Latest news with #Chastain
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
From Watermelon Fields to NASCAR Fame: The Unstoppable Rise of Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain's story is one that blends humble beginnings with high-speed glory—a tale rooted in the watermelon fields of Alva, Florida, and now roaring across the NASCAR circuit. As an eighth-generation watermelon farmer turned professional race car driver, Chastain's recent victory in Charlotte is not just another win on the board—it's a celebration of resilience, determination, and unwavering dedication. Before he became a household name in motorsports, Chastain spent his early years working on his family's farm, learning the value of sweat and perseverance. While his hands were once stained red from watermelon harvests, today they grip the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing Team. His path to NASCAR's premier level was anything but easy. With no major funding or family racing dynasty backing him, Ross had to earn every opportunity with tireless effort. On the track, Chastain is now regarded as one of NASCAR's most tenacious and unpredictable talents. Known for his aggressive yet calculated driving style, he made national headlines in 2022 with his wild 'video game move' at Martinsville—riding the wall on the final lap to gain several positions and clinch a spot in the Championship 4. That single move went viral and earned him a permanent place in NASCAR lore. In the 2023 season, Chastain proved that his success was no fluke. He finished second in the Cup Series standings, showcasing consistency and speed across a range of tracks—from superspeedways like Talladega to road courses like COTA. His victory at the Nashville Superspeedway last season marked a turning point, affirming him as a serious title contender. Prime Time Victory: Ross Chastain Wins Charlotte | Stacking Pennies Now, in 2024, his win in Charlotte cements his status as a frontrunner once again. It was a race that demonstrated his ability to maintain focus under pressure, expertly maneuvering through pit strategy and late cautions to seize the checkered flag. Off the track, he remains true to his roots. Chastain proudly partners with agricultural companies like Enza Zaden Americas to advocate for watermelon growers, embodying the spirit of the farming community that raised him. Ross Chastain is more than just a NASCAR driver—he's a symbol of how authenticity and ambition can fuel extraordinary success. From dirt-covered boots to fireproof suits, his journey from the fields of Florida to the front lines of racing is not just inspiring—it's still unfolding, and it's thrilling to watch. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Ross Chastain's grit shakes up NASCAR power rankings; Larson leads odds despite 'double' setback
Ross Chastain 's remarkable victory at the Coca-Cola 600 has reignited his championship aspirations and reshaped the NASCAR power rankings . Starting from the back in a backup car, Chastain surged through the field to overtake William Byron in the final laps, securing his first win of the season and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. Kyle Larson remains the frontrunner in the championship odds, despite this triumph. His recent attempt at the grueling "Double", competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, ended in disappointment with crashes in both events. Nevertheless, Larson's dominant performances earlier in the season, including wins in Kansas and Bristol, keep him at the top of the odds board. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Legian (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo Christopher Bell follows closely, having achieved three consecutive victories earlier this season and maintaining consistent top-10 finishes. William Byron, despite leading 283 laps in Charlotte before being overtaken by Chastain, holds the championship lead and remains a strong contender. As the series heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Cracker Barrel 400, the competition intensifies. The race, scheduled for Sunday, June 1, at 7:00 PM ET, marks the fifth Cup Series event at the 1.33-mile concrete oval in Lebanon, Tennessee. Larson, Bell, and Byron are among the favorites, but Chastain's recent victory positions him as a formidable challenger. Live Events The Coca-Cola 600 also marked a significant moment in NASCAR's broadcasting history, being the first race streamed exclusively on Prime Video. The event attracted an average of 2.72 million viewers, with a notably younger audience demographic, signaling a shift in how fans engage with the sport. The battle for playoff positions intensifies, with only eight drivers having secured wins in the first 13 races. The upcoming races, including the Cracker Barrel 400, will be crucial in determining the championship landscape.
Forbes
4 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Chastain Wins While Carrying A Soldier's Name And A Family's Hope
It's hard to picture a more American moment: a watermelon farmer from Florida driving a Chevy at 200 miles an hour with the name of a fallen soldier painted across the windshield. But that's exactly what happened this Memorial Day weekend, as Ross Chastain's No. 1 Jockey-sponsored Chevrolet thundered into Charlotte Motor Speedway, carrying not just horsepower—but legacy. And then came the twist no one saw coming. Chastain didn't just race. He won. The No. 1 car crossed the finish line first in the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's longest, most grueling race. A car carrying the name of U.S. Army Specialist Kevin McCrea. A car with Be a Sponge on the rear deck lid. And tucked inside the door—Kevin's photo. Kevin McCrea. Allie McCrea Family The name on the car was U.S. Army Specialist Kevin McCrea. Injured during a night jump gone wrong, he survived for years with complications from the accident, ultimately passing away in 2020. His story, however, didn't end there. It lives on in the daughter he raised, the scholarship that helped shape her future, and in the glint of chrome and confetti under the lights at Charlotte. 'I think he'd be going crazy,' said Allie McCrea, Kevin's daughter. 'He would've thought it was the coolest thing ever. He loved sports, loved competition. This would've blown his mind.' Painted on the car, and echoed throughout the weekend, was a simple phrase Kevin passed on to her: Be a Sponge. It's not military jargon—it's life advice. Absorb it all. Learn something from everything. Even the hard stuff. 'Make the most of every moment,' Allie said. 'Because you won't get another like it.' Allie now works at the same Philadelphia hospital where her father was treated. A Folds of Honor scholarship helped her earn a graduate degree in music therapy. And she uses that training to help others the way music once helped him. 'I saw what it did for him during his recovery,' she said. 'It helped with pain, with anxiety. I realized this was how I could help others, just like my dad always wanted to do.' Moments before the race, Allie met Ross on pit road. She handed him a photo of her father and a prayer card. 'She said, 'We want you to have this. We want you to take this with you. This is for you,'' Chastain told me after the race. 'I put it in the door of the car.' That photo rode every lap of the Coca-Cola 600. At the start-finish line, as the cameras rolled, Ross pulled it out. 'That picture was meaningful—and that's mine now,' he said. 'I'll put that up in a safe place.' He wasn't just driving a race car. He was carrying a family's grief, their resilience, and now—thanks to that win—their redemption. 'It meant the world,' Chastain said. 'This is the storybook ending this is supposed to have. It usually doesn't.' When I asked him if that phrase might stick with him going forward—maybe as a sticker on the car, maybe as a mindset—Ross didn't hesitate. 'That saying can be taken any way we want,' he said. 'Just be a sponge. Always try to learn something. It's something I'll never forget.' He compared it to something his own father used to say: Just do it. Not as a brand slogan, but as fatherly advice. Be a Sponge now joins that internal soundtrack. It would be easy to frame this story as a NASCAR one-off—something stitched into a paint scheme for a weekend and then forgotten. But that's not how Allie sees it. 'This feels like the opposite of a funeral,' she said. 'That was final. This? This keeps him alive. It's not just us saying his name now. It's everybody.' It wasn't supposed to be about where Ross Chastain finished a race. It turned out to be much bigger than that. This Sunday on Memorial Day weekend, the race didn't just end with a checkered flag. It ended with meaning. With legacy. And with the roar of a crowd, a picture in the door pocket, and the message to Be a Sponge. After the win, Allie reflected on what the day—and the win—meant to her family: 'We were locked into the race the entire time… I just had a feeling it was going to be miraculous. Ross and I shared a really intimate, beautiful moment beforehand, and I told him I wanted him to have my dad with him. At the end, I kept praying to God and my dad: 'Please just keep him safe and get him in 1st.' 'When we got to see Ross next to the trophy, he gave me the biggest hug, and I said, 'So how do you expect me to ever attend another NASCAR race after this!?' and we laughed and he said, 'You don't!' 'He even pulled out my dad's prayer card to pose with the trophy. I can't get over Ross's humility… This was the ultimate way of keeping my dad's legacy alive, and on such an important weekend. It's one of the highest moments of my life.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CIAA makes decision on Charlotte's tournament bid
Charlotte's bid failed due to Spectrum Center scheduling conflicts. CIAA generated $650 million for Charlotte from 2006-2020. ALSO READ: From last to first: Chastain gets victory at Coca-Cola 600 The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association will stay in Baltimore rather than return to Charlotte for its annual basketball tournament beginning in 2027, CBJ has learned from sources close to the situation. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority subsequently confirmed the decision to CBJ. Read more here. (WATCH BELOW: CLT gets through Memorial Day weekend with few delays)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Boyfriend of Desire homicide victim arrested on murder allegations
NEW ORLENS (WGNO) — A man is in police custody following a homicide investigation in the Desire area on Sunday, May 25. Around 10:39 a.m., New Orleans Police Department officers responded to the call of an unresponsive woman in a home in the 3400 block of Agriculture Street. Amite woman killed in Tangipahoa Parish car crash Upon arrival, officers reported finding the woman with trauma to the head. She was pronounced dead on the scene. During the investigation, officers said they interviewed the victim's boyfriend 56-year-old Charles Blunt, who they ultimately arrested on allegations of second-degree murder. The investigation remains ongoing. The Orleans Parish Coroners Office will release the woman's identity after an autopsy is done and the family is notified. Nine arrests made involving allegations of aiding Orleans Parish escaped inmates, legal analyst weighs in Anyone with information on the incident can call the NOPD Homicide detectives at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at Chastain goes from worst to 1st to win NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 review: The three-row Electric SUV that's quietly redefining family hauling Boyfriend of Desire homicide victim arrested on murder allegations Katrina survivor builds homes from cargo ship containers to weather all storms 4 finally going home after WWII bomber crash left 11 dead and 'non-recoverable' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
