NASCAR former driver Blake Koch reflects on Ross Chastain's fearless driving style - "No matter what he's in, he feels like he can beat you"

Blake Koch recently addressed Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain's bold driving style. Having known each other since their Fastruck Series days, the Florida native revealed that he had a taste of Chastain's fearless driving style when the latter was just 12 years old.

Koch, a former Xfinity driver turned businessman, last competed in the 2017 Xfinity season for Kaulig Racing. The 39-year-old now handles FilterTime which provides, replaces, and installs air filters for homeowners. Moreover, he has partnered with JR Motorsports' co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and uses his branding expertise for this venture.

In a recent episode of Dale Jr. Download, the two former Xfinity drivers sat down and discussed #1 Chevy driver Chastain's driving style.

"I think he [Ross Chastain] does a really good job. No matter what he's in, he feels like he could beat you. And he could be in the worst car on the track and he's gonna race you like he's in the best car on the track," Koch said during the conversation with Dale Jr.

Dale Jr., a two-time Xfinity Series champion, considered this an accurate assessment of Chastain. He also recalled an incident from Chastain's Xfinity days driving for JD Motorsports, involving Justin Allgaier of JRM. Here's what he said:

"When he [Chastain] would drive the JD motorsports car in the Xfinity Series, he took a car that was probably a 15th or 20th place car and would run just a bit better every time. Just worry our guys to death. His last year, I think in that car, him and Justin[Allgaier] got in this duke-it-out battle running 12th. And I'm like, 'What are you doing, Justin? He's gonna beat the sh*t out of you as you're trying to go by."

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"Not at the expense of me,": Ross Chastain on his competitive nature

Ross Chastain, the Trackhouse driver, recently clinched his fifth career victory in the playoff race at Kansas Speedway.

In a post-race interaction, the Flordia native reflected on the final moments before his first win of the 2024 season. He said:

"I’m looking in the rearview camera, and I see the #24 and #48. I see the #24 most notably. William Byron is a guy that I want to see win. I want to see him succeed. He is one of the few guys that I can say I’m buddies with, and we are kind of aligned in life... So, would I have loved to see the #24 drive into victory lane and lock himself into the round of 8? Sure. But not enough to pass the #1 car because I’m driving it." [13;00]

Moreover, the 31-year-old expressed a desire for his Trackhouse teammate, Daniel Suarez, to succeed, but emphasized that this should not come at his own expense.

"I wish the #99 — I wish that Daniel was the one winning, but not at the expense of the #1 car and not at the expense of me," he added.

This wasn't the first time Chastain played a spoiler as a non-playoff driver. His last victory came during the 2023 Championship 4 race at Phonix Raceway.