Ross Chastain will drive the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet full-time within the NASCAR Cup Collection beginning in 2021, the staff introduced Monday.

Chastain, who presently has a full-time journey within the NASCAR Xfinity Collection with Kaulig Racing, will take over for Matt Kenseth, who has held the seat since Might after Kyle Larson was dismissed for utilizing a racial slur throughout an iRacing occasion.

Chastain presently is getting ready for the Xfinity Collection Playoffs beginning Saturday night time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The 27-year-old driver is ranked eighth coming into the playoffs and has 23 top-10 finishes in 26 races this season. He has two profession Xfinity wins in 184 begins over the previous seven years.

RELATED: Foolish Season’s key figures | Xfinity Collection standings

The primary of these Xfinity wins got here in 2018 with Ganassi, who indicated in an interview after Kenseth’s hiring that Chastain was “nonetheless part of this staff, and I hope Ross has a future with this staff.” Monday, the staff proprietor elevated him to full-time within the Cup Collection.

“Ross has been part of this group for just a few years now, and I’m glad to announce him as our driver for the No. 42 staff,” Ganassi mentioned in a launch supplied by the staff. “In three races with our group in 2018 and watching ever since, he confirmed me and everybody else that he’s a tenacious driver who desires to win. We imagine that Ross will give our staff the chance to be aggressive every week and our sponsors somebody to construct a program round. Moreover, his racing background has him well-suited to make the transfer to the Cup Collection.”

Chastain grew to become emotional at Bristol Motor Speedway after his most up-to-date Xfinity Collection end on Friday, when he recorded his fifth second-place end in what’s thus far been a winless season. When requested post-race a couple of potential alternative with Ganassi’s No. 42 staff, Chastain mentioned he’d leap on the likelihood.

“Are you kidding me? After all,” Chastain mentioned. “All people on this complete storage would. Yeah, who wouldn’t?”

He echoed these sentiments Monday.

“I can’t thank Chip sufficient for this chance,” Chastain mentioned. “The religion he and the group confirmed me again in 2018 was an actual turning level in my profession, and I’m extraordinarily glad for the prospect to hitch the staff once more particularly with all the nice guys they’ve on the 42 and to have the ability to staff with a champion like Kurt Busch. Racing within the Cup Collection with a severe contender has all the time been my aim, and I‘m wanting ahead to becoming a member of what’s a really robust staff. I do know I’ve my work reduce out for me, however I’m able to get to work and assist deliver extra success to the group.”

Kenseth returned to the Cup Collection after the COVID-19 shutdown. The 2003 collection champion, Kenseth had not pushed within the Cup Collection since operating a partial schedule with Roush Fenway Racing in 2018.

Kenseth’s greatest end this season was a runner-up effort at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, marking his solely high 5 in his return. The 48-year-old veteran sits 25th in factors after lacking the primary 4 races of the season, and the CGR No. 42 staff modified crew chiefs — Phil Surgen in for Chad Johnston — forward of the Cup Collection’ doubleheader weekend at Michigan final month.

Chastain additionally has three wins within the NASCAR Gander RV & Outside Truck Collection, coming in 91 begins over 10 years. He has made 79 profession Cup Collection begins with one top-10 end, 10th within the 2019 Daytona 500 for proprietor Jay Robinson.

Chastain has been among the many most prolific contributors in all three NASCAR nationwide collection lately, regularly making double-duty appearances throughout race weekends. He has made 43 national-series begins this 12 months, down from 77 final season and 74 in 2018 as he has tried to pay attention extra on his Xfinity efforts with the Kaulig group.

Chastain is a 12-generation watermelon farmer from Alva, Florida. He has embraced the “Melon Man” nickname and has punctuated his NASCAR wins by smashing watermelons on the observe or in Victory Lane.