Ross Chastain, NASCAR stars recall ‘Hail Melon’ at Martinsville one year later: ‘A big brain move’

Although no longer legal, the “Hail Melon” move continues to captivate Ross Chastain. This incredible wall ride at Martinsville Speedway propelled Chastain into the Championship 4 last season, leaving a lasting impression on NASCAR drivers and fans alike. With a sense of disbelief, respect, and wonder, people still reflect on Chastain’s daring bravado.

“It’s incredible,” Chastain told NBC Sports. “I must have had millions of people tell me they were there that day. The energy and excitement surrounding that moment are just remarkable.”

Chastain needed to gain two spots on the final lap to secure victory. By driving into the wall through Turns 3 and 4 at a speed over 50 mph faster than normal on the 0.526-mile oval, he managed to pass five cars. His lap time of 18.845 seconds was the fastest in Cup history at Martinsville (the previous track record was 18.954 seconds). It’s a record that will likely be etched in immortality after NASCAR prohibited the move for safety reasons starting from the 2023 season.

Despite the move being banned, Chastain still revels in the various perspectives surrounding his epic feat. Inspired by a NASCAR video game played on a Nintendo GameCube in the mid-2000s, Chastain enjoys witnessing fans’ cell phone videos and hearing their accounts of the spectacle.

“Watching the grainy, shaky videos from different angles captured by fans in the grandstands was probably the coolest part,” Chastain said. “You can hear people asking each other what happened, and some even missed it. Hearing my family and friends recount their experiences adds to the excitement. For example, my Uncle Richie had walked out of the room when we took the white flag because he thought the race was over. Then he came running back in when my cousins started screaming. It’s amazing to hear these stories.”

Renowned drivers from Formula One and IndyCar also showered praise on Chastain for bringing to life a move that many of them had only attempted in virtual racing.

“Seeing racing icons and industry personalities from around the world interact with that moment is awesome,” Chastain said. “Some had positive things to say, while others had negative opinions. But that’s okay.”

Interestingly, even some of the move’s initial critics have softened their stance. Kyle Larson, who was particularly unhappy with the move, has now come to admire Chastain’s boldness.

“Initially, I couldn’t believe a move like that would be legal,” Larson recently told NBC Sports. “I was pretty harsh about it and didn’t think it was a fair way to advance to the final four. But upon further reflection, I considered the fact that Chastain raced between the wall and the apron, making it technically legal. Additionally, the move brought significant attention to our sport. With time, I became more okay with how it played out and recognized the positive impact it had on Ross Chastain, Trackhouse, and team owner Justin Marks. It’s great for the sport. However, I’m also pleased that NASCAR has implemented a rule prohibiting a ‘Hail Melon’ in the future.”

Larson himself nearly executed a similar move to secure victory at the 2021 Southern 500 but decided against it just as he was about to make contact with the Darlington Raceway wall.

“In the middle of performing the move, I thought, ‘I don’t want to win this way,'” said Larson. “I’m glad I didn’t. It was crazy. Looking at the data, Chastain shifted gears — something you never do at Martinsville — he shifted to fifth gear and held it wide open around the wall. That part is mind-blowing and demonstrates immense courage and imagination.”

Cup Drivers Share Their Memories and Reactions to the Last Lap at Martinsville

Ross Chastain:

“As I took the white flag coming off Turn 4, my spotter Brandon McReynolds said, ‘White flag, we need two spots.’ I confirmed it in Turns 1 and 2 because I knew the math. From five laps to go to one lap, we were out of the qualifying positions. However, as he mentioned it, the thought of running the wall crossed my mind. But I’m glad I didn’t consider it in Turn 1 because with the condition of the car, it wouldn’t have made it to Turn 3. When my crew chief Phil Surgen said, ‘Yeah, we need two. We have to get them,’ I never hesitated.

“I can’t explain the rationale in my mind, but perhaps it was due to the limited time I had to process it. I didn’t have any reasons why I shouldn’t do it, only potential upside for gaining those spots. Midway through the corner, I realized I hadn’t slowed down much because it was an intense ride inside the car. It was the longest crash I’ve ever experienced — nearly 5 seconds long. As I saw the sun in my eyes and everything became blurry, I knew Turn 4 and the gate were approaching. I let go of the wheel partway through the corner and grabbed it again as I felt it compress. The first clear thing I saw through my window net was the No. 11, and I knew we had done it.”

Bubba Wallace:

“It was a blur, a massive blur. I was running eighth or ninth, and suddenly something whizzed right past me, and I was like, ‘What was that?’ I was in the middle of 3 and 4 and finally realized it was Ross, and I just thought, ‘Wow.’ That was quite impressive, a really smart move.”

Martin Truex Jr.:

“As I was barely coming off Turn 2, I saw him flying through the middle of the corner, seemingly at a million mph. I thought, ‘Holy hell. What the hell is happening up there? That is insane.’ I think my reaction was the same as everyone else’s, thinking, ‘What just happened?’ It was crazy how fast it seemed like he was going, even from my position in the car, a straightaway behind.”

William Byron:

“Yeah, it was insane. That whole year was just crazy, with all the things happening during the playoffs. It was just as expected. Kudos to him. It was an incredibly brilliant move. Many people didn’t know what to make of it. Personally, I thought it was a genius move. It won’t happen again this year, but it was mind-blowing to see him come off Turn 4 with so much speed. I’ve done some wild stuff on iRacing, as those who play it know. I’m not sure if I’ve ever ridden the wall in a race, but I’ve definitely tried it during practice sessions.”

Kyle Busch:

“When I saw Ross Chastain’s move at the end of the Martinsville race, it reminded me of the year before when I needed to win the race to qualify for the championship round at Phoenix. I was consistently running second behind Alex Bowman during a few late-race restarts, but my points position didn’t give me an advantage over Truex, so I needed a win. I considered making a similar move, but I guess I was never gutsy enough to go through with it. Seeing Ross execute that move to secure his position in the final round and the championship race at Phoenix made me think, ‘Damn it!’ I wish I had taken that opportunity, but I didn’t. He took it and owned it. It was incredible for what it achieved and what it got him. You have to give it your all. Ross gave it his all and made something out of it.”

Michael McDowell:

“It wasn’t far ahead…

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