Chastain gets a taste of IMSA at the Roar

It turns out Connor Zilisch and A.J. Allmendinger aren't the only full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers on-site at the Roar Before The 24 in Daytona. Ross Chastain made a surprise appearance yesterday, touring Action Express Racing's Whelen Cadillac set-up as a guest of General Motors and the team.

“It’s incredible,” said Chastain, who spent time with Trackhouse Racing teammate Zilisch during his time in the infield. “I’ve seen it, but getting out here on the pit box and seeing all the conversations going on, there was a red flag out on track for a stalled car, and there was a quick driver change, and the driver was ready ahead of time, which I could take some cues from.

"It was interesting to see the depth of the team and ask Connor, probably, some silly questions, but it’s just some stuff that I never learned. It was just cool to learn about.“We could be in this very pit stall for the Daytona 500 next month, and it doesn’t compare at all to this, which is good in our respective series.”

Chastain enjoyed getting to know a different discipline. Cadillac Racing photo

Zilisch, who is making his GTP debut in a one-off drive aboard the Action Express Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for this race was excited to show Chastain the sports car ropes.

"It was cool to show Ross kind of where I came from, and he's loves racing and just wants to see the different disciplines and see how teams do things differently from what we do at Trackhouse Racing.," he said. "It was cool to show him around the car and walk him through the haulers – he's seen all this stuff before, but it is a little bit different here in IMSA and with Cadillac. I'm glad he was able to come down and check it out and see what Cadillac Racing is all about."

Could we see the "Melon Man" add to the growing list of Cup Series drivers that have taken part in the Rolex 24 at some point? In a brief encounter with RACER, the 33-year-old said he would enjoy racing in the event in the near future should the opportunity arise.