Ross Chastain’s NASCAR playoff hopes ended Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after an engine failure forced the Trackhouse Racing driver out of the Dollar Tree 301 after 41 laps. Chastain was running 11th in the No. 1 Kubota Chevrolet when smoke started coming from the right-front of the car in the corners. He slowed during a caution and later took the car behind the wall.
Chastain finished 36th, last in the 36-car field, and earned one point. The result ended his remaining path into the NASCAR playoffs before the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. It was also his first last-place finish of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. His exit ended a difficult Chase run.
Ross Chastain NASCAR Playoffs Hopes End at New Hampshire
Chastain explained the problem after leaving the car. “There was an issue internally in the engine. There was oil coming out of the exhaust pipe. I felt the No. 1 Kubota Chevy losing power and just rode it out during the caution, but unfortunately, we couldn’t continue.”
The Ross Chastain engine failure came at a key point in the NASCAR playoffs race. Chastain entered the New Hampshire weekend outside the cutline and needed a strong finish, or a win, plus help from other drivers to keep his hopes alive. The mechanical problem removed those remaining chances.
Ross Chastain Chase Run Ends After Engine Failure
The New Hampshire engine failure also extended Chastain’s winless run. He remains without a victory in 2026, with his last Cup Series win coming at the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Chastain said Trackhouse had improved its speed during the summer, even though the team lacked the consistency needed to secure a NASCAR playoffs spot.
“It’s just an unfortunate end to our run towards the Chase. The speed has gotten better, so we’ll hopefully keep moving forward on that. That’s the important part. With the things in our control, we were able to improve through the summer. I’ve learned that’s really tough to do in the NASCAR Cup Series. We did get better, but we’ve got a ways to go.”
Ross Chastain previously reached the playoffs in three of five seasons and finished second in the championship standings in 2022. He missed the postseason in 2024 before winning at Kansas Speedway later that year.
NASCAR Playoffs Picture Changes After New Hampshire
With Ross Chastain eliminated, Trackhouse Racing will now focus on Shane van Gisbergen, who remains in the NASCAR playoffs fight. Van Gisbergen heads to Daytona with a chance to secure a postseason place in the final regular-season race.
The NASCAR playoffs field will be confirmed after next Saturday’s Daytona race. Drivers fighting for the final spots will face a superspeedway event where drafting, strategy and avoiding incidents can shape the result.
For Chastain and Trackhouse, the focus now shifts from Chase points to finishing the season with stronger speed and execution. The New Hampshire engine failure ended Chastain’s NASCAR playoffs hopes, but the team will continue working on the progress it made during the summer.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Chase Run Ends in Pain After Early New Hampshire Failure