What did Ross Chastain do before joining NASCAR? All you need to know

NASCAR driver Ross Chastain competes for Trackhouse Racing Team in the Cup Series driving the #1 Chevrolet. This is his third full-time season with the team.

Chastain was born on December 4, 1992, in Alva, Florida. He spent his early years working on his family’s watermelon farm, where agriculture was a family tradition. Ross Chastain’s interest in racing sparked when he was twelve, after watching his father and peers on the track. He soon began competing at Punta Gorda Speedway in Late Model and Fastruck series events. Chastain tallied over 50 feature wins, including three victories in the 2011 World Series of Asphalt, establishing himself as a rising talent in motorsports.

The 31-year-old made his NASCAR debut in the Craftsman Truck Series, piloting the #66 Chevy for Turn One Racing in the 2011 AAA Insurance 200 at Indianapolis, where he secured an impressive P10 finish. Over the years, Chastain has ascended through NASCAR's top divisions, accumulating a total of 12 race wins across the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series.

The #1 driver's most recent victory came at Kansas Speedway in the first Round of 12 playoff race in this year's Cup Series campaign. Although Chastain failed to secure his berth in the playoffs, his performance in the Hollywood Casino 400 displayed his ability and skill to be a playoff driver. Moreover, following his win at Kansas, Chastain celebrated his triumph by smashing a watermelon on the track as an ode to his family's roots in the agriculture industry.

Here's a look at Chastain's emotional celebration (via NASCAR on X, formerly Twitter)

Besides the recent win, Chastain has secured 12 top-ten and 6 top-five finishes in the 2024 Cup Series. He currently sits in P17 in the driver standings, positioned between recently eliminated Harrison Burton and Go Bowling at The Glen playoff race winner, Chris Buescher.

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Ross Chastain enjoying lack of media attention after missing out on NASCAR playoffs

Ross Chastain is considered one of the top talents in NASCAR. Despite having a good season, the TRT driver was battling for a playoff spot until the very end of the regular season, where his hopes were shattered by Stewart Haas Racing's Chase Briscoe.

Chastain started the Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas from P20. As he navigated through the field, he found himself among the frontrunners in stage 3 of the race. After his victory, the #1 driver discussed not being under the spotlight with the media, as he missed out on the playoffs.

"I’ve never been so happy to watch y’all walk by, everybody in this room. I’ve never been so happy to watch Netflix walk the other way when I get there. Like, the boom mics are going that way. They’re following Daniel Suarez. They’re talking to Justin Marks, but none of it’s about me," he said.

"To be honest, I love it. I’m all for it. I’m the first one to sign up for Netflix. I’m the first one to sign up for interviews, but when they go the other way, I love it," he added [9:50].

The win at Kansas broke a 30-race drought for Chastain, who had previously won a Truck Series race at Kansas five years ago.