is scheduled for inexperienced at 2:45 p.m. ET. Fukuda will roll off the grid seventeenth within the Grand Sport class.
