Ross Chastain Explains New Hampshire Engine Failure + Daytona’s BIG Change

Name: Ross Chastain Explains New Hampshire Engine Failure + Daytona’s BIG Change
Uploaded: 2026-08-27T04:01:58-07:00
Duration: 44 min 36 s
Channel: Like a Farmer Podcast
Description: Ross Chastain and Ben analyze recent NASCAR races at Richmond and New Hampshire, discussing double-header management, engine failures, and track grip…

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About this episode Ross Chastain and Ben analyze recent NASCAR races at Richmond and New Hampshire, discussing double-header mana… AI summary

Ross Chastain and Ben analyze recent NASCAR races at Richmond and New Hampshire, discussing double-header management, engine failures, and track grip issues. The episode features an interview with Ken Posega, the rear tire changer for the No. 1 car, who shares his career origin story, the physical demands of pit crew fitness, and the transition from five-lug to single-lug tire changes. The conversation concludes with a preview of the upcoming Daytona race rules package and upcoming sponsor activations.

Key takeaways 6

Double Header Management: At Track House, crew chief Todd Meredith allows drivers to self-assess their physical and mental readiness for double-headers (e.g., Truck and Cup races), prioritizing rest and hydration over mandatory participation, a shift from stricter policies at previous teams like Ganassi or Kaulig.
Learning from Competitors: Chastain actively seeks granular technical advice from winners like Austin Dillon (e.g., foot placement, eye lines) during practice sessions, noting that sharing information is common among competitors at the Cup level.
New Hampshire Grip Issues: The track exhibits extremely low grip due to old, smooth surfaces and sealers, causing frequent left-front tire lockups in Turn 1 and Turn 3, a problem exacerbated by the car's rigidity and light front-end weight.
Pit Crew Evolution: The transition from five-lug to single-lug tire changes has 'evened the playing field' for changers, making the skill less about raw speed of hitting lugs and more about jackman performance and fender clearance.
Ken Posega's Career Path: Ken moved from Ohio to North Carolina for family reasons, started as a furniture mover where he met Josh Applebee, entered racing as a carrier/back-up changer at Ganassi, and quickly advanced to the No. 1 car despite early struggles and being moved off the car twice.
Daytona Rules Package: The upcoming rules package involves chopping the spoiler to reduce rear downforce and drag, aiming for smoother airflow; Chastain expresses concern about potential grip issues similar to Atlanta's early-season struggles.

Notable quotes 4 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.

“If you don't know you're struggling at the track, I feel like you're oblivious and you would you might not be the right guy for the job.”

▶ 28:34 Ken Posega reflecting on why he didn't quit after being taken off the No. 1 car twice during his early career.
“The skill of hitting five [lugs] to me was like an art form... now it's more based off pools nowadays so I think it's kind of just different.”

▶ 30:43 Ken discussing how the transition from five-lug to single-lug tire changes has changed the nature of the changer's skill set.
“I'm just making sure that there's no opportunity because somebody's not feeling good. What like I don't know what the opportunity could be, but is there any opportunity? And everybody knows I'm out.”

Chastain explaining why he stays at the track after his engine failure at New Hampshire, hoping to fill in if another driver has issues.
“If I'm going to ask Justin to spend all this money, I better try to make him as much back.”

▶ 43:16 Chastain discussing his motivation to improve owner points standings at Track House to justify team investment.