NASCAR star's race weekend off to the slowest start possible

Since joining Trackhouse Racing at the start of the 2022 season, Ross Chastain has been one of the most venerable drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series field. Unfortunately for Chastain, his Richmond race weekend could not be off to a slower start. 

After 40 total minutes of practice, Chastain ranked 36 of 36 cars, running a lap nearly a full second off Kyle Larson, the fastest drivers in Saturday morning's practice session. 

Chastain and the No. 1 team are hoping their slow time in practice won't translate to Sunday night's Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond, (7 p.m. ET, Fox) or it could be a long Easter holiday that the No. 1 team spends in the back of the pack. 

In 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway, Chastain has finished in the top 10 only twice, and the top five only once. He's also led just 100 total laps at the Virginia short track, just 0.2 percent of the laps that Chastain has turned at Richmond. 

Chastain is hoping his luck turns around in qualifying, as a good starting spot would go a long way in making his job easier on Sunday. Regardless of how qualifying goes, though, Chastain and the No. 1 team have plenty of work to do before Sunday's race if they want to be anywhere near the front. 

The Toyota Owners 400 goes green at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday evening. The race will be aired on Fox, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.