CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Roth Chastain stood atop the No. 1 Chevrolet in his white fire suit, proudly holding a watermelon above his head as the crowd at Charlotte Motor Speedway cheered joyfully.
Following that, he unleashed a fierce energy, slamming it on the truck and smashing it to bits.
As an eighth-generation watermelon farmer, Chastain’s tradition of crushing watermelons symbolizes a unique tribute to his family’s legacy. This tradition started after his first NASCAR Cup Series race and continues as a distinctive way to celebrate his strong ties to watermelon farming.
This victory held particular significance, marking his first triumph in a Crown Jewel event.
“This is refreshing from Florida,” Chastain chuckled. “It just came from our family farm. For the Florida watermelon industry, you’re now getting our watermelon, so it’s better to grab some and celebrate. I want to see it. I want to see it.”
Chastain overtook Daytona 500 winner William Byron with six laps to go, clinching victory at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday night. This surprising comeback made him the first driver to win the event after starting from the back of the pack.
NASCAR noted that he was the first driver to win from his last official starting position since Bobby Allison at the Richmond Fairgrounds in 1969.
William Byron secured his first three stages and led an impressive 283 laps. However, starting from 40th place, he lost the lead to Chastain, who led only eight laps in his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the year.
This represented a significant boost for Trackhouse Racing and a major disappointment for Byron, a Charlotte native who signed a four-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports on Friday. Byron has not won the Coca-Cola 600 in the last three attempts.
Chastain revealed that his crew worked overnight to prepare another car after he crashed during practice on Saturday.
“To drive that final stretch at the 600 and pass two cars that had been faster than me all night,” standing on his car, smashing a watermelon on track, is part of my victory tradition. “Holy Cow! We just won 600.”
Chastain mentioned that their strategy involved modifying the original car post-crash, but NASCAR intervened in a way that turned out to be beneficial.
“We thought we needed to fix the primary, but NASCAR suggested we build something else instead, and that’s what we did,” Chastain said.
Phil Surgen, a crew member, explained that the original car was performing well, and it was a “letdown” when the tires went down and Chastain crashed during practice.
Nonetheless, over 30 team members rallied at a nearby race shop to assist, with nearly a dozen working until 2:30 AM to prepare for the race. The car they ultimately used had been designated as a backup for the Nashville race and required several modifications.
“Our team is relentless, and everyone was determined to make it the best,” Surgen shared. “People left concerts and games to lend a hand.”
Justin Marks, the owner of Trackhouse Racing, lauded the team’s efforts as a “master class.”
Byron left the track feeling disappointed about losing the lead.
“He was catching up to me, and I was trying to defend my position, but I was getting a bit tight,” Byron explained. “He managed to pass me and get to the bottom line. It’s unfortunate to lead so many laps.”
Byron became the first driver to win all three stages in NASCAR’s longest race, but found himself battling against Denny Hamlin in the final 100 laps. They exchanged the lead several times, both pitting for fuel at lap 52.
Unfortunately, Hamlin couldn’t secure enough fuel and fell out of contention, finishing 16th.
With Chastain in the backup car, he secured his sixth Cup Series victory and first Crown Jewel win.
Paul sitter Chase Briscoe took third place.
Kyle Larson had an eventful day, having attempted to start in the Indianapolis 500 – Shipwreck.
Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway by helicopter just over an hour before the race after crashing on his second attempt at completing a “double” at the Indy 500.
In North Carolina, he began in the front row, leading early before hitting the wall on lap 38.
Shortly thereafter, his car lost grip, resulting in the race’s first caution flag. However, Larson managed to regain control and limit damage to his No. 5 Chevrolet before heading to the pits for adjustments that put him at the back of the field.
Sadly, he later got caught in a wreck involving Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, and Daniel Suarez, which sent him behind the wall, finishing 37th.
Johnson’s Early Exit
Jimmie Johnson’s quest for a historic fifth Coca-Cola 600 victory ended abruptly when he crashed into the wall on turn 4 early in the second stage, severely damaging his No. 84 Toyota and forcing him out of the race. The seven-time Cup Series champion finished last.
“I made a rookie mistake,” Johnson admitted. “The traffic dynamics with this car were different, and I reacted inappropriately.”
Half-Time Tribute
In keeping with tradition, the drivers paused for a moment of silence as part of a Memorial Day weekend tribute to honor the fallen service members, “remembering, honoring, and paying tribute.”
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Source: apnews.com