Chastain "drove off into the sunset" to surprise Phoenix win

Key Facts

Chastain, who was eliminated from the playoffs weeks ago and led just one lap in the previous nine races, overshadowed the four drivers that were contending for the 2023 series championship at Phoenix Raceway.
It was a fact not lost on Chastain, who did his usual victory celebration of smashing a watermelon as series champion Blaney did burnouts in his No. 12 Ford further down the frontstretch.
In the first season with the Next Gen car last year, Trackhouse proved to be an unexpected contender as both Chastain and Daniel Suarez both advanced to the playoffs and Chastain was one of the four drivers who contended for the Cup title.
The 2023 season proved more difficult for Trackhouse as Saurez didn’t win a race and failed to make the playoffs and Chastain won once and got eliminated in the second round.