LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — Ross Chastain celebrates a busy week after he prepares to return to the wheel of the car, from the first time in his career to the worst car to Victory Lane on the Coca-Cola 600.

He also knows the humility of racing very well.

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"We put ourselves at a great risk back on track, and it could be hard again," Chastain said. "The car has no idea what happened last week."

Chastain, who has finished three top three in his last four games, entered Sunday night's Cookie Barrel 400 and is very familiar with Nashville SuperSpeedway.

Music City is home to his track and field racing team, where Chastain won in 2023. He also finished second and fifth and had a chance to win last year. This will also be Trackhouse Racing's 300th Cup match.

Chastain praised his captain Phil Surgen and track and field racing, but said he had no idea why he was so successful on the track. Chaston said he felt he was doing the same thing as preparing.

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"We do have very, very good racing cars," Chastain said of his No. 1 Chevrolet.

The game is now a month ahead of the past four years, and the Cookie Barrel 400 happens to be in the regular season of NASCAR. Chastain is one of eight drivers who have already entered the playoffs with a victory.

No repetitive performance

A year ago, the game had a record five overtimes, with Joey Logano surviving the first Cup in 2024. He saved enough gas to win, so, of course, it's worth reviewing just in case.

"You didn't know the opportunity would come back again," Logano said. "It was a very rare opportunity. But because we were ready, we were ready that day.

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Specific challenges

Brad Keselowski is currently ranked 32nd in the standings, winning his first NASCAR XFINES series in 2008. He walked on Saturday’s D-shaped track and marveled at how old Nashville, who held his first race in 2001, has changed his age since his career.

"It's kind of like a good wine," Keselovsky said. "I was thinking about it when I walked. The surface is 25 or 26 years old and in good condition. The facilities are in good condition. It's really something I've come back in time."

The beginning of the new season challenge

Nashville started NASCAR's new season challenge in Atlanta on June 28, involving 32 drivers and five races. The top 32 players will occupy the field in three sowing matches after the game in Nashville Sunday night.

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The games will begin in Michigan on June 8 and end in Pocono on June 22. The driver will get the best results in these three games that started at Atlanta. The field will shrink to 16 in Chicago, four in Sonoma, and the last two at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The tournament received a $1 million prize from the winner and is part of a new media rights agreement, including TNT.

odds and ends

Denny Hamlin of +350 was a favorite to win Sunday night, followed by Kyle Larson (+550), Christopher Bell (+650) and William Byron (+725). If Hamlin sets off on Sunday night, it remains to be seen. His fiancée is looking forward to their third child, a boy, on Sunday. Hamlin said he had an eight-hour game window and went home, but had no timeline set to make the final decision before qualifying. “I can’t miss it,” Hamlin said of the arrival of his new son. ...The first four years of this game have different winners in this song. ... Country music singer Chase Rice is a former NASCAR PIT crew member and will be honorary car driver on Sunday night. Rice sold more than 2.8 million albums, with a total stream of more than 2.9 billion. His hit songs include "To Your Eyes", "Drinking Beer. Talking God. Amen." and "If You Are Lonely."

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