Ross Chastain’s Incredible “Hail Melon” Move Wins Impossible Moment of the Year at the Annual ES Awards 2022
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Ross Chastain’s Incredible “Hail Melon” Move Wins Impossible Moment of the Year at the Annual ES Awards 2022
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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 30: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Moose Fraternity Chevrolet, rides the wall on the final lap of the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 30: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Moose Fraternity Chevrolet, rides the wall on the final lap of the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The 2022 NASCAR Cup season has been one of the most unpredictable campaigns. However, there remains no uncertainty that the season saw the rise of a new star. That star is none other than Trackhouse Racing Team’s Ross Chastain. Despite picking up just two race wins all year, he quickly established himself as a championship threat. However, it was at the Martinsville Raceway that he truly caught everyone’s attention.
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It was the last chance for him to reach the Championship 4 Race, so he needed one last desperate gambit. So on the last lap, heading into the final corner, he dug into his big bag of watermelons and pulled out the Hail Melon. Instead of turning left for the corner, he went straight on and performed a wall ride all the way around the corner.
The sheer audacity of the move left the spectators, commentators, and even his crew stunned. One of the commentators even said that the move was straight out of a video game.
What effect did the gutsy move have for Ross Chastain?
Safe to say, the move gave the #1 driver a lot of momentum. As a result, he was able to make up enough places. In the end, he finished in a fine fourth place, which was enough to see him sneak into Championship 4. Although, it also meant that there was heartbreak for Denny Hamlin, who was denied a shot at the title yet again. Chastain, on the other hand, went down in history books for the stunt—the likes of which have never been pulled off successfully.
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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 30: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Moose Fraternity Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Of course, the right side of the car was totaled by the time he drove back into the pit lane. Though it must have been worth it for him and his team as he got a chance to try and clinch his first Cup Series title. The bad news was that he failed to win at the season finale at Phoenix as the championship went to Joey Logano instead. It is without a doubt, though, that he will try to come back stronger in the 2023 campaign.
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Written by
Edited by
Nischal Kandpal