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National Post

Ross Chastain goes from worst to 1st to win NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C. — Ross Chastain stood on top of his No. 1 Chevrolet in his white fire suit and held a watermelon above his head as the crowd at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roared with delight in anticipation. Article content Then, with sense of ferocity, Chastain slammed it to the track, smashing it to pieces. Article content Chastain began smashing watermelon as a way to uniquely honor his family's legacy as eighth-generation watermelon farmers. The tradition began after his first NASCAR Cup Series race and has continued after every win as his own unique way to celebrate his strong ties to watermelon farming. Article content But this win was extra special, his first at crown jewel event. Article content 'This thing is fresh from Florida,' Chastain said with a laugh. 'It just came up from our family farm. Man, for the Florida watermelon industry, that's your watermelons you're getting right now, so y'all better go buy a dang watermelon to celebrate. I want to see videos of smashed watermelons flood the socials. I want to see it. Florida watermelons are in season.' Article content Chastain passed two-time Daytona 500 winner William Byron with six laps left and won the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, capping a remarkable comeback and becoming the first driver to win the event after starting at the back of the field. Article content NASCAR said he's the first driver to win from an official starting position of last since Bobby Allison at the Richmond Fairgrounds in 1969. Article content William Byron won the first three stages and led 283 laps, but surrendered the lead to Chastain, who started in 40th place and led just eight laps in his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the year. Article content It was a huge boost to Trackhouse Racing, and a bitter disappointment for Byron, the Charlotte native who had signed a four-year contract extension Friday with Hendrick Motorsports. Byron has finished in the top three in the last three Coca-Cola 600s without winning. Article content Article content Chastain said his crew stayed up all night to build him another car after a crash in practice on Saturday. Article content 'To drive on that final run in the 600 and pass two cars that had been better than me all night, wow,' said Chastain, who celebrated by standing on his car and slamming a watermelon down on the track as has become his tradition following a victory. 'Holy cow! We just won the 600.' Article content Chastain said the plan was the fix the original car after the wreck, but NASCAR intervened. It might have been a good thing they did. Article content 'We thought we were going to have to fix the primary and NASCAR said, no, there is something bent (so) go build another one,' Chastain said. 'That's how we did that.' Article content Chastain's crew chief, Phil Surgen, said it was 'deflating' when a tire went down and Chastain crashed during practice because their original car had been running so well, finishing fastest among the field in 10-, 15- and 20-lap averages