Ross Chastain speaks during a post-race interview after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Chastain received the all-clear from his family. I havent made any of those calls yet because I checked people were OK. Ill let the farmers tell me later on how it works out.. NASCAR intervened and told Hamlin that he "had made his point." Ross Chastain On Why He's Called The Watermelon Man | USA Insider During the spring, Chastain broke the all-time NASCAR record for most consecutive races run across all three national series to start a season, surpassing the mark of 22 set by Kyle Busch set in 2008. No. Theyre not ready yet, but theyll harvest through Christmas. [70], Chastain won the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona driving the No. Chastain ran his first full Cup season with Chip Ganassi Racing last year, then landed the second seat at Trackhouse when it bought Ganassis NASCAR operation ahead of this season. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Carve up this cute car for your next party. He just hopes they think of watermelons when they see him. You got to stay on everybody, and plants are in the ground, and well start harvesting in a few weeks. Gaughan initially avoided discussing the incident with reporters[26] but later boasted about the incident on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and said that he received several text messages from fellow drivers who were happy about the incident. I didnt always know we were going to smash it. [8] He finished 10th in that event. Chastain scored his first career cup win at the Circuit of the Americas battling against Alex Bowman and A. J. Allmendinger. [8], On October 6, 2018, it was reported that Chastain had agreed to drive the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season with Premium Motorsports, and a deal with Chip Ganassi Racing for more Xfinity races was likely. How 8th-generation watermelon farmer Ross Chastain plowed path to NASCAR Tim Walters Fort Myers News-Press 0:00 0:30 Nestled between Lehigh Acres and Olga in Southwest Florida lies a. [2] His home track was Punta Gorda Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida,[3] at age twelve, competing in both late model and Fastruck Series events. [93], In June at Gateway, Chastain began a feud with Hamlin. The watermelons have grown there ever since, and now his father and brother oversee the farms and their five full-time employees. [53] Chastain fell out of the playoffs after the opening round after Matt Tifft made a late-race rally at Dover, claiming the final spot by three points. [94], Weeks later at Atlanta, Chastain spun Hamlin with 14 laps to go. Newman returned to the No. Watermelon Farms | Alva, FL - Manta.com You got to stay on everybody, and plants are in the ground, and well start harvesting in a few weeks. enewsletter with seasonal tips, tricks andrecipes. [71][72] Chastain would later win at Pocono Raceway in the Truck Series in commanding fashion, dedicating his win to Kaulig crew chief Nick Harrison, who had died the previous week. Louisville and Miami will begin competing annually this fall with the stakes including a trophy named for Howard Schnellenberger, the legendary coach who guided both programs to national prominence. So then from there, we just wanted to do something, and I just held [a watermelon] at Vegas in my first NASCAR win. Growing up, life was busy on the family farm. [91] At the Indianapolis road course, Chastain crossed the line second to Tyler Reddick, but was penalized and scored 27th place for crossing the access road during the final restart. DC Solar, instrumental in Chastain's introduction to the team, remained on as sponsor. The popularity of iRacing with FOX Sports broadcasting a simulcast on national television brought 910,000 viewers in its first week and 1.3 million the next. Watermelons have rarely been highlighted the way they were Sunday when Chastain won his first career Cup race. After a trip to the NASCAR hauler, Gase called Chastain a "golden boy" and threatened to derail Chastain's playoff hopes. The roadside landmark along Interstate 75 in south Georgia was rededicated Thursday. Chastain's 2017 Xfinity season was the best of his career, scoring a top-five at Iowa and two top tens as well as finishing 13th in points, the highest of the non-playoff drivers. It is everything that I want right. He also races at the top in the Cup Series. So did racing. [101] Chastain scored his first win of the season at Nashville. Harbes Barnyard Adventure is an 8-acre, family-friendly . The watermelon has long inspired artists, such as Giuseppe Recco's Still Life With Fruit (1634-1695).The first color sketches of the red-fleshed, sweet watermelon in Europe can be found in a . He then rebounded with a third place finish, while leading an at the time, career-high 83 laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and two runner-up finishes at Phoenix Raceway, and at Atlanta Motor Speedway, after recovering a two lap deficit upon crashing in lead position. Send us a quick message and well be in touch right away. [21], He then joined JD Motorsports in 2015, replacing Jeffrey Earnhardt. An eighth-generation watermelon farmer, Chastain is proud to welcome first-time NASCAR sponsor, the Mar-Del Watermelon Association, to DGM Racing's Chevrolet this weekend. [73] In Xfinity Series competition at Watkins Glen International, Chastain sent Justin Allgaier spinning off the track in the bus stop portion of the circuit; Allgaier, thinking the move was intentional, wrecked Chastain in the same section of the track later in the race, relegating Chastain to a 34th-place finish. NASCARs Martin Truex Jr. It. in a play on the famous Nike slogan. If they dont know my name, as long as they know watermelons, I feel like thats good. And then we were talking about it in the media center, and I was like, Ive gotta do something with this watermelon! Ive gotta go smash it. I just want people to remember it and think of [agriculture] and watermelons when they see me. Chastain, Gaughan, and crew members from both teams brawled behind Victory Lane after the night race. We have no safety net. [25] Chastain blamed the confrontation on Gaughan, saying the Richard Childress Racing driver attacked him, but also acknowledged that he races hard and does not play favorites. The Board is not responsible for the quality, safety, completeness, accuracy or nature of the content of the linked website. On June 30, 2021, Justin Marks, co-founder of Trackhouse Racing announced that he had purchased Chip Ganassi Racing's entire NASCAR operations after the 2021 season, leaving Chastain as a free agent. The Chastain family initially settled in Georgia until Chastain's great-grandfather relocated to Punta Gorda, Florida. His car was comparable to the performances of the JDM cars, which led to a deal in the offseason. 07 car in the Xfinity Series race at Circuit of the Americas, replacing its normal driver, Joe Graf Jr.[88]. [75], Chastain would earn his second top-five of 2019 when he finished second to Christopher Bell at Texas Motor Speedway in November, leading 29 laps. J.K.D.I. In my dads words, this is the worst storm hes ever seen. This is our go time to grow the watermelons.. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman), Ross Chastain (1) celebrates winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Austin, Texas. The Chastain family initially settled in Georgia until Chastains great-grandfather relocated to Punta Gorda, Fla. J.D.I. NASCAR: 12 questions with watermelon farmer/driver Ross Chastain In the late 1800s, a . Fortunately,the Alva native has had little trouble staying busy as the family business watermelon farminghas occupied the bulk of Chastains time away from the track. [6] Connections in the watermelon farming industry got Chastain four more races, which were marred by incidents at Bristol Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Even so, he never moves too far beyond the work the rest of his family is putting in at the farm. We buy them at the grocery store, just like everybody else does, Chastain said. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. The eighth generation watermelon farmer from Florida did not call home and ask his family to send a fresh melon to Austin, Texas, for the first road course of the season. It is reportedly the final watermelon festival on America's yearly watermelon festival calendar. 2023 Melon 1. The Chastain family initially settled in Georgia until Chastain's great-grandfather relocated to Punta Gorda, Florida. Chastain is an eighth-generation watermelon farmer, and his family has a watermelon farm in Charlotte County, Florida, which is just outside of Fort Myers. So the easiest thing you can do is hydrate well. By the Easter off weekend, Chastain had expanded his Cup schedule, which had included every race since Atlanta, to all of the race weekends where the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series run at the same track. But all it would take would be a little time which is something the family knows all about. In the second half of the season, Chastain rarely finished outside the top twenty and mainly finished in the mid-teens. The contact form is not for transportation companies looking to be set up. 15 truck for the World of Westgate 200 and finished seventh, Premium's best-ever finish across all three NASCAR national series. David Yeazell/USA TODAY Sports Images, Sox Transactions, Trades, and Free Agents, Former Red Sox Outfielder DFA'd For Second Time This Season, Alex Cora Reveals Red Sox Injury That Could Delay 'Tough Decision', Patriots Division Rival Reportedly Loses RB To Season-Ending Knee Injury, Boston Influence? 7 car, the second car for Premium Motorsports, at the Cup series season finale at Homestead, but the team withdrew. The giant watermelon slice is 25 feet long, built in the 1950s to take part in the town's Watermelon Days (now called the Melon Days) festival, which is held every mid-September. Chad Chastain is also the spotter for his brother; if he's at the track, their father cannot attend the race. @WatermelonBoard #WatermelonOnTheGo pic.twitter.com/UYb9ZBFRbw, Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) May 3, 2019. Chastain after winning at Pocono. We stuck with it, for better or worse, and every generation has stayed with it.. Home News Sports Ross Chastain returns to his roots on watermelon farm. The eighth generation watermelon farmer from Florida did not call home and ask his family to send a fresh melon to Austin, Texas, for the first road course of the season. Chastain puts watermelons in spotlight - News Tribune Ross Chastain @RossChastain. 10 entry. Bob Stewart has been farming since 1998. NASCAR driver and Florida native Ross Chastain recently shared updates on the hurricane with Fox reporter Bob Pockrass. At Pocono, they brought me a broom and a shovel, and we shoveled it out. Ross Lee Chastain (born December 4, 1992)[1] is an American professional stock car racing driver. From farm to track: Chastain puts watermelons in spotlight Hamlin said that he had "reached his peak" when referring to dealing with Chastain. The farm is currently run by Chastains father, Ralph, and his brother, Chad. It stopped yesterday afternoon. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman). The 5,000-Year Secret History of the Watermelon - National Geographic Do. Expert Tip: To get a jump on growing, you can . "[45] Chastain, for his part, finished 25th after repairs and called running up front "cool" and also saying "I don't care what Harvick says. The J.D.I., by the way, stands for Just. Ross Chastain started the NASCAR season with one watermelon and it traveled with him from track to track. We do two in Florida, but the rest of the country does one, and we import. The real farmers. 41 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports. Harvesting them and watching them leave in semis. In addition to growing watermelons, he also farms cucumbers and squash. This one time, at Daytona, I smashed one on the start-finish line and then again in Victory Lane. The J.D.I., by the way, stands for Just. I sit here, and I look at this (watermelon) and I think back to the stories of our family, Chastain said after his aggressive battle with former teammate AJ Allmendinger on the final lap of overtime earned him and Trackhouse Racing their first victories. 55 for Viva Motorsports. Martin Truex Jr. is undecided on retirement or another NASCAR season Theyve grown the farm to an incredible spot, Chastain said. Florida watermelons all over the southern part of the state are being packed up and shipped out. Chad Chastain is also the spotter for his brother; if hes at the track, their father cannot attend the race. [30] Chastain heard from various sources that his driving style made multiple drivers mad on-track, but Chastain says it doesn't bother him. Keep up the good work Ross. Farms began when his great-grandfather finished his military commitment and has been passed down several generations. In 1999, Richard Chastain rounded out our year-round growing capabilities, and the rest, as they say, is history. When he finally hit the jackpot with the promise of full-season backing from DC Solar, the FBI raided the business in a Ponzi scheme investigation. (Associated Press). From a watermelon farm to streets of Chicago: 'Not like the roads in Alva, for sure'. Its just scary stuff. I wanted to. Farm to the Fast Lane - Watermelon Farm - YouTube The real farmers. Chastain attended Florida Gulf Coast University for a semester before he began racing in the Truck Series. 91 Chevrolet Camaro for DGM Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. It was incredible. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The opportunity emerged after Chastain raced with TriStar Motorsports at the end of the 2014 season. "It kept me out of trouble," he said. "We just honed in on watermelons as the family business. As he looked down at the smashed slice of watermelon that represented his Cup win, Chastain was able to find parallels in the family business and his own difficult climb to NASCARs top levels. [66] In June, he announced his intention to switch to Truck Series points to compete for a championship in the series. Alva's Ross Chastain returns to farm during NASCAR hiatus - NBC2 News When Chastain was informed about how serious Roush Fenway Racing wanted him to approach this new venture, it rivaled the phone call he received when they inquired about him coming aboard to spell Newman as he recovered from his injuries. 6 when the season resumed while Chastain returned to Spire Motorsports part-time. I dont know how to process it yet. His season got off to an unusual start at Daytona as his Xfinity car failed to qualify with a mechanical issue but he would get into the race when fellow driver Jeff Green gave Chastain his seat. Later in the same race, Chastain ran into Chase Elliott, causing him to spin. Alva's Ross Chastain to fill in for Ryan Newman for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Race at Las Vegas, Daytona 500: Riverdale grad Ross Chastain fails to finish after crashing late in race, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Chastain, an eighth generation watermelon farmer, acknowledged how others have been impacted in that aspect, as well. So its harvested in the field at say, 11 a.m., put it in a school bus, haul it to our packing house, which is within 20 miles usually. At Iowa [Speedway], they brought a fire truck in, and I hosed it out. The eighth generation watermelon farmer from Florida did not call home and ask his family to send a fresh melon to Austin, Texas, for the first road course of the season. Chastain said that the move was inspired by playing the video game NASCAR 2005 on the GameCube as a kid with his brother Chad. [4] Even those races, at tracks like Citrus County Speedway, Auburndale Speedway and DeSoto Speedway, were run on a tight budget, a theme that would carry on to much of Chastain's career in the higher ranks of NASCAR. Its pretty crazy.. Really before that, 12 generations ago they were farming, but back then everybody farmed. 4 JD Motorsports ride for 30 races, replacing Blake Koch, who stepped away to focus on business ventures. [Then its] off-loaded, washed, sanitized, sorted and packed and put it into a cardboard bin and loaded with a forklift onto a semi. Years later, Chastain said that he initially made the move to BKR as an attempt to get in a Team Penske ride, but that BKR and Penske did not view the situation that way. 44 for Niece Motorsports in Partial Schedule", "Two of Kaulig Racing's three cars DNQ from Xfinity race", "Daytona 500: Riverdale grad Ross Chastain fails to finish after crashing late in race", "Ross Chastain will replace Ryan Newman in the No. Do. Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Roush Fenway Racing tabbed Chastain to fill in behind the wheel of theNo. [44] Harvick later parked in Chastain's pit stall before giving a heated post-race interview calling Chastain "inexperienced" and saying that Chastain will "never get to drive many of them [events in top-tier cars] again. It started eight generations ago. The real farmers. With three top-10's and sittingin fifth in the Xfinity standings through four races,Chastain was preparing for the race weekend in Atlanta before NASCAR ceased operations March 16. Watermelons have rarely been highlighted the way they were Sunday when Chastain won his first career Cup race. Working through the details of it, it was kind of the same call twice, one for real life and the other for eSports. [83] He finished a career-high 7th in the Xfinity standings with 27 top tens (the most of any driver that season) and 15 top fives (including five runner-up finishes), despite not winning a race. "We buy them at the grocery store, just like everybody else does," Chastain said. [23] He achieved this after a tight points battle with J. J. Yeley for the spot in the last four races of the season. From farm to track: With win, NASCAR driver Chastain puts watermelons
Apollo Hospital, Sarita Vihar, Beach Park School District Salary Schedule, Articles W