Ross Chastain Bio
Ross Lee Chastain, born on December 4, 1992, in Alva, Florida, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports. He is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Chad Chastain. Chastain has earned a reputation as one of NASCAR’s most aggressive and resourceful competitors, known for his farming roots and signature watermelon-smashing victory celebrations.
Early Life and Background
Ross Lee Chastain was born on December 4, 1992, in Alva, Florida, to parents Ralph and Susan Chastain. He grew up around watermelon farming, working on his family’s farm until he turned thirteen, a background that later inspired his iconic post-race celebrations. Chastain started racing at the age of twelve, his interest sparked by watching his father’s hobby racing and seeing other kids his age compete. His home track was Punta Gorda Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida, where he competed in both late model and Fastruck Series events.
Even as a young racer, Chastain ran on a tight budget, a theme that followed him well into the higher ranks of NASCAR. His short track career saw him score more than fifty wins in feature events, including the Limited Late Model portion of the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Chastain is a graduate of Riverdale High School in Fort Myers, Florida, and briefly attended Florida Gulf Coast University before leaving to pursue racing full-time in the Truck Series.
Path to NASCAR
Chastain’s path through the NASCAR ladder began after he moved to Charlotte in mid-2011 and took over the No. 66 Turn One Racing entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His first Truck race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis was his first event with live pit stops, and he finished tenth. Connections in the watermelon farming industry helped him secure four more races, and he continued to gain experience despite mechanical setbacks.
In 2012, Chastain joined SS-Green Light Racing to compete for Rookie of the Year honors, driving the No. 08 truck sponsored by the National Watermelon Association and the National Watermelon Promotion Board. He posted a career-best seventh-place finish at Martinsville Speedway and a third-place run at Bristol later that summer. By 2013, he had earned a part-time ride with Brad Keselowski Racing, where he captured his first career Truck Series pole at Iowa Speedway and finished the year with strong runs, including a second-place effort at Phoenix.
Ross Chastain Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
After leaving Brad Keselowski Racing, Chastain moved to RBR Enterprises for a part-time Truck Series schedule in 2014, but was released from the team after on-track incidents. He made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Viva Motorsports and later drove for Hattori Racing Enterprises at Michigan, posting the team’s best finish of the season. Chastain also competed in a part-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series East effort that year.
In 2015, Chastain joined JD Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, replacing Jeffrey Earnhardt. He logged four top-ten finishes and found himself in an altercation with Ryan Reed at Richmond International Raceway. Across 2016 and 2017, Chastain remained with JD Motorsports, scoring top-ten runs and engaging in notable on-track fights with Jeremy Clements at Bristol and Brendan Gaughan at Texas, which only added to his growing reputation as a hard-nosed racer.
Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Chastain’s 2017 Xfinity season was the best of his career to that point, scoring a top-five at Iowa and two top tens while finishing thirteenth in points, the highest of any non-playoff driver. In 2018, he built on that momentum with another strong campaign and earned a three-race opportunity with Chip Ganassi Racing in the Xfinity Series, where he led 180 of 200 laps to win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, securing his first career victory and a playoff berth. After that win, he famously smashed a watermelon on the track in celebration.
In 2019, Chastain ran a full Xfinity schedule for Chip Ganassi Racing before losing his sponsor following the FBI raid of DC Solar. He shifted focus to the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, winning at Kansas Speedway, sweeping the stages at Iowa before having that victory revoked post-race due to a technical violation, and earning redemption the next week at Gateway. He also won the Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona in the Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing. By the end of 2019, he was voted the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Most Popular Driver.
Cup Series Arrival (2020–2021)
In 2020, Chastain drove full-time in the Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing, finishing a career-high seventh in points with 27 top-tens, while also running part-time in the Cup Series. He replaced an injured Ryan Newman in the No. 6 Ford at Roush Fenway Racing for three races. On September 21, 2020, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Chastain would drive the No. 42 Chevrolet in the Cup Series in 2021, replacing Matt Kenseth.
Chastain’s Cup tenure with Ganassi began with a seventh-place finish in the 2021 Daytona 500, his best Cup result at the time. Later that year, Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing purchased Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR operations, and on August 3, 2021, it was announced that Chastain would pilot the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse’s new second team on a multi-year deal starting in 2022.
Trackhouse Racing Era (2022–Present)
Chastain began the 2022 season with a 40th-place finish at the Daytona 500 but quickly rebounded. He scored his first career Cup win at Circuit of the Americas and added a victory at Talladega Superspeedway, where Fox broadcaster Mike Joy gave him the nickname Ross “The Boss.” He earned a career-best second place in the final Cup standings and made headlines for an unforgettable wall-riding move at Martinsville Speedway, nicknamed the “Hail Melon,” which propelled him into the Championship 4.
In 2023, Chastain opened the season with a ninth-place run at the Daytona 500 and won at Nashville and Phoenix, finishing ninth in points. The 2024 season brought four top-fives and nine top-tens, although he missed the playoffs. In 2025, Chastain started the Daytona 500 with a 40th-place DNF, but rebounded at the Coca-Cola 600, where he passed William Byron with five laps to go to score his first win of the season, becoming the first driver in the modern Cup Series era to win a race after starting last.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chastain is known for his aggressive driving style and short-track racing instincts, developed through years of grassroots competition in Florida. He is fearless in close-quarters racing, often pushing the limits of contact, and is recognized for his late-braking skill into corners. His partnership with spotter Brandon McReynolds has helped him navigate traffic and execute bold moves on track, including the iconic “Hail Melon” at Martinsville.
Notable Races and Milestones
Chastain’s signature tracks include Talladega Superspeedway, where he has a Cup win, and Martinsville Speedway, site of his famous wall-riding move. His first Cup win came at Circuit of the Americas in 2022, and he has also won at Nashville, Phoenix, Kansas, and the Coca-Cola 600. Off-track, he is celebrated for reviving the watermelon-smashing tradition in NASCAR victory lane, paying tribute to his family’s farming roots.
Ross Chastain Career Wins
Ross Chastain has built a diverse résumé across NASCAR’s three national series, including wins in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Truck Series. His victories have ranged from short track events to superspeedways and road courses, establishing him as a versatile winner.
Cup Series Highlights
Chastain’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory came at Circuit of the Americas in 2022, followed by a win at Talladega Superspeedway. He added victories at Nashville and Phoenix in 2023, at Kansas in 2024, and at the Coca-Cola 600 in 2025, where he became the first driver in the modern Cup era to win from the last starting position. He has finished as high as second in the Cup Series points standings.
Xfinity and Truck Series Highlights
In the Xfinity Series, Chastain’s most notable win came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2018, his first national series victory. He also won the Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona in 2019. In the Truck Series, he won at Kansas and Gateway in 2019, and captured a victory at Darlington in 2024 with Niece Motorsports, as well as a Truck Series win at Pocono in 2019, which he dedicated to a fallen crew member.
Ross Chastain Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ross Chastain was raised in Alva, Florida, by his parents, Ralph and Susan Chastain. While his father raced as a hobby, Ross is the first generation of his family to race competitively at a national level. He is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Chad Chastain, with whom he grew up racing and playing NASCAR video games, an activity that later inspired his famous wall-riding move at Martinsville.
Personal Life
Chastain is in a relationship with Erika Anne Turner. A native of Alva, Florida, he worked as a watermelon farmer on his family’s farm until age thirteen. He graduated from Riverdale High School in Fort Myers and attended Florida Gulf Coast University for a semester before committing to racing. He currently stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds, and he is a United States citizen by nationality.
2025 Season Performance
Ross Chastain began the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with a 40th-place DNF at the Daytona 500, a disappointing start for the Trackhouse Racing driver. After a three-month stretch without a win, Chastain rebounded in dominant fashion at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, passing William Byron with five laps remaining to claim his first victory of the year. The win was historic, as Chastain became the first driver in the modern Cup Series era to win a race from the last starting position, a remarkable feat given the race’s length and competitiveness.
Heading into the summer stretch of the 2025 season, Chastain’s victory at Charlotte positions him as a strong contender for the Cup Series playoffs. With the win, he also locked in crucial playoff points and momentum heading into critical races at intermediate tracks and short circuits. Trackhouse Racing and the No. 1 team will look to build on this momentum, with Chastain’s aggressive driving style and aggressive race craft likely to play a central role in the team’s playoff push. His partnership with spotter Brandon McReynolds continues to be an asset, and the team will aim for consistency in the closing months of the regular season to secure a strong playoff seed.