Ross Chastain led Trackhouse Racing with a 12th-place finish in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Saturday evening. Teammates Shane van Gisbergen placed 20th, and Connor Zilisch finished 24th.
“Huge improvement from every other time here,” said SVG. “I struggled at the start and went backwards and then the team made great adjustments and I learned how to drive, and just got better and better.
“To get a top 20, I’m stoked. Got unlucky with that last caution but that’s part of it. Really happy to show some improvement at this track.”
Van Gisbergen started 22nd for the 500-lap race and quickly broke into the top 20 before the NASCAR competition caution flew on lap 40. The #97 team opted to pit for two-tyre service and restarted 14th in the field.
Van Gisbergen battled a loose-handling SuperFile Chevrolet and dropped to 30th by the end of the first stage. He then lined up 29th for the start of Stage 2 and quickly found pace moving into the 26th spot.
SVG was able to maintain position during a long green flag run but went a lap down to the leaders before the caution flew on lap 248, ending the stage.
For the final stage, van Gisbergen lined up 29th after coming to pit road for service at the stage break. He battled his way forward and survived many late race cautions to secure a 20th place finish.
The NASCAR Cup Series will return to action Sunday, September 27 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.
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