Chastain resets points ahead of Texas + Other Notes

Ahead of the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night, Niece Motorsports’ Ross Chastain has declared that he will switch his commitment of championship points from the Xfinity Series to the trucks, in an effort to qualify for the 2019 playoffs.

Chastain has already won a race in the truck series, however, since he won prior to declaring to run for points in the series, the win will not count toward his playoff classification.

Trucks: Chastain resets points ahead of Texas + Other Notes

Now, Chastain faces the task of winning a second race to qualify for the playoffs and also getting into that top 20 spot in the standings (NASCAR’s requirement to qualify for the truck playoffs with a win).

“My Niece Motorsports team has been very fast all year, and we have a tall order ahead of us to get both in the top-20 in points and win a race before the playoffs start,” Chastain said in a release. “But that’s a mountain we’re willing to climb.”

Finishing 20^th shouldn’t be too much of an issue for Chastain, though.

With ____ races until the playoffs, Chastain just has to get by Jesse Little for the 20^th spot – Little hasn’t even surpassed 100 points yet this season.

It will be the win that carries the bigger spotlight to qualify, and rightfully so.

Chastain will continue to run events in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for both JD Motorsports and Kaulig Racing as long as sponsorship has been solidified.

“I know this is the best decision for me at this time and am thankful for everyone who has and will continue to support me moving forward into 2019 and beyond.”

Other notes

Greg Biffle is making a triumphant return to the series, participating in his first NASCAR event since the 2016 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and first Truck series event since 2004.

The trucks practiced three times on Thursday and Biffle turned laps in all three, finishing as high as P11.

Biffle will be running the No. 51 truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports, a team that has faced its fair share of adversity this season.

Team owner Kyle Busch told media earlier this week that his team, ‘ain’t done shit.’

Autoweek’s Matt Weaver caught up with full-time KBM driver Harrison Burton to hear what the driver’s think about the criticism.

“Yes and no,” Burton told Weaver when asked if he was surprised by the comments. “Kyle holds everyone to a high level. And we haven’t won yet. Todd and I haven’t won a race yet and we both set out to join Kyle Busch Motorsports because we’re here to win races and championship.”

The full article that the above information is from can be found HERE.