If you aren’t still buzzing with excitement after Ross Chastain’s mind-boggling move on the final lap of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway, you appear to be in the vast minority.
The highly-talked-about move, which saw the Trackhouse Racing driver grab another gear – literally – and mash the gas pedal to the floor entering the final set of corners, was considered mind-blowing for those who have been in the sport for decades, much less the casual viewer.
In doing so, Chastain made a lap around the half-mile paperclip in 18.845 seconds, which is quicker than the NASCAR Cup Series track record at Martinsville. The quickest lap ever recorded was 18.607 in a Modified Tour time trial session in 2021.
ICYMI: Ross Chastain Makes UNREAL Last-Lap Move to Make to Championship 4
Even after the race had finished, the technical inspection had been completed, and everybody had packed up their stuff and left the half-mile paperclip, the move was still being talked about on social media.
Later on Sunday night, SportsCenter named Ross Chastain’s bizarre last-lap wall ride and the No. 1 play of the day, something that a NASCAR clip or highlight hasn’t been able to accomplish in quite some time.
Can you guess what today’s #1 play was on @SportsCenter?!@RossChastain’s move put the entire sports world on notice ? pic.twitter.com/HeTYQWUFAM
— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) October 31, 2022
Even into the next morning, there are STILL people talking about the move Chastain’s move from Martinsville, and how he was able to pull it off on the final lap of Sunday’s race, including fellow drivers, crew chiefs, industry members, and influential figures from throughout all forms of Motorsports.
Among those that have continued to talk about the move include Fernando Alonso, Max Papis, Chip Ganassi, Mark Martin, Alexander Rossi, and Darrell Waltrip, just to name a few.
It’s painstakingly obvious that Ross Chastain will go down in NASCAR history for this move, which could very well lead the seventh-generation watermelon farmer to his first championship in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Despite the mainstream attention, some of Chastain’s competitors didn’t feel as positive about the move as Chastain and his Trackhouse Racing team did, though. In fact, Kyle Larson – who tried a similar move last year at Darlington – said he’s ‘embarrassed’ by Chastain’s move.
One Response
Big-time Kyle Larson fans. Cannot stand Bubba Wallace. But what chesting did was marvelous. So put those big panties on and go with the rest of the flow. Good luck next year