51ºÚÁÏ

Ross Chastain and his over-the-top race-winning celebrations have a serious meaning.

The popular NASCAR driver likes to raise a watermelon over his head and then slam it to the concrete in Victory Lane while atop his car.

Then, the 32-year-old picks up the nearest chunk and takes a bite out of the smashed fruit, much to the delight of his race team and legion of supporters.

The wild scene is different — and certainly entertaining. But it is not a gimmick nor an ode to one of his sponsors.

It’s a move to honor his family background and a profession that once looked like it would be his calling.

“It’s basically what my whole life is about,� Chastain said. “It’s the most natural thing for me.�

Chastain’s family runs a watermelon farm in Alva, Florida, a small town nestled in the southwestern part of the state. The group is the eighth generation of the family to inhabit the property, which goes by the name “8 Track Farms.�

He hopes to bring out that unique merriment Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway when the NASCAR Cup Series stops at the 1.25-mile oval in Madison for the Enjoy Illinois 300. The race is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

The race is the second in the Round of 16 playoff hunt that will culminate with the series champion being crowned Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway.

The Enjoy Illinois 300 race will conclude a huge weekend in the 51ºÚÁÏ suburb. The NASCAR Infinity Truck Series race will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by a post-race concert from former 51ºÚÁÏ Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright.

The track also will be open Friday for the truck practice sessions and a host of fan activities.

The feature race is set to begin just after 2 p.m. and will be televised by the USA Network.

Noted actor and comedian Bill Murray is expected to serve as the Grand Marshall. The 74-year-old will utter the famous words to kick-start the event. Murray and his band, Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers, will perform before the race.

Chastain got a chance to really bring his celebration to light when he came from out of nowhere to win the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May. It was his sixth NASCAR Cup win and by far the most memorable.

Driving the No. 1 Chevrolet, Chastain started the race at the very back (40th) after cutting a tire and crashing the day before, forcing him to miss qualifying.

Undeterred, Chastain picked off fellow drivers one by one before finally passing William Byron with six laps remaining to become the first NASCAR driver to win after starting last since Bobby Allison took the checkered flag at Richmond in 1969.

The nationally televised landmark triumph served as the perfect opportunity for Chastain to bring out the watermelon party.

And his family farm is very close to his heart.

“If things turned out different, I might be working there (rather) than here in racing,� Chastain said. “That’s why (the celebrations) are important to me.

“It’s not just for fun — it’s sort of who I am.�

Chastain can go on and on about the proper way to raise ripe, sweet watermelons.

He still spends plenty of time working in the family business during the offseason.

“It’s a skill that takes time to learn, like anything,� Chastain said.

Chastain carries the shortened nickname “Melon Man,� but it never seemed to catch on in the racing community. NASCAR has always prided itself on colorful sobriquets, such as Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s The Intimidator or “King� Richard Petty.

“Some tease, some don’t get it,� Chastain said. “And I like that. I definitely think other (racers) lean into things that are a good fit for them.

“And that’s the way it is with me and watermelons.�

Chastain has had an up-and-down season, although he made the playoffs by finishing 11th in the season-long chase, thanks in part to the points accumulated at the Coca-Cola victory. He has finished no better than sixth since that May 25 win at Charlotte, including crashing out on back-to-back weekends at Dover and Indianapolis in late July.

He recorded just three top five finishes in the 26-race regular-season circuit leading up to the first playoff race last weekend at Darlington, where he finished 11th.

“It has been rough,� Chastain said. “But I’ve been in this sport long enough to know that if you keep showing up, it’ll come back around eventually.�

Chastain, a member of the Trackhouse Racing team, made his Cup Series debut in 2017 after success in the Truck and Infinity series races

Known as a hard and aggressive driver, Chastain has had his share of scraps with other drivers during his career, including a clash with Denny Hamlin in the June 2022 race in Madison.

But he refuses to back down and plans on using watermelon power to make a charge toward the top Sunday.

A few breaks here and there, and Chastain could be bouncing watermelon pieces all over the place.

“You’ve got to stand out somehow,� Chastain said. “And watermelons are the best thing that I have.�