After he won the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, Ross Chastain climbed atop his number 1 Chevy holding a watermelon aloft. He then smashed it on the asphalt, grabbed a chunk and took a big, messy bite before submitting to a postrace interview. The juicy celebration is a tradition for the 32-year-old Chastain, who hails from a family of Florida watermelon farmers, and was headed toward becoming one himself before he decided in 2012 to pursue a career in NASCAR.
But Chastain is not simply a small-town guy. Currently 12th in the points standings, he’s been a regular on the Cup circuit since 2018, winning six races and establishing himself as one of the most daring drivers in the sport. In 2022, he finished second in the final standings after catapulting himself into Cup contention at Martinsville in October with a move so audacious it became known as the Hail Melon—and has since been outlawed by NASCAR. Running in 10th place on the final lap of the race, he put the pedal to the floor entering Turn 3. While his competitors slowed to take the corner at around 70 mph, Chastain flew past them—and into the outside wall—130. By the time he exited Turn 4, he had moved up to fifth place, qualifying for a spot in the Championship 4.
