Ross Chastain smashes watermelon after winning Cup Series playoff race

Ross Chastain won the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, and he busted out a watermelon celebration.

The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing led 52 of the race’s 267 laps to capture the victory at Kansas. Chastain beat out William Byron to deny any of the drivers remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 12 from winning.

Chastain, who comes from a family of watermelon farmers, smashed a watermelon in celebration of winning the race.

WATERMELON SMASH! 🍉

ROSS CHASTAIN WINS AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/julnbegSZa

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 29, 2024

Chastain had battled Kyle Busch for the lead with around 40 laps to go. He was able to overtake Busch, who spun out with 30 laps to go and finished 19th.

The victory was Chastain’s first at Kansas and fifth Cup Series win overall. This is the second year in a row where Chastain played the spoiler in the playoffs. He won last year at Phoenix despite having been previously eliminated from the playoffs.