A series of unfortunate events marred Trackhouse Racing’s shot at victory at the Las Vegas Speedway during the 2025 Pennzoil 400. The team’s drivers, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, found themselves in a promising position, only for fate to intervene and rewrite their fortunes.
Suarez managed to secure a second-place finish, while Chastain ended up in fifth place, a result that left fans and pundits wondering what could have been had the pair avoided certain mishaps during the race.
Chastain, who hails from Florida, exhibited an extraordinary level of sportsmanship by prioritizing his teammate’s success over his own during the race. He chose to give Suarez a supportive push while the latter was engaged in a fierce battle for the lead with Josh Berry. This decision, however, did not yield the expected results. Suarez’s No. 99 Chevy struggled on the short track, allowing Berry, a Wood Brothers Racing driver, to take the lead.
This wasn’t the only hurdle that came Chastain’s way. A lapse in communication contributed to his fifth-place finish. “I feel the last two weeks was super rusty in the car as far as communication. We didn’t have any blatant issues on the pit road. I was pitting, and Phil Surgen didn’t know I was pitting. We were just chatting about the balance, and I knew he didn’t know I was coming, but I thought we needed fuel. On my part, I need to stick to the plan,” Chastain explained.
The strategy implemented by Phil Surgen, Chastain’s crew chief, was initially successful. It involved Chastain pushing his limits and risking running out of fuel. But an untimely caution truncated the penultimate run, forcing Chastain to settle for a top-five finish, his sole one in his last 10 Cup Series races.
Despite the less-than-ideal outcome, Chastain remains optimistic. He started the race in 19th place, higher than his teammates, and managed to finish third at the end of Stage 2, earning himself eight points. He vows to use the Vegas race as a learning experience as he moves forward.
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports also rues the missed opportunity at the 2025 Pennzoil 400. He found himself in a heated duel with Chastain towards the end of the race, which ultimately slowed his momentum and allowed Ryan Preece to take the third spot. Byron expressed his regret in the post-race interview, stating that he should not have let Chastain get back to his left rear.
The intense competition and twists of fate paved the way for Josh Berry, formerly of Stewart-Haas Racing, to clinch Wood Brothers Racing’s 101st Cup Series win, and secure an automatic berth into the playoffs. This race served as a reminder that in the high-stakes world of racing, the smallest decisions can make the difference between victory and defeat. As the dust settles on the Las Vegas Speedway, Chastain and Byron will undoubtedly carry these lessons forward into the rest of the season.