KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Ross Chastain finally got to smash a watermelon for the first time this season Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
Smashed the hopes of a bunch of playoff drivers trying to earn an automatic berth in the next round, too.
The seventh-generation watermelon farmer took the lead from fellow nonplayoff driver Martin Truex Jr. of Joe Gibbs Racing on a restart with 20 laps to go, then held off title contender William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports the rest of the way to the finish line. It was the first win for Chastain since last November’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway, where he also played a bit of a spoiler on the day the NASCAR Cup Series crowned its champion.
“We haven’t gone anywhere. We keep showing up,” said Chastain, who barely missed out on qualifying for the Cup Series playoffs this year after winding up ninth in the final standings for 2023 and second in 2022. “It’s not easy when you’re failing or struggling at something, and you just can’t get to where you want to get to.”
Byron was less than a half-second (.388) behind in his No. 24 Chevrolet.