In the small town of Alva, Florida, Ross Chastain’s journey to NASCAR stardom began not on a racetrack, but in the field of his family’s watermelon farm. His father, a hobby racer, introduced him to the world of motorsports, sparking a passion that would drive him to pursue racing professionally. At 12, Chastain started competing in local short track races, often with limited resources. Despite these challenges, he eventually won over 50 feature events and the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Limited Late Model Championship at New Smyrna Speedway.

This foundation in grassroots racing laid the groundwork for Chastain’s ascent through the NASCAR ranks. In 2012, he made his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, marking the beginning of a decade-long journey through various NASCAR divisions. His breakthrough came in 2019 when he secured his first NASCAR Cup Series win at the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix. While his achievements are commendable, Chastain has recently revealed one of his worst qualities, this time off the track.

Ross Chastain talks about his personal weak spot

In his Like a Farmer podcast, Ross Chastain shared a memorable moment where he recently stepped out of his racing comfort zone to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game. When asked if he had ever played baseball growing up, he admitted, “No, not even T-ball. No, I played soccer. I know, it’s like one of my worst qualities. I try not to tell.” Despite this, he managed to get the ball to the plate, albeit with a unique style: “Straight up, just glove had to go out. For the first time, I always go to the top of the mound, put up on the plate. But I threw with a glove.”

But what made the throw even more special was a heartfelt tribute to him. He noted, “So Rawlings gave me a custom Mellon Man glove a few weeks ago. When I was out there for some stuff ahead of the race, three or four weeks ago. Custom-printed Mellon Man Manny glove, and they broke it in for me. It’s great.” Rawlings, a renowned sports equipment company, has a long history of producing high-quality baseball gear. Popularly known as the “Melon Man,” the custom-printed glove served as a heartwarming gesture to Chastain, who accepted it with fervor. This collaboration also underscored the growing trend of cross-industry partnerships in sports marketing.

He further added, “But I’ve never thrown a baseball in front of people with a glove on. I don’t think I’ve ever even thrown one with a glove. So that made it actually a little awkward because I didn’t really know what to do with this hand, how to get it out of the way, and my weight balance was all off. But I got it there. That was the main thing.” Although this was his first pitch in an MLB game, his connection to the sport is a long-standing one. Chastain once participated in the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway, a collaboration between NASCAR and MLB that featured drivers and baseball legends like Eric Davis and Chipper Jones. This pitch just made the sport even more exciting for both NASCAR and MLB fans.

“Quarter windup. But I got a few cheers, a few claps. We’re going to go up to our seats behind home plate and then up to the suite. I mean, Anheuser-Busch has a really nice suite. The Busch lights were cool. Had me a big hot dog. That was fun,” he further stated. The event was a part of Chastain’s partnership with Anheuser-Busch, which began in 2024 when the company signed a multi-year agreement to become the primary sponsor of Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The collaboration marked a strategic shift for Anheuser-Busch, aligning with a rising star after their longstanding sponsorship of Kevin Harvick, who retired after the 2023 season. Chastain expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “On the farm in Alva, Florida, Busch Light has always been the beer of choice for all of our celebrations, and now that they are right by my side as my sponsor – it’s a dream come true!” And now we know that the partnership is yielding more benefits for the Melon Man than ever.

Ross Chastain’s road to crown jewel glory

Ross Chastain’s journey from the watermelon fields of Florida to the NASCAR Cup Series competition embodies determination and grit. Growing up on his family farm, he built a career without major sponsorship backing, competing in local short-track racing before moving up through the Truck and Xfinity Series. Reflecting on last year, Chastain said, “We missed last year, and I was angry,” highlighting how missing the 2024 playoffs left a lasting impact and fueled his motivation for the current season.

This drive has translated into tangible success in 2025, with Chastain currently 11th in the standings and a 19-point cushion above the playoff cutline. His Coca-Cola 600 victory marked his first crown jewel win, and he emphasized its significance: “It made realizing that we won the Coca-Cola 600 that much more special, let alone it being a crown jewel race, but knowing right then, crossing the line that, I mean, in Victory Lane, Media Day popped into my head.” Starting from the rear and leading 10 laps to beat Denny Hamlin at Charlotte demonstrated his rise from humble beginnings to Cup Series contention.

Chastain’s past frustrations continue to shape his approach both on and off the track. “So definitely that had that fueled us, that fueled me through the end of last season and through the off-season,” he noted, emphasizing how setbacks informed his team’s preparations and strategy. Known for his aggressive style honed at tracks like Punta Gorda Speedway, he now combines raw speed with smarter race management, turning prior disappointments into a roadmap for future success. As the Round of 16 nears its end, consistency and execution will determine whether this fuel translates into championship contention.