From Watermelon Farms to Successful the Ally 400: How Ross Chastain Embodies Nashville’s Rising Racing Tradition

Trackhouse Racing star Ross Chastain just isn’t your common NASCAR driver, removed from it. Breaking on the NASCAR Cup Collection scene, Chastain has actually been one of the vital distinctive characters the game has seen. Though his aggressive fashion of racing speaks volumes about his character, the distinctive celebration of smashing watermelons really units him aside.

Whereas the celebration does catch the attention of the spectators, in actuality, Ross Chastain had no plans to compete in NASCAR. Going by his very personal phrases, “I used to be gonna be a watermelon farmer. That’s what I used to be gonna do.” Fortunately, he didn’t embark on the street. However what made him take up racing as his profession, and when did he be taught that he was destined to race in NASCAR and never farm watermelons?

Chastain’s rise in NASCAR is a results of his hardships and struggles

Most NASCAR drivers come from rich households that may help their ardour for racing, whereas a couple of others have the backing of household. Ross Chastain was not like some other driver within the storage, he got here from a humble starting with a background in watermelon farming. Nonetheless, on the age of 12, he shortly understood that he was obsessed with racing and began his grind to make it to NASCAR.

“As soon as I began racing at 12 years outdated, that’s the place the sunshine turned on. I need to be a race automobile driver. I need to beat the blokes that I’ve watched. I need to race towards them and beat them.” Chastain mentioned this through FOX 8 Information. When he first began racing within the NASCAR Truck Collection, it was the watermelon business that supported his races with the funds, and whereas he selected racing as his profession choice, he was by no means away from his conventional roots.

This was evident from his standout race-winning celebration. Nonetheless, on the Cup stage, the Alva native was unable to get a breakthrough season that might put him on the map. However his needs quickly got here true as he landed with the newly shaped staff, Trackhouse Racing. And subsequent factor you realize, the melon man began smashing the melons after selecting up wins one after the other within the premier division of inventory automobile racing.

The primary season was an enormous success, successful the championship 4 and bagging two race wins. However the subsequent season, in 2023, is the place he turned it up a notch. He bagged his first win of the season at Nashville Speedway, securing his playoff run. However his hail-mary transfer at Martinsville was really the stuff from video video games, one which granted him an entry into Championship 4 as soon as once more.

Whereas his smashing of watermelon would possibly look flashy, there’s a narrative behind his picturesque celebration.

Watermelon: A fortunate attraction for the No. 1 chevy and staff

The custom began again in 2018 when he gained races within the Xfinity Collection when he gained a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. However this celebration is critical because it reminds the driving force and his staff to compete for wins. Often, earlier than a race weekend, his truck driver buys groceries for the hauler, and watermelon is the everlasting merchandise on that grocery checklist.

“My guys know what meaning, too. It’s not only a watermelon sitting there. It’s a logo of our objective, which is to win.” Nonetheless, to date within the 2024 Cup Collection season, he hasn’t carried out on the stage the place he may have fun a win in typical Ross Chastain style. However the excellent news for the Trackhouse Racing star is that he’s headed to the Nashville Superspeedway this weekend as a defending race champion.

In no way has his season been dangerous; it’s simply that the No. 1 Chevy isn’t working up entrance within the area, competing for races. With a mixture of totally different race tracks and venues within the final seven races of the common season, this would possibly open a door for Ross Chastain to seize his important win, one that may safe his playoff qualification.