Trackhouse’s Ross Chastain drops three-word reaction on taking the reins of five select rides for JR Motorsports 

NASCAR Cup Series driver, Ross Chastain recently shared his excitement on racing part-time race for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He will share the No. 9 Chevrolet for nine races with Trackhouse Racing teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

Chastain has raced for smaller teams in the Xfinity Series and collected two wins in over 200 starts. The 32-year-old will now drive for Dale Earnheart Jr's JR Motorsports in five races starting at the Circuit of the Americas on March 1 and at Darlington, Nashville, Dover and Iowa later in the season.

"Should be fun," Chastain wrote.

JR Motorsports also reacted to the former watermelon farmer Chastain, who is known to smash the fruit on track after a win.

"Adding Watermelons to our shopping list... Just in case," the team wrote on X.

SVG, who made his debut in the Xfinity Series last year with three wins, will compete in the other races at road courses in Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma and Watkins Glen.

"I’m trying to get as much experience as I can. JR Motorsports is one of the top teams and won the championship with Justin Allgaier. I can’t wait to get started," Van Gisbergen said in a release.

JR Motorsports' lineup for the 2025 Xfinity season also includes rookies, Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch with Sammy Smith and defending champion Justin Allgaier.

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"Too good an opportunity to pass up" - Ross Chastain on driving for JR Motorsports

Ross Chastain has raced in five full-time seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the past 11 years. He competed in four Xfinity races last season in DGM Racing's No. 92 Chevy and earned two top-10 finishes.

"I think there is a lot of benefit to getting seat time on Saturdays in the Xfinity Series. Getting an opportunity to do it with JR Motorsports is too good an opportunity to pass up. I know every time I climb in their Chevrolets, we will have a chance to win," Chastain said in a press release.

In the Cup Series, Chastain finished 19th in the final standings last year. The Florida native missed the playoffs but won a race at Kansas and will return to the Cup Series for his fourth season with Trackhouse Racing.

Chastain made his debut in the series in 2017 with Premium Motorsports and has since won five races with 58 top-10 finishes. He raced for Roush Fenway Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing before joining Trackhouse Racing in 2022 when he won two races and finished second in points.

The same year, Chastain made the popular "Hail Melon" move at Martinsville to make it to the Championship 4.