“I have a trailer, one of those toy haulers, and I drive it to those close ones that are around,” said Ross Chastain in an interview with Jeff Gluck back in 2018. He wasn’t the most talented race car driver, nor did he have the family links that could help me get a big breakthrough. All he had was his passion for racing cars and the hope of making it to the top level someday. It is a wholesome feeling right now to see Chastain do well, especially after his first crown jewel win at the Coca-Cola 600.
We have seen the melon man rip the fence, bend fenders and even smack the drivers in their faces. With six Cup Series wins and championship appearances, it feels as if Chastain has finally achieved his dream. But, despite the success with Trackhouse Racing and bursting onto the NASCAR Cup Series stage, he couldn’t help but reflect on his days of struggle, where he wasn’t even sure if he would have a ride next week from the Xfinity Series days.
In the post-race interview, after conquering the Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend, Chastain was asked whether he recalled his past self in JD Motorsports, struggling to get a job, and now being the winner of the Coca-Cola 600, would he be able to tell his past self about his victory lane. JD Motorsports ran into financial troubles when Chastain was driving their #4 car. He ran three seasons with them until they filed for bankruptcy, and the driver was on a hunt for a new ride.
Chastain thought for a while before going down the memory lane even further than his role at JD. He mentioned his racing days at Viva Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, and surprisingly, his debut race in the series also came at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I was driving through China Grove and I passed the old Viva Motorsports shop. Jamie Dick let me drive his car, I brought sponsorship. My first Xfinity race was here at Charlotte, 2014. We ran Charlotte and then Daytona.”
The Trackhouse Racing driver also spoke about his time at Brad Keselowski Racing from the Truck racing days. “I’ve crashed in 2013 here in the BKR Truck, with Chad Kendrick as my crew chief and I told him last night or Friday night after the Truck race that if he had the driver now that he sees with as me, that would have ran a lot better than we did back in [20]13,” said Chastain.
Charlotte had been a rough place for Chastain; he couldn’t even break into the top 10 during his Xfinity Series days, and his best finish came with BKR in 2013, where he finished 9th. But then came the turning point in his career, where after part-time runs, he bagged a ride with Premium Motorsports in 2021. From here on, he would transition to Chip Ganassi Racing and ultimately land on his feet at Trackhouse Racing. So the road has been a tough one for the melon man.
Nov 5, 2023; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) celebrates his race victory following the Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Even when he found himself against the odds, he kept on grinding. In the Auto Club Speedway, Chastain fought hard with Kevin Harvick who criticized him for being inexperienced and saying that Chastain will “never get to drive many of them [events in top-tier cars] again.” Chip Ganassi then responded on Twitter, defending Chastain’s performance and stating that he “helped himself to many future opportunities,” words that Ganassi still holds on to.
Now, with Chastain thriving at Trackhouse Racing, he doesn’t shy away from remembering all those who have been a part of this success.
Team effort was key behind Ross Chastain’s Coca-Cola 600 triumph
Ross Chastain captured his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season in a manner that left everyone, even the Trackhouse team, shocked. But making it to the starting line was an incredible feat in itself. Less than 24 hours before the actual race, Chastain’s weekend nearly unraveled when he blew a tire in practice and slammed the wall between Turns 3 and 4, destroying the No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet.
“It was pretty deflating,” said crew chief Phil Surgen. “We finally show up with some speed, and then we’re loading a wrecked car.” At first, the team turned to salvage the situation, but soon it became clear that the rear frame was bent beyond repair. NASCAR officials ruled the car unfit to race, forcing the team to pivot to a backup machine, which ultimately cost the team their valuable preparation time.
But what followed was a strenuous day for the team. Mechanics worked into the early hours of Sunday morning, with only a few hours of sleep. “At 8:30 p.m., there were 30 people at the shop,” Surgen recalled. “Road crew, engine support, shop guys who left concerts and baseball games—they just dropped everything and showed up.” And, against all odds, Chastain’s rebuilt car passed all inspections.
Once the green flag was waved, Chastain passed William Byron, who had dominated most of the night, leading 283 laps of 400, delivering Chastain his sixth career Cup Series win, all because of the efforts of his team and the support that he has had from the very beginning. It wasn’t just a win for Chastain, but a win for his entire team, who worked tirelessly to give him his victory.
The post “It Took Me Years”: Emotionally Charged Ross Chastain Lets Out His Humble Past Behind Gritty Coca-Cola 600 Triumph appeared first on EssentiallySports.