At the Martinsville Speedway, there was a contentious incident involving Ross Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver dug deep into the Hollywood book of racing, and pulled off an insane move. To be precise, he hugged the wall and practically rode on it to slingshot himself from 10th to finish in 5th. It left the paddock divided, and one of the critics was defending Cup champion Kyle Larson. However, Denny Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gabehart was not convinced. He said [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1wBFjOG7uM], “So he chose the last corner to do it. No rule or no sporting issue with that. It’s a tool in the kit and he used it. I never would have guessed it, neither would anybody but Kyle Larson. I’ve seen him do it at Darlington. No I wouldn’t change anything. That’s an interesting tactic. I don’t know, I have so much respect for Kyle Larson, for him to say that causes me pause. Can’t help but think that had he won the Southern 500, he wouldn’t necessarily say that.” READ MORE: WATCH: “Pi**ed Off” Chase Elliott & Shocked Denny Hamlin’s Live Reaction to Ross Chastain’s Internet-Shattering NASCAR Move [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-watch-pied-off-chase-elliott-shocked-denny-hamlins-live-reaction-to-ross-chastains-internet-shattering-nascar-move/] WHY WAS IT HYPOCRITICAL OF KYLE LARSON? The Hendrick Motorsports driver insisted that the move was a bad look for NASCAR, and he was embarrassed. However, it is worth mentioning that just a year ago at Darlington, he did the exact same thing. The big difference was that it did not pay off for Larson. Whether it worked for Larson or not, it was a bit hypocritical for the 2021 Cup Series champion to condemn it. [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen_Shot_2022_10_30_at_5.52.41_PM.0.jpg] This was why Gabehart called out the #5 driver for his comments, as he saw the irony of it all. According to the #11 crew chief, if Larson had won that Darlington race, he would have been singing a completely different tune. At the end of the day though, Chastain benefitted from the tactic and sneaked his way into the Championship 4. WATCH THIS STORY: “Nah That Sh*t Was Real… Real Fake!” – Kyle Larson & Co. Go Berserk at Bubba Wallace’s Diamond Earring Photos from 2012 [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-news-nah-that-sht-was-real-real-fake-kyle-larson-co-go-berserk-at-bubba-wallace-diamond-earring-photos-from-2012/] 

Kyle Larson was not too thrilled at the move that Ross Chastain pulled at the
Martinsville Speedway earlier, but some called him hypocritical

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having
authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
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Denny Hamlin’s Crew Chief Calls Out Kyle Larson’s Hypocrisy in Criticizing
“Embarrassing” Ross Chastain

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[caption id="attachment_433188" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-433188" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020-11-01T202711Z_1515326531_MT1USATODAY15143110_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-XFINITY-500-1.jpg" alt="Drivers take part in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway" width="1920" height="1280" /> Nov 1, 2020; Martinsville, VA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) lead the start of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2>Martinsville Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track</h2>
Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR stock vehicle racing short track in Henry County, Ridgeway, Virginia. It is owned by the International Speedway Corporation. At 0.526 miles (847 m) long, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The track was additionally one of the previously cleared oval tracks in NASCAR, being inherited in 1947 by accomplices H. Earth Earles, Henry Lawrence, and Sam Rice per Virginia House Joint Resolution No. 76 on the passing of H. Mud Earles.

It is additionally the lone race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its start in 1948. Alongside this, Martinsville is the solitary NASCAR oval track on the NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, and concrete to cover the turns.
<h2>History</h2>
The track is frequently alluded to as a paper clip formed and is banked just 12° in the turns. The blend of long straightaways and level, slender transforms makes it hard to slow down going into turns and smooth increasing speed leaving turns an absolute necessity.

The track was cleared in 1955 and in 1956 it facilitated its initial 500-lap race. In 1976, the turns were repaved with concrete. By 2004, the then 28-year-old cement had shown critical wear. On April 18, 2004, an enormous lump of cement got removed from the track's surface and made extreme harm to the assemblage of Jeff Gordon's vehicle.

In response to this, the track was completely repaved with new concrete and black-top.

Until 1999, Martinsville was infamous for having two pit streets. The backstretch pit street was by and large kept away because if a group needed to pit there during an alert, any vehicle pitting on the front stretch had the benefit of pitting first and not holding fast to pace vehicle speed after leaving their pit street.

This was corrected when pit street was reconfigured to stretch out from the passageway of turn 3 to the exit of turn 2.

The main NASCAR event held on July 4, 1948. In 1951, just four vehicles were running toward the completion, the least of any race held at the speedway. In 1960, Richard Petty turned into the youngest victor at Martinsville, at 22 years, 283 days. Petty has the most successes (15).
<h2>Quick Facts</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="301">Location</td>
<td width="301">340 Speedway Road Ridgeway, Virginia, U.S. 24148</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Operator</td>
<td width="301">International Speedway Corporation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Major Events</td>
<td width="301"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series</strong>

Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500

Xfinity 500

<strong>NASCAR Xfinity Series</strong>

TBA

Draft Top 250

<strong>NASCAR Camping World Truck Series</strong>

NASCAR Hall of Fame 200

<strong>NASCAR Whelen All-American Series</strong>

ValleyStar Credit Union 300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Length</td>
<td width="301">0.526 mi (0.847 km)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Most Wins</td>
<td width="301">Richard Petty (15)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Most Starts</td>
<td width="301">Richard Petty (67)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Poles</td>
<td width="301">Darrell Waltrip (8)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Martinsville Speedway

Nov 1, 2020; Martinsville, VA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) lead the start of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports Martinsville Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track Martinsville Speedway is a NASCAR stock vehicle racing short track in Henry County, Ridgeway, Virginia. It is owned by the International Speedway Corporation. At 0.526 miles (847 m) long, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. The track was additionally one of the previously cleared oval tracks in NASCAR, being inherited in 1947 by accomplices H. Earth Earles, Henry Lawrence, and Sam Rice per Virginia House Joint Resolution No. 76 on the passing of H. Mud Earles. It is additionally the lone race track that has been on the NASCAR circuit from its start in 1948. Alongside this, Martinsville is the solitary NASCAR oval track on the NASCAR track circuit to have asphalt surfaces on the straightaways, and concrete to cover the turns. History The track is frequently alluded to as a paper clip formed and is banked just 12° in the turns. The blend of long straightaways and level, slender transforms makes it hard to slow down going into turns and smooth increasing speed leaving turns an absolute necessity. The track was cleared in 1955 and in 1956 it facilitated its initial 500-lap race. In 1976, the turns were repaved with concrete. By 2004, the then 28-year-old cement had shown critical wear. On April 18, 2004, an enormous lump of cement got removed from the track&#8217;s surface and made extreme harm to the assemblage of Jeff Gordon&#8217;s vehicle. In response to this, the track was completely repaved with new concrete and black-top. Until 1999, Martinsville was infamous for having two pit streets. The backstretch pit street was by and large kept away because if a group needed to pit there during an alert, any vehicle pitting on the front stretch had the benefit of pitting first and not holding fast to pace vehicle speed after leaving their pit street. This was corrected when pit street was reconfigured to stretch out from the passageway of turn 3 to the exit of turn 2. The main NASCAR event held on July 4, 1948. In 1951, just four vehicles were running toward the completion, the least of any race held at the speedway. In 1960, Richard Petty turned into the youngest victor at Martinsville, at 22 years, 283 days. Petty has the most successes (15). Quick Facts  Location 340 Speedway Road Ridgeway, Virginia, U.S. 24148  Operator International Speedway Corporation  Major Events NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Xfinity 500 NASCAR Xfinity Series TBA Draft Top 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series ValleyStar Credit Union 300  Length 0.526 mi (0.847 km)  Most Wins Richard Petty (15)  Most Starts Richard Petty (67)  Poles Darrell Waltrip (8)

Martinsville Speedway Archives

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Kyle Larson was not too thrilled at the move that Ross Chastain pulled at the Martinsville Speedway earlier, but some called him hypocritical

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Denny Hamlin's Crew Chief Calls Out Kyle Larson's Hypocrisy in Criticizing "Embarrassing" Ross Chastain

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Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin Net Worth 2024, Family, Controversies, and More Denny Hamlin is a stock car racing driver and team owner who has been competing in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing since 2005.Â His first-ever race was at the Kansas Speedway, where he finished P32. The driver has amassed 51 wins in NASCAR&#8217;s top faction so far. One of his most notable achievements has been three Daytona 500 wins in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Hamlin was also named as one of NASCAR&#8217;s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. Besides his racing stint, he has also been the team owner of Cup Series team 23XI Racing since 2020, alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s family Denny Hamlin was born to Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Clark on November 18, 1980, at the St. Joseph&#8217;s Women&#8217;s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. He has two older siblings, Kevin and Lisa Hamlin.Â The family decided to move to Virginia when he was only 2 years old. He was educated at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The family might not have been the most financially stable one, but Denny&#8217;s parents&#8217; struggles to get him going in motorsports have definitely paid dividends. At the age of seven, Denny Hamlin made his go-kart debut and went on to win his first race. Before Joe Gibbs Racing took notice of him in 2004, he made rapid progress at the local tracks in Richmond, Virginia, dominating the Late Model Stock Cars, Grand Stocks, and Mini Stocks. He was signed to a driver development contract by JGR in 2004, and he took part in five Truck Series races that year before appearing in the Cup as a part-time driver in 2005. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s wife and children The motorsports veteran has two daughters, Taylor James Hamlin (born January 20, 2013), and Molly Gold Hamlin (born August 15, 2017), with Jordan Fish. Denny and Jordan are not married, and over the years, they have shared a rather complex relationship. While the couple had broken up in 2021, there were rumors of reconciliation doing the rounds. The two were spotted together at the 2023 NASCAR Awards Banquet, and Hamlin even spent Jordan Fish&#8217;s birthday with her in 2023. The couple got engaged on January 1, 2024, after Denny Hamlin went down on one knee. 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Motorsport USA Cup Series Awards &#8211; Las Vegas Denny Hamlin, Jordan Fish arriving for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards held at the Wynn Hotrel &amp; Casino, Las Vegas, November 29, 2018 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAJMx 39974306 | Credits: Imago Denny Hamlin&#8217;s net worth 2024 As he is one of the veterans in the Cup Series today driving for one of the biggest teams, Denny Hamlin is one of the highest-paid drivers in the competition today. He also makes a fair sum from being a co-owner of 23XI Racing and through his sponsorships. From his on-track and off-track successes, Hamlin has managed to build a net worth of approximately $65 million. Denny Hamlin has had FedEx as his primary sponsor since he started racing in the Cup Series. Joe Gibbs Racing was also able to bring in the big names like Coca-Cola and Mavis Tyres &amp; Brakes. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s career timeline NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Before Denny Hamlin made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series, he was a regular face in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Making his debut at the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2004 for EJP Racing, the driver managed to finish P10. He competed in four more Truck Series races that same year but failed to clinch a Top-10. Hamlin ultimately finished the season with 582 points, ranked 37th. After skipping the promotion in 2005, he returned the following year with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and competed in a single race at Martinsville Speedway where he finished P8. That was his only race with the team. Over the next four years, Hamlin continued participating in single races each season for Billy Ballew Motorsports. His highest finish with the team came in 2008 when he clinched P3 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, the highest finish of his Truck Series career would not come until 2011 when he clinched a victory at the United Rentals 200 at the Martinsville Speedway, for Kyle Busch Motorsports, a race which Hamlin won again the next year. After spending three seasons with KBM, the driver&#8217;s last Truck race came in 2013 when he competed in the 2013 Kroger 200 at Martinsville, finishing P6. Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) driver Kyle Larson (5) and driver Kyle Busch (18) race for position during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports ARCA Menards Series Denny Hamlin had a short stint at the ARCA Menards Series where he ran only one race each in 2004 and 2005. In his first year at ARCA, Hamlin was seen piloting the #10 Pontiac for Fast Track Racing Enterprises, at the General Tire 200 race at Talladega Superspeedway, where he finished third. However, 2005 didn&#8217;t prove to be a good year for him as the driver finished P36, driving a #2 Pontiac at the Nashville ARCA 150 at the Nashville Superspeedway for Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s journey to the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup SeriesÂ  It&#8217;s like Denny Hamlin was announcing his arrival to the world in 2004 when he decided to compete in different promotions across the roster. Besides his Truck and Arca debut in 2004, the driver also participated in his first-ever Xfinity Series race for Joe Gibbs Racing that same year at the Darlington Raceway, finishing eighth. In an Xfinity career spanning 19 years, Hamlin has participated in 163 races and clinched a victory on 18 occasions. The driver also flaunts 101 Top-10 finishes in the promotion. However, Hamlin&#8217;s ultimate calling came in 2005 when he debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. The driver has remained with the team for the entirety of his Cup career driving the #11. Revealing how the team became a stepping-stone for his illustrious career, Hamlin, in 2017, revealed Joe Gibbs&#8217; son J.D. Gibbs was the one who gave him his first opportunity at JGR. In an X(formerly Twitter) video, Denny Hamlin explained, &#8220;He&#8217;s the one who actually gave me my first opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing. We went to a test at Hickory Motor Speedway, called his dad up, they signed me about 13 years ago.&#8221;Â  The driver has participated in 650 races in the Cup Series till date, where he has clinched 51 wins and 340 Top-10 positions. Apart from that, the driver also flaunts 40 pole positions. Denny Hamlinâ€™s Partnerships and Endorsements Denny Hamlin has had a plethora of sponsorships over the years. Among the most notable is his long-standing relationship with FedEx which dates back to 2005 when he made his Cup Series debut. The conglomerate has served as the primary sponsor for the driver for over 30 races every year. However, in recent times, that number has come down significantly. The driver has also had a sponsorship with Coca-Cola and sported the brand on his car for the first time at the 2022 Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hamlin&#8217;s other sponsors include Yahoo!, Shingrix, and Mavis Tyres &amp; Brakes, among others. HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA &#8211; OCTOBER 23: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 23, 2022 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Denny Hamlinâ€™s investments Denny Hamlin is not just a full-time driver in the Cup Series. He is the co-owner of 23XI Racing with NBA legend Michael Jordan. Jordan and Hamlin announced on September 21, 2020, that they would be forming a Cup team to start competing in 2021, with Jordan holding the majority ownership. The team currently fields two full-time drivers, Bubba Wallace in the #23 and Tyler Reddick in the #45. Bubba Wallace was the first driver they signed after buying a guaranteed starting spot in every 2021 race after purchasing a charter from Germain Racing. Hamlin and Wallace are two of the most outspoken individuals in the Cup Series, and even the people they work closely with aren&#8217;t afraid to speak up, making it a feisty combo. As a team owner, Hamlin is a fan of NASCAR&#8217;s charter system as he believes it to be a lifeline for owners. The team was later expanded to two drivers, and Tyler Reddick joined in. The name, 23XI, is an amalgamation of Jordan&#8217;s most-used jersey number (23) and the JGR car number which Hamlin drives (11). The team has a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlinâ€™s NASCAR career stats Ever since Denny Hamlin&#8217;s debut in NASCAR in 2004, the driver has been a regular face in the circuit for around 18 years. While Hamlin started his Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series career in 2004, he was seen in a Cup race for the first time in 2005. Over his illustrious career, Denny Hamlin has participated in a staggering 650 races in the NASCAR Cup Series as of August 30, 2023. He has been to clinch victory on 51 occasions and also featured 340 times in the Top-10. Apart from that, Hamlin has also secured 40 pole positions during that time. As for his Xfinity series career, the driver has had 163 race features as of August 30, 2023. Emerging victorious in 18 races, Hamlin has been able to secure a pole position in 21 races with 101 Top-10s. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s Truck series career has been his least elaborate one among the Top 3 NASCAR promotions. The driver has participated in only 16 races over 9 years. With two wins and 10 Top-10s, the driver has secured a pole position only once. Â Denny Hamlin records With a career spanning almost two decades, Denny Hamlin has successfully proven his dominance in the sport. With 51 all-time wins as of December 2023, the driver sits at a comfortable 13th position just behind the Petty family patriarch, Lee Petty on the All-Time NASCAR Cup Series Wins List. Apart from that, the #11 JGR driver has taken a victory lap in the Daytona 500 race thrice in his career with two of those wins in successive years. Beating the likes of Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, Hamlin&#8217;s first Daytona 500 win came in 2016. Subsequently, the driver went on to win the crown jewel race again in 2019 and 2020. However, those are not Denny Hamlin&#8217;s only crown-jewel race victories. The driver emerged victorious in the Cook Out Southern 500 race held at the iconic Darlington Raceway in 2010, 2017, and 2021. Apart from that, he also won the Coca-Cola 600 race in 2022, his first and only victory in the revered event. However, Hamlin has yet to secure his maiden Brickyard 400 victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s major achievements and awards Denny Hamlin, undoubtedly, forms the crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me of stock car racing today. The veteran has several accolades to show for it as well. However, one of his most significant achievements came in 2023 when he was added to the list of NASCAR&#8217;s 75 Greatest Drivers list. Making his place among icons like Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon, Hamlin has almost reached the pinnacle of his stock car racing career. Denny Hamlin also won the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year award in 2006. With 330 points and two race wins, he beat Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr who were second and third on the list with 271 and 243 points respectively. Also in the running that year were Reed Sorenson, JJ Yeley, and David Stremme, who secured 222, 213, and 192 points respectively. Denny Hamlin and his controversial &#8216;Family Guy&#8217; tweet Hamlin has often been surrounded with controversy but there have been moments when he has taken things a tad too far. One such moment was when he posted a Family Guy meme about Kyle Larson that was cause for outrage among a lot of people. The JGR man tweeted it after Larson&#8217;s ambitious move at Talladega in the 2022 Cup Series went wrong and he ended up wrecking. The video Hamlin posted was of an offensive Asian stereotype and given Kyle Larson was half-Japanese, very few people found it funny. Denny Hamlin eventually took down the tweet after a lot of backlash and apologized for his actions on social media.Â &#8220;I took down a post I made earlier today after reading some of the comments. It was a poor choice of memes and I saw how it was offensive. It came across totally wrong. I apologize,&#8221;Â he wrote. However, NASCAR still decided to send him to sensitivity training as a result. Denny Hamlin and his relationship with Kyle Busch Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin might have been teammates but the two were never really fond of one another. Both drivers were aggressive and outspoken and that often turned out to be a recipe for disaster. When they were at Joe Gibbs Racing, the two raced each other on track on multiple occasions and things did not always end up well. As Rowdy made the jump to Richard Childress Racing, neither of them had to pretend to be nice to the other in public since they weren&#8217;t teammates anymore. Early on in the 2023 season, Kyle Busch said that there was a lack of respect among drivers in the NASCAR garage, something that wasn&#8217;t the case back in the day. He did not take any names but the whole conversation was in light of Denny Hamlin intentionally wrecking Ross Chastain in the first Phoenix race of the year.Â &#8220;We have completely lost any sense of respect in the garage between the drivers at all. Thatâ€™s where the problem lies. Nobody gives two ***** about anybody else. Itâ€™s just a problem where everybody takes advantage of everybody as much as they can. Weâ€™re all selfish, granted. But there was an etiquette that once did live here,&#8221;Â he said. Kyle Busch did not leave Joe Gibbs Racing on the best of terms and while some may speculate that Denny Hamlin may have one of the reasons, there were a lot more pressing matters. Money and performance were certainly a lot higher on that list than a teammate. Feb 20, 2022; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) drafts with driver Kyle Busch (18) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports Denny Hamlin embraces his â€œvillainâ€ crown Denny Hamlin has been branded as the new villain of NASCAR and he has embraced that title with open arms. One of the people who he had some beef with in the 2023 season is Kyle Larson. The two raced hard in the final lap of the first Kansas race of the season for the lead. With just one turn remaining, Hamlin made slight contact with Larson which nudged him into the wall. Thankfully, the HMS man was able to maintain his composure but Hamlin had passed him for the lead by then and he won the race. The two drivers had a tense moment in Pocono, however. When the race restarted with less than 10 laps remaining. The two were battling for the lead and Hamlin pushed Larson up the track and into the wall. After the race, the HMS driver expressed his dissatisfaction with his JGR counterpart with a seething tirade. â€œIâ€™ve been cost a lot of good finishes by him throughout my career, and I know he says I race a certain way, but I donâ€™t think Iâ€™ve ever had to apologize to him about anything. So, not that Iâ€™m sure heâ€™s going to say sorry after this, but it is what it is,&#8221;Â he said. Turns out the HMS man was frustrated with both his racing and how Hamlin is on the Actions Detrimental podcast. Being booed everywhere he goes and branded as NASCAR&#8217;s villain may be unnerving to some people but Denny Hamlin has embraced the dark side.Â â€œI think there was a time to uh reel that back in but I just think that thereâ€™s no going back at this point,&#8221;Â he had said about the matter. Denny Hamlinâ€™s plans for retirement Denny Hamlin is 43-years-old in 2023. A lot of people may suggest retirement is on the horizon for the JGR man but given Hamlin&#8217;s attitude, he has shown zero signs of even thinking about hanging up his boots. The #11 driver signed a multi-year deal with Joe Gibbs which will start from the 2024 season. It is safe to say that NASCAR&#8217;s villain is here to stay for a few more years. After all, the hunger for winning the Cup Series is yet to be satisfied. Denny Hamlin Social Media  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DennyHamlin/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dennyhamlin/  Twitter https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin  Personal Information  Name Denny Hamlin  Born November 18, 1980  Place of birth Tampa, Florida  Nationality American  Education Manchester High School  Parents Dennis Hamlin, Mary Lou Clark  Height 6 ft  Weight 154 lb  Partner Jordan Fish  Kids Taylor James Hamlin, Molly Gold Hamlin  &nbsp; &nbsp;

Denny Hamlin Archives

Denny Hamlin Archives - EssentiallySports

<h1 style="text-align: center">Kyle Larson: Net Worth 2024, Relationships, NASCAR and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Who is Kyle Larson?</b></h2>
Kyle Miyata Larson is one of the most prolific and successful motorsports drivers in NASCAR today. The Hendrick Motorsports star is a former Cup Series champion and is one of the most consistent drivers in the Cup Series. However, stock car racing is not the only thing Larson is prolific in. He is a master sprint car racer and will be trying his hand at IndyCar in 2024. Larson is also the co-owner of the fast-rising sprint car racing competition, High Limit Racing.

<img class="wp-image-2075684 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1599038101.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1280" />

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, laughs on the grid prior to a weather delayed restart of the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 07, 2023 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Â Kyle Larson's early life</b></h2>
Kyle Larson was born on June 31, 1992, in Elk Grove, California. The HMS star was educated at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove itself. Racing and school are difficult to balance but Larson had a lot of help from his mother who was a teacher. It's safe to say that the 2021 Cup Series champion was kind of an all-rounder when he was in school.

The HMS driver was born into a family of racers. His father, Mike Larson, was a racer as well. His mother, Janet Larson, is Japanese-American and both of his grandparents spent time in an internment camp during World War II. His middle name is Miyata which is a common surname in several regions in Japan. He has a sister whose name is Andrea.

Early on in his career in motorsports, Kyle Larson was a prolific dirt-track racer with several prestigious wins in the King's Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. He also won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. This saw him win three types of USAC races at a go in a single night, becoming only the second driver to achieve so. The following year saw him earn six victories in USAC National Midget races, which included the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

His achievements caught the eye of the teams in NASCAR and Kyle Larson made his full-time debut in the 2013 Nationwide Series with Turner Scott Motorsports. He had run a few races in the Truck Series in 2012 with the same team.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larsonâ€™s wife and children</b></h2>
The Hendrick Motorsports star married Katelyn Sweet on September 26, 2018. The couple has 3 children together, Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson. Cooper is the youngest and was born on the last day of 2022. However, when it comes to Audrey, the family shares some bad news. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-same-quote-kyle-larsons-wife-reveals-daughter-suffers-from-the-same-horrific-disease-as-jada-pinkett-smith/">The parents revealed how their daughter has been impacted by Alopecia</a> since she was 18 months old, in honor of Alopecia Awareness Month. Since then, she has had hair loss, but they delayed going public with the news.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1192530 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Kyle-Larson-wife-Katelyn-Larson-son-Owen-and-daughter-Audrey-NASCAR-trophy-768x512-1.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="512" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Lason's net worth 2024Â </b></h2>
As of 2023, Kyle Larson has amassed a net worth of $12 million as per Celebrity Net Worth including his race earnings, endorsements, and other ventures. The Hendrick Motorsports star's current contract with the team runs until 2026 and as per reports, he makes an estimated $10 million each year as part of that deal. He also has several sponsorship deals with Target, Chevrolet, Oakley, Credit One Bank, iRacing, and Alpinestars.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larsonâ€™s career timeline</b></h2>
Making his racing debut in outlaw karts at the age of seven, Kyle Larson has always been a talented multitasker trying his hands in various tourneys. Throughout his childho0d and adolescence, the driver started his professional racing career with open wheel-cars in the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the Silver Crown, among others. He also participated in the World of Outlaws and racked up his first win in the division at the Placerville Speedway, as one of the youngest drivers to ever compete. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2011, the racer then divulged his attention toward the NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series and the ARCA Series.

In 2012, he was signed as a developmental driver for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. In June of the same year, Larson won his first NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park. He also went on to win the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Championship beating the likes of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/corey-lajoie/">Corey LaJoie</a>. On the other hand, his ARCA career took some time to take off as his first win in the division came two years after his debut, in 2014, at Pocono Raceway.

Larson's NASCAR Truck Series debut came in 2012 and he won his first race the next year, at Rockingham Speedway, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports. And it is around the same time that his Xfinity And <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">Cup Series</a> career took off as well. Debuting the top faction for <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/chip-ganassi-racing/">Chip Ganassi Racing</a> in 2014, the driver finished 17th in the points standings in his first year. As for his <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-xfinity-series/">Xfinity</a> Series career debut in 2013, the driver finished 8th in the final standings while driving for Turner Scott Motorsports.

[caption id="attachment_521629" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-521629 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210120200820/GettyImages-1150194779.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1281" /> CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Advent Health Chevrolet, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larsonâ€™s partnerships and endorsements</b></h2>
One of Kyle Larson's earliest sponsor after he moved to <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/hendrick-motorsports/">Hendrick Motorsports</a> from Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 was HendrickCars.com. The Hendrick Automotive Group, via the HendrickCars.com brand, became a majority sponsor for the #5 driver for the 2022 and 2023 Cup Series seasons. Backing Larson for some 35 races in his NASCAR schedule, the brand also committed itself to sponsoring the racer in all non-NASCAR events.

As the division's first Japanese-American driver, Larson also paid an ode to his heritage when, in 2023, he landed an official restaurant partner in the form of JINYA Ramen Bar. In this extensive agreement, according to an official press release by Hendrick Motorsports, the brand was set to feature on the driver's post-race hat, firesuit and even his team apparel.

Expressing his excitement, JINYA Founder and CEO Tomo Takahashi said at the time, <em>"Not only is Kyle a NASCAR star because of his supreme talent on the track, but heâ€™s also the sportâ€™s first-ever Asian-American driver, so we are thrilled to partner with him. Kyle has already picked up two wins this season and we canâ€™t wait to see him make many more trips to victory lane while wearing the JINYA logo!"</em>

Additionally, ahead of the 2024 Cup season, automotive services and lubricant brand, Valvoline also announced its bid to back Kyle Larson along with his teammate William Byron. <em>â€œValvoline will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Larson in three races (Phoenix, Sonoma and the Chicago Street Race) for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season,â€Â </em>an official press release said.

In another exciting development, Kyle Larson is also set to drive for McLaren Racing for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 as he attempts the revered 'Double Duty' on May 26. Apart from that, tool manufacturer, Cincinnati Inc also joined hands with him ahead of his HMS debut.

One thing's for sure. The driver sure knows how to attract sponsors!
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's investments</b></h2>
Just like any other multi-talented personality, Kyle Larson has time and again shown how easy it is to dabble in multiple things at once. From competing to owning, the driver knows how to do it all. Merely at the age of 21, in 2013, Kyle Larson started exploring his entrepreneurial side which saw the formation of his sprint car and midget racing team, in association with fellow driver Justin Marks, named Larson Marks Racing. Primarily competing in the World of Outlaws, the team has had its highs and lows. The team had a fairly successful run with driver Shane Stewart who won at the team's second-ever start at the Eldora Speedway. Apart from that, the driver was also the 2015 Kings Royal victor at the Eldora Speedway yet again. Stewart was also won the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdow during the 2015-16 off-season, besides finish second in the WoO points standings in 2015.

But, things soon went downhill. While Kyle Larson taking over the sole ownership of the team in 2017 and renaming it Kyle Larson Racing seemed promising, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an adversity. In October of 2020, it was announced that the team would cease operations after the season was over.

While the closure might be disheartening, it didn't dampen his spirit. Soon after, in 2021, the driver announced the formation of a sprint car series, with his brother-in-law and five-time WoO champion Brad Sweet. The first season in 2023, saw 12 races. Kyle Larson won the inaugural season of the series. As for High Limit Racing's 2024 plans, the series has expanded the schedule to a staggering 60 races. It will also offer $5.8 million in prize money. Now that's what we can call an epic comeback!

[caption id="attachment_677288" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-677288 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-06-14T153502Z_1823926688_16251805_RTRMADP_3_MOTOR-NASCAR.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson NASCAR" width="1920" height="1368" /> Jun 13, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) shoots his six shooter guns as he celebrates winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larsonâ€™s NASCAR career stats</b></h2>
For a driver of Kyle Larson's stature, the numbers speak for themselves. The driver boasts an average finish of 14.23 and an average start of 11.9. He has a total of 23 race wins in his Cup series career with 164 top 10s and 16 pole positions. As for the other two NASCAR divisions, the driver has 14 wins, 80 Top 10s, and six poles in his Xfinity Series career, and three wins, 11 Top 10s, and two poles in his Truck Series stint. The driver also boasts a total of 7,556 laps led in his NASCAR.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson'sÂ  major achievements and awards</b></h2>
Kyle Larson, at his age, has already earned more accolades than several racing veterans and even legends of the sport. The HMS star is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Champion, the 2010 King of the West Sprint Car Series Champion, the 2018 United Truck Parts International Midget Series Champion, the 2020 Pennsylvania Speedweek Champion, 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall Winner, 2019, 2021, 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race Winner, 2021 Coca-Cola 600 Winner and countless more.

As for his sprint car racing career, the driver won the inaugural season of his High Limit Racing series, thereby cementing his place as a formidable racer. This year, too, he'll be looking to visit the podium as the series takes a new turn with charter introductions akin to NASCAR and schedule expansion.

The 31-year-old is also set to expand his racing horizon when he makes his IndyCar debut with Arrow McLaren in 2024 in the Indy 500 on May 26. The HMS did race go-karts when he was younger and that knowledge will come in handy. The race will be a part of the revered 'Double Duty' attempt which him see him compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the almost 600 miles way <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/coca-cola-600/">Coca-Cola 600</a> on the same day.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's merchandise</b></h2>
Being as popular as he is, Kyle Larson's merchandise sells out like hotcakes. He has his own merch store online with several products embroidered with the KL logo. Caps, beanies, hoodies, t-shirts, and even gift cards are the products sold by the driver's team on <a href="https://shopkylelarson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shopkylelarson.com/</a>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's controversies</b></h2>
He may come across as a civil sportsperson today but Kyle Larson was the center of attention for all the wrong reasons back when he was racing for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020. The now-Hendrick Motorsports driver uttered a racial slur during a video game stream in April that year. He was swiftly dropped from his team and he lost his sponsors. Before long, NASCAR suspended the driver. Larson was reinstated in October after which he joined HMS.

The 2021 Cup Series champion has had run-ins with the outspoken <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/">Denny Hamlin</a>. The two drivers had a moment in the 2023 Cup Series season in Kansas. Hamlin nudged Larson into the wall to take the victory of the race. The two drivers expressed their disappointment with one another and even the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/stewart-haas-racing/https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/joe-gibbs-racing/">Joe Gibbs Racing</a> driver's comments on the Actions Detrimental podcast frustrated his rival.

<em>â€œI donâ€™t think thereâ€™s a reason to be mad at him,â€</em> Larson had said on an episode of the High Limit Room podcast. <em>â€œWe were racing aggressively on the last lap for a win, and he was way faster than me. Just the only thing that I guess I get frustrated with is on his deal, his podcast, he says, â€˜I race a certain way, but Iâ€™ve never had to reach out to him to apologize about anything.'"</em>

[caption id="attachment_780514" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-780514 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-09-27T033921Z_1662942844_MT1USATODAY16837811_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-SOUTH-POINT-400.jpg" alt="NASCAR Denny Hamlin Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1290" /> Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) driver Kyle Larson (5) and driver Kyle Busch (18) race for position during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's social media</b></h2>
Kyle Larson is fairly active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While he shares a lot of promotional content on the first 2, his Instagram account holds several moments of his personal life.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td><a href="https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td>Kyle Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td>Yung Money</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth PlaceÂ </span></td>
<td>Elk Grove, California, U.S.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td>July 31, 1992</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td>5 ft 6 in</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight (in pounds)</span></td>
<td>135 lb</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">ParentsÂ </span></td>
<td>Mike Larson, Janet Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td>Andrea Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td>Japanese-American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td>$12 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td>$10 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/Marital Status</span></td>
<td>Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td>Katelyn Sweet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td>Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">ProfessionÂ </span></td>
<td>Motorsports athlete</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td>Hendrick Motorsports</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: center"></h2>

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson: Net Worth 2024, Relationships, NASCAR and More Who is Kyle Larson? Kyle Miyata Larson is one of the most prolific and successful motorsports drivers in NASCAR today. The Hendrick Motorsports star is a former Cup Series champion and is one of the most consistent drivers in the Cup Series. However, stock car racing is not the only thing Larson is prolific in. He is a master sprint car racer and will be trying his hand at IndyCar in 2024. Larson is also the co-owner of the fast-rising sprint car racing competition, High Limit Racing. BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN &#8211; AUGUST 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, laughs on the grid prior to a weather delayed restart of the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 07, 2023 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Â Kyle Larson&#8217;s early life Kyle Larson was born on June 31, 1992, in Elk Grove, California. The HMS star was educated at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove itself. Racing and school are difficult to balance but Larson had a lot of help from his mother who was a teacher. It&#8217;s safe to say that the 2021 Cup Series champion was kind of an all-rounder when he was in school. The HMS driver was born into a family of racers. His father, Mike Larson, was a racer as well. His mother, Janet Larson, is Japanese-American and both of his grandparents spent time in an internment camp during World War II. His middle name is Miyata which is a common surname in several regions in Japan. He has a sister whose name is Andrea. Early on in his career in motorsports, Kyle Larson was a prolific dirt-track racer with several prestigious wins in the King&#8217;s Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. He also won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. This saw him win three types of USAC races at a go in a single night, becoming only the second driver to achieve so. The following year saw him earn six victories in USAC National Midget races, which included the Turkey Night Grand Prix. His achievements caught the eye of the teams in NASCAR and Kyle Larson made his full-time debut in the 2013 Nationwide Series with Turner Scott Motorsports. He had run a few races in the Truck Series in 2012 with the same team. Kyle Larsonâ€™s wife and children The Hendrick Motorsports star married Katelyn Sweet on September 26, 2018. The couple has 3 children together, Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson. Cooper is the youngest and was born on the last day of 2022. However, when it comes to Audrey, the family shares some bad news. The parents revealed how their daughter has been impacted by Alopecia since she was 18 months old, in honor of Alopecia Awareness Month. Since then, she has had hair loss, but they delayed going public with the news. Kyle Lason&#8217;s net worth 2024Â  As of 2023, Kyle Larson has amassed a net worth of $12 million as per Celebrity Net Worth including his race earnings, endorsements, and other ventures. The Hendrick Motorsports star&#8217;s current contract with the team runs until 2026 and as per reports, he makes an estimated $10 million each year as part of that deal. He also has several sponsorship deals with Target, Chevrolet, Oakley, Credit One Bank, iRacing, and Alpinestars. Kyle Larsonâ€™s career timeline Making his racing debut in outlaw karts at the age of seven, Kyle Larson has always been a talented multitasker trying his hands in various tourneys. Throughout his childho0d and adolescence, the driver started his professional racing career with open wheel-cars in the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the Silver Crown, among others. He also participated in the World of Outlaws and racked up his first win in the division at the Placerville Speedway, as one of the youngest drivers to ever compete. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2011, the racer then divulged his attention toward the NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series and the ARCA Series. In 2012, he was signed as a developmental driver for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. In June of the same year, Larson won his first NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park. He also went on to win the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Championship beating the likes of Corey LaJoie. On the other hand, his ARCA career took some time to take off as his first win in the division came two years after his debut, in 2014, at Pocono Raceway. Larson&#8217;s NASCAR Truck Series debut came in 2012 and he won his first race the next year, at Rockingham Speedway, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports. And it is around the same time that his Xfinity And Cup Series career took off as well. Debuting the top faction for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2014, the driver finished 17th in the points standings in his first year. As for his Xfinity Series career debut in 2013, the driver finished 8th in the final standings while driving for Turner Scott Motorsports. CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA &#8211; MAY 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Advent Health Chevrolet, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Kyle Larsonâ€™s partnerships and endorsements One of Kyle Larson&#8217;s earliest sponsor after he moved to Hendrick Motorsports from Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 was HendrickCars.com. The Hendrick Automotive Group, via the HendrickCars.com brand, became a majority sponsor for the #5 driver for the 2022 and 2023 Cup Series seasons. Backing Larson for some 35 races in his NASCAR schedule, the brand also committed itself to sponsoring the racer in all non-NASCAR events. As the division&#8217;s first Japanese-American driver, Larson also paid an ode to his heritage when, in 2023, he landed an official restaurant partner in the form of JINYA Ramen Bar. In this extensive agreement, according to an official press release by Hendrick Motorsports, the brand was set to feature on the driver&#8217;s post-race hat, firesuit and even his team apparel. Expressing his excitement, JINYA Founder and CEO Tomo Takahashi said at the time, &#8220;Not only is Kyle a NASCAR star because of his supreme talent on the track, but heâ€™s also the sportâ€™s first-ever Asian-American driver, so we are thrilled to partner with him. Kyle has already picked up two wins this season and we canâ€™t wait to see him make many more trips to victory lane while wearing the JINYA logo!&#8221; Additionally, ahead of the 2024 Cup season, automotive services and lubricant brand, Valvoline also announced its bid to back Kyle Larson along with his teammate William Byron. â€œValvoline will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Larson in three races (Phoenix, Sonoma and the Chicago Street Race) for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season,â€Â an official press release said. In another exciting development, Kyle Larson is also set to drive for McLaren Racing for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 as he attempts the revered &#8216;Double Duty&#8217; on May 26. Apart from that, tool manufacturer, Cincinnati Inc also joined hands with him ahead of his HMS debut. One thing&#8217;s for sure. The driver sure knows how to attract sponsors! Kyle Larson&#8217;s investments Just like any other multi-talented personality, Kyle Larson has time and again shown how easy it is to dabble in multiple things at once. From competing to owning, the driver knows how to do it all. Merely at the age of 21, in 2013, Kyle Larson started exploring his entrepreneurial side which saw the formation of his sprint car and midget racing team, in association with fellow driver Justin Marks, named Larson Marks Racing. Primarily competing in the World of Outlaws, the team has had its highs and lows. The team had a fairly successful run with driver Shane Stewart who won at the team&#8217;s second-ever start at the Eldora Speedway. Apart from that, the driver was also the 2015 Kings Royal victor at the Eldora Speedway yet again. Stewart was also won the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdow during the 2015-16 off-season, besides finish second in the WoO points standings in 2015. But, things soon went downhill. While Kyle Larson taking over the sole ownership of the team in 2017 and renaming it Kyle Larson Racing seemed promising, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an adversity. In October of 2020, it was announced that the team would cease operations after the season was over. While the closure might be disheartening, it didn&#8217;t dampen his spirit. Soon after, in 2021, the driver announced the formation of a sprint car series, with his brother-in-law and five-time WoO champion Brad Sweet. The first season in 2023, saw 12 races. Kyle Larson won the inaugural season of the series. As for High Limit Racing&#8217;s 2024 plans, the series has expanded the schedule to a staggering 60 races. It will also offer $5.8 million in prize money. Now that&#8217;s what we can call an epic comeback! Jun 13, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) shoots his six shooter guns as he celebrates winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Kyle Larsonâ€™s NASCAR career stats For a driver of Kyle Larson&#8217;s stature, the numbers speak for themselves. The driver boasts an average finish of 14.23 and an average start of 11.9. He has a total of 23 race wins in his Cup series career with 164 top 10s and 16 pole positions. As for the other two NASCAR divisions, the driver has 14 wins, 80 Top 10s, and six poles in his Xfinity Series career, and three wins, 11 Top 10s, and two poles in his Truck Series stint. The driver also boasts a total of 7,556 laps led in his NASCAR. Kyle Larson&#8217;sÂ  major achievements and awards Kyle Larson, at his age, has already earned more accolades than several racing veterans and even legends of the sport. The HMS star is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Champion, the 2010 King of the West Sprint Car Series Champion, the 2018 United Truck Parts International Midget Series Champion, the 2020 Pennsylvania Speedweek Champion, 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall Winner, 2019, 2021, 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race Winner, 2021 Coca-Cola 600 Winner and countless more. As for his sprint car racing career, the driver won the inaugural season of his High Limit Racing series, thereby cementing his place as a formidable racer. This year, too, he&#8217;ll be looking to visit the podium as the series takes a new turn with charter introductions akin to NASCAR and schedule expansion. The 31-year-old is also set to expand his racing horizon when he makes his IndyCar debut with Arrow McLaren in 2024 in the Indy 500 on May 26. The HMS did race go-karts when he was younger and that knowledge will come in handy. The race will be a part of the revered &#8216;Double Duty&#8217; attempt which him see him compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the almost 600 miles way Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Kyle Larson&#8217;s merchandise Being as popular as he is, Kyle Larson&#8217;s merchandise sells out like hotcakes. He has his own merch store online with several products embroidered with the KL logo. Caps, beanies, hoodies, t-shirts, and even gift cards are the products sold by the driver&#8217;s team on https://shopkylelarson.com/ Kyle Larson&#8217;s controversies He may come across as a civil sportsperson today but Kyle Larson was the center of attention for all the wrong reasons back when he was racing for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020. The now-Hendrick Motorsports driver uttered a racial slur during a video game stream in April that year. He was swiftly dropped from his team and he lost his sponsors. Before long, NASCAR suspended the driver. Larson was reinstated in October after which he joined HMS. The 2021 Cup Series champion has had run-ins with the outspoken Denny Hamlin. The two drivers had a moment in the 2023 Cup Series season in Kansas. Hamlin nudged Larson into the wall to take the victory of the race. The two drivers expressed their disappointment with one another and even the Joe Gibbs Racing driver&#8217;s comments on the Actions Detrimental podcast frustrated his rival. â€œI donâ€™t think thereâ€™s a reason to be mad at him,â€ Larson had said on an episode of the High Limit Room podcast. â€œWe were racing aggressively on the last lap for a win, and he was way faster than me. Just the only thing that I guess I get frustrated with is on his deal, his podcast, he says, â€˜I race a certain way, but Iâ€™ve never had to reach out to him to apologize about anything.'&#8221; Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) driver Kyle Larson (5) and driver Kyle Busch (18) race for position during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Kyle Larson&#8217;s social media Kyle Larson is fairly active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While he shares a lot of promotional content on the first 2, his Instagram account holds several moments of his personal life.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing  Instagram https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin  Twitter https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/    Full Name Kyle Larson  Popular Name Yung Money  Birth PlaceÂ  Elk Grove, California, U.S.  Birth Date July 31, 1992  Age 31  Height 5 ft 6 in  Weight (in pounds) 135 lb  ParentsÂ  Mike Larson, Janet Larson  Siblings Andrea Larson  Nationality American  Ethnicity Japanese-American  Net Worth $12 million  Salary $10 million  Relationship/Marital Status Married  Spouse Katelyn Sweet  Children Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson  ProfessionÂ  Motorsports athlete  Team Hendrick Motorsports

Kyle Larson Archives

Kyle Larson Archives - EssentiallySports

<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>Ross Chastain: Net Worth 2024, Stats, Salary, Wife and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Who is Ross Chastain?Â </strong></h2>
For those familiar with NASCAR, Ross Chastain is perhaps one of the most regular names in the circuit. Driving for <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/trackhouse-racing-team/">Trackhouse Racing Team</a>, the driver has certainly made a name among the most popular. Currently, he competes full-time in the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup series</a> along with a part-time role in the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-truck-series/">Craftsman Truck Series</a>.

[caption id="attachment_2651516" align="alignnone" width="6000"]<img class="wp-image-2651516 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-14T195309Z_919765153_MT1USATODAY22520273_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500-MEDIA-DAY.jpg" alt="" width="6000" height="4000" /> Feb 14, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) speaks with reporters during media day at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain family</strong></h2>
Unlike many in NASCAR, Ross Chastain does not come from a racing background. His family's legacy is instead rooted in watermelon farming dating back to several generations. Chastain was born to Ralph Chastain and Susan Chastain, who still run a watermelon farm in South Florida named JDI Farms. Born on December 4, 1992, in Alva, Florida, Chastain currently resides in Mooresville, North Carolina. He only has one sibling, a brother named Chad Chastain, who is also a stock car racing driver, primarily competing in the Xfinity and Truck Series.

As far as his education is concerned, Chastain attended Riverdale High School in Fort Myers. Further in his career, he joined the Florida Gulf Coast University for a semester before he joined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastainâ€™s Wife and Children</strong></h2>
According to reports, Ross Chastain <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-is-ross-chastain-in-a-relationship-meet-nascar-drivers-girlfriend-erika-anne-turner/">is currently dating Erika Anne Turner</a>. Turner, currently a real estate agent by profession, graduated from the University of North Carolina with a dual degree in communication and business, as per a report by Terri Bias &amp; Associates. To add to that, Turner is also a model and beauty pageant contestant. She won the Miss North Carolina United States award in 2021 and the Miss US Landscapes in 2020.

It is unclear how the couple met. However, Erika Anne Turner's updates on social media involving Chastain are proof enough that the duo is going strong. As for when we can expect wedding bells, we'll have to wait for an official update.

The couple does not have any children.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain Net Worth 2024</strong></h2>
As per reports online, Chastain has amassed an approximate net worth of about $4 million. Although his current salary is unknown, he was supposedly earning around $2 million during his time atÂ <a class="jsx-2b55705d932ea6e9" href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/chip-ganassi-racing/" target="_self" rel="noopener">Chip Ganassi Racing</a>Â in 2021. Since joining theÂ Trackhouse RacingÂ team in 2022, he has made immense progress in the Cup Series.

The eighth generation watermelon farmer and driver's major source of earnings comes from NASCAR. In addition, he has his own merchandise store to generate more income.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain Career Timeline</strong></h2>
Until the age of twelve, Chastain was working as a watermelon farmer on his family's farm. Interestingly, it was his father's pastime hobby to race that attracted him to get into the racing arena. He initially started with competing in late model and Fastruck Series events, and during his career in short tracks, registered wins in over fifty featured races.

In fact, his impressive form in the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing earned him an unexpected move. It saw him replace Justin Marks in the NASCAR Camping Truck Series in the middle of 2011. While it was a big move, he had a decent debut after finishing tenth in the race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Further in 2013, Chastain joined Brad Keselowski Racing in 15 Camping World Truck Series contests.

And in 2017, he finally made his debut in the Cup Series driving for Premium Motorsports, in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover. Over time, Chastain seems to have only gotten better despite his aggressive style of racing. In 2021, he joined Chip Ganassi Racing and a year later was recruited by Trackhouse Racing.

However, despite being a full-time racer in the Cup Series, Chastain's love to take part in the Truck Series hasn't lessened one bit. He still continues to participate in a part-time role for Niece Motorsports, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastainâ€™s Partnerships and Endorsements</strong></h2>
Ross Chastain is quite a promising name in NASCAR. Perhaps that explains why the driver enjoys the backing of so many well-established brands. From <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kevin-harvick/">Kevin Harvick</a>'s former long-time <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-ross-chastains-hundred-and-ten-billion-dollar-blow-to-tony-stewart-triggers-uncanny-demands-from-nascar-world/">$110 billion worth sponsor Anheuser-Busch</a>, to Jockey and Kubota, there's no dearth of sponsors for the #1 driver. Others include Moose Fraternity, Worldwide Express,

[caption id="attachment_2651519" align="alignnone" width="2954"]<img class="wp-image-2651519 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-15T033348Z_1946298914_MT1USATODAY22524697_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-QUALIFYING.jpg" alt="" width="2954" height="1969" /> Feb 14, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastainâ€™s NASCAR Career Stats</strong></h2>
Since his debut in NASCAR's top division, Chastain has competed in 187 races, out of which he has clinched a victory on four different occasions. The racer also has 46 Top-10s and one pole position in the tourney. In the Xfinity Series, Chastain has competed in 204 races and clinched two wins, 51 Top-10s and one pole. Additionally, in NASCAR's third division, the Truck Series, the driver has four wins, 47 Top-10s and four poles in 107 races.

In his elaborate Cup Series run, Ross Chastain's career took off in the truest sense after the driver joined the Trackhouse Racing Team. Ever since joining the team, Chastain has made regular playoff appearances, finished second in 2022 and ninth in 2023.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastainâ€™s Major Achievements and Awards</strong></h2>
Apart from his NASCAR achievements, Ross Chastain has also made headlines for his various other accomplishments. The driver won the Limited Late Model portion of the 2011 World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing atÂ New Smyrna Speedway, winning three of eight events in the series. He was also crowned the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Most Popular Driver. What made the award even more notable for Chastain, 2019's breakout star in the division, was the fact that the news reached him on his 27th birthday.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain Brawl with Noah Gragson</strong></h2>
In his career, Ross Chastain has given his fans plenty of memorable moments. From the 'Hail Melon' move to his 2023's final Phoenix Raceway P1 finish beating the Top 4, Chastain knows how to attract eyeballs. But besides all of that, what people also remember him by is when he decided to throw punches at Stewart-Haas Racing driver Noah Gragson.

The incident unfolded in the aftermath of the Kansas Speedway race in May 2o23. The duo were reportedly at loggerheads against each other's driving styles, which led to a physical altercation on pit road with Chastain delivering the first blow after Gragson grabbed the #1 driver's firesuit. Later, Gragson talked about the driver and said, <em>"The guy just runs into everyone. When youâ€™ve got guys like Chase Elliott saying, â€˜Go beat his a*s,â€™ everyone is sick and tired of him and nobody has the b*lls to go up and get him.â€</em>

However, the Trackhouse Racing driver later cleared the air and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-ross-chastain-puts-punchgate-behind-him-as-he-declares-truce-with-latest-rival-noah-gragson/">declared how there was no bad blood between the two anymore</a>. <i>"So we are good and talked on Monday on the phone. And then we were together testing some micro-sprint cars on Monday night. We worked out together this week. Itâ€™s good, done and over with, and we have been able to move on and laugh about it now,â€Â </i> he said.


<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain and Hail Melon</strong></h2>
A popular moniker that the #1 driver has garnered is 'The Watermelon Man', which came into being after Chastain showed off his unique victory celebration. Upon finishing P1, the driver is seen smashing a watermelon on the track to commemorate his win.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2716700 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F0h1AKyWAAAZqmZ.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="801" />

Apart from that, Chastain has also been popularized in the mainstream NASCAR circuit by a move that drivers and fans still remember to this day. Known as the 'Hail Melon', the move saw Chastain perform a video game-esque move riding the outside wall during the last lap, beating Denny Hamlin at the Martinsville Speedway in October 2022.


<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain and Hendrick Motorsports</strong></h2>
Apart from his feud with Noah Gragson, the driver was also caught in controversy when he reportedly wrecked <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-larson">Kyle Larson</a> deliberately during the May 2023 race at Darlington Raceway. The incident occurred after <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/hendrick-motorsports/">Hendrick Motorsports</a> driver Larson had seemingly pushed the #1 driver into the wall. And, in a retaliatory move, just a few laps later, Chastain gave it back to the #5 driver with a similar move after a restart. However, it didn't end well as Chastain lost control of his car and spun, thereby taking Larson with him, ending their race.



Naturally, this didn't go well with HMS owner <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/rick-hendrick/">Rick Hendrick</a> who a stern warning to the Trackhouse Racing star. <em>â€œI donâ€™t care if heâ€™s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars. I donâ€™t care. Iâ€™ve told Chevrolet that. If you wreck us, youâ€™re going to get it back. If you donâ€™t do it, theyâ€™ll run all over you,"</em> Hendrick shared at the time.

<em>â€œHe doesnâ€™t have to be that aggressive. I guess at this point in the race maybe youâ€™re super aggressive, but you just donâ€™t run people up in the fence. Heâ€™s going to make a lot of enemies. Itâ€™s hard to win a championship when youâ€™ve got a lot of paybacks out there,â€</em> the team owner further said.

[caption id="attachment_1747317" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1747317 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-grid-1-23.png" alt="Ross Chastain, Rick Hendrick, NASCAR" width="1920" height="1440" /> Image Credits: Imago[/caption]

However, Chastain, who was being constantly criticized for his aggressive driving style made a comeback only a month later when he clinched the pole position at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nashville-superspeedway/">Nashville Superspeedway</a> and even finished the race P1. Later, in a post race interview, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-one-month-after-being-warned-by-rick-hendrick-ross-chastain-fires-back-with-they-will-try-to-tear-you-down-bombshell/">the driver hit back at critics</a> and said, <i>â€œThis is incredible. This is for every little kid out there anywhere in the world, when you are criticized and you are going to be competitive,Â they will try to tear you down. You will start believing in them. You canâ€™t do it.â€</i>

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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Ross Chastain Social Media</strong></h2>
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<td style="width: 76.8472px;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td style="width: 366.486px;height: 24px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RossChastainRacing/">https://www.facebook.com/RossChastainRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
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<td style="width: 76.8472px;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td style="width: 366.486px;height: 24px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rosschastain/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/rosschastain/</a></td>
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<td style="width: 76.8472px;height: 48px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td style="width: 366.486px;height: 48px"><a href="https://twitter.com/RossChastain?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">https://twitter.com/RossChastain/</a></td>
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<table style="width: 59.4488%;height: 432px">
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Ross Lee Chastain</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Ross Chastain, Watermelon Man</td>
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<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">December 4, 1992<span class="noprint ForceAgeToShow">Â </span></td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Place</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Alva, Florida, U.S.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">31</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â -</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â -</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Ralph Chastain, Susan Chastain</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Chad Chastain</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">American</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Caucasian</td>
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<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">$4 million</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â -</td>
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<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â -</td>
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<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/Marital Status</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â Dating Erika Anne Turner</td>
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<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â -</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Â Stock car racing driver</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 41.5645%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.288%;height: 24px">Trackhouse Racing</td>
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</tbody>
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&nbsp;

Ross Chastain

Ross Chastain: Net Worth 2024, Stats, Salary, Wife and More Who is Ross Chastain?Â  For those familiar with NASCAR, Ross Chastain is perhaps one of the most regular names in the circuit. Driving for Trackhouse Racing Team, the driver has certainly made a name among the most popular. Currently, he competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup series along with a part-time role in the Craftsman Truck Series. Feb 14, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) speaks with reporters during media day at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Ross Chastain family Unlike many in NASCAR, Ross Chastain does not come from a racing background. His family&#8217;s legacy is instead rooted in watermelon farming dating back to several generations. Chastain was born to Ralph Chastain and Susan Chastain, who still run a watermelon farm in South Florida named JDI Farms. Born on December 4, 1992, in Alva, Florida, Chastain currently resides in Mooresville, North Carolina. He only has one sibling, a brother named Chad Chastain, who is also a stock car racing driver, primarily competing in the Xfinity and Truck Series. As far as his education is concerned, Chastain attended Riverdale High School in Fort Myers. Further in his career, he joined the Florida Gulf Coast University for a semester before he joined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Ross Chastainâ€™s Wife and Children According to reports, Ross Chastain is currently dating Erika Anne Turner. Turner, currently a real estate agent by profession, graduated from the University of North Carolina with a dual degree in communication and business, as per a report by Terri Bias &amp; Associates. To add to that, Turner is also a model and beauty pageant contestant. She won the Miss North Carolina United States award in 2021 and the Miss US Landscapes in 2020. It is unclear how the couple met. However, Erika Anne Turner&#8217;s updates on social media involving Chastain are proof enough that the duo is going strong. As for when we can expect wedding bells, we&#8217;ll have to wait for an official update. The couple does not have any children. Ross Chastain Net Worth 2024 As per reports online, Chastain has amassed an approximate net worth of about $4 million. Although his current salary is unknown, he was supposedly earning around $2 million during his time atÂ Chip Ganassi RacingÂ in 2021. Since joining theÂ Trackhouse RacingÂ team in 2022, he has made immense progress in the Cup Series. The eighth generation watermelon farmer and driver&#8217;s major source of earnings comes from NASCAR. In addition, he has his own merchandise store to generate more income. Ross Chastain Career Timeline Until the age of twelve, Chastain was working as a watermelon farmer on his family&#8217;s farm. Interestingly, it was his father&#8217;s pastime hobby to race that attracted him to get into the racing arena. He initially started with competing in late model and Fastruck Series events, and during his career in short tracks, registered wins in over fifty featured races. In fact, his impressive form in the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing earned him an unexpected move. It saw him replace Justin Marks in the NASCAR Camping Truck Series in the middle of 2011. While it was a big move, he had a decent debut after finishing tenth in the race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. Further in 2013, Chastain joined Brad Keselowski Racing in 15 Camping World Truck Series contests. And in 2017, he finally made his debut in the Cup Series driving for Premium Motorsports, in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover. Over time, Chastain seems to have only gotten better despite his aggressive style of racing. In 2021, he joined Chip Ganassi Racing and a year later was recruited by Trackhouse Racing. However, despite being a full-time racer in the Cup Series, Chastain&#8217;s love to take part in the Truck Series hasn&#8217;t lessened one bit. He still continues to participate in a part-time role for Niece Motorsports, respectively. Ross Chastainâ€™s Partnerships and Endorsements Ross Chastain is quite a promising name in NASCAR. Perhaps that explains why the driver enjoys the backing of so many well-established brands. From Kevin Harvick&#8216;s former long-time $110 billion worth sponsor Anheuser-Busch, to Jockey and Kubota, there&#8217;s no dearth of sponsors for the #1 driver. Others include Moose Fraternity, Worldwide Express, Feb 14, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (1) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Ross Chastainâ€™s NASCAR Career Stats Since his debut in NASCAR&#8217;s top division, Chastain has competed in 187 races, out of which he has clinched a victory on four different occasions. The racer also has 46 Top-10s and one pole position in the tourney. In the Xfinity Series, Chastain has competed in 204 races and clinched two wins, 51 Top-10s and one pole. Additionally, in NASCAR&#8217;s third division, the Truck Series, the driver has four wins, 47 Top-10s and four poles in 107 races. In his elaborate Cup Series run, Ross Chastain&#8217;s career took off in the truest sense after the driver joined the Trackhouse Racing Team. Ever since joining the team, Chastain has made regular playoff appearances, finished second in 2022 and ninth in 2023. Ross Chastainâ€™s Major Achievements and Awards Apart from his NASCAR achievements, Ross Chastain has also made headlines for his various other accomplishments. The driver won the Limited Late Model portion of the 2011 World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing atÂ New Smyrna Speedway, winning three of eight events in the series. He was also crowned the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Most Popular Driver. What made the award even more notable for Chastain, 2019&#8217;s breakout star in the division, was the fact that the news reached him on his 27th birthday. Ross Chastain Brawl with Noah Gragson In his career, Ross Chastain has given his fans plenty of memorable moments. From the &#8216;Hail Melon&#8217; move to his 2023&#8217;s final Phoenix Raceway P1 finish beating the Top 4, Chastain knows how to attract eyeballs. But besides all of that, what people also remember him by is when he decided to throw punches at Stewart-Haas Racing driver Noah Gragson. The incident unfolded in the aftermath of the Kansas Speedway race in May 2o23. The duo were reportedly at loggerheads against each other&#8217;s driving styles, which led to a physical altercation on pit road with Chastain delivering the first blow after Gragson grabbed the #1 driver&#8217;s firesuit. Later, Gragson talked about the driver and said, &#8220;The guy just runs into everyone. When youâ€™ve got guys like Chase Elliott saying, â€˜Go beat his a*s,â€™ everyone is sick and tired of him and nobody has the b*lls to go up and get him.â€ However, the Trackhouse Racing driver later cleared the air and declared how there was no bad blood between the two anymore. &#8220;So we are good and talked on Monday on the phone. And then we were together testing some micro-sprint cars on Monday night. We worked out together this week. Itâ€™s good, done and over with, and we have been able to move on and laugh about it now,â€Â  he said. Ross Chastain and Hail Melon A popular moniker that the #1 driver has garnered is &#8216;The Watermelon Man&#8217;, which came into being after Chastain showed off his unique victory celebration. Upon finishing P1, the driver is seen smashing a watermelon on the track to commemorate his win. Apart from that, Chastain has also been popularized in the mainstream NASCAR circuit by a move that drivers and fans still remember to this day. Known as the &#8216;Hail Melon&#8217;, the move saw Chastain perform a video game-esque move riding the outside wall during the last lap, beating Denny Hamlin at the Martinsville Speedway in October 2022. Ross Chastain and Hendrick Motorsports Apart from his feud with Noah Gragson, the driver was also caught in controversy when he reportedly wrecked Kyle Larson deliberately during the May 2023 race at Darlington Raceway. The incident occurred after Hendrick Motorsports driver Larson had seemingly pushed the #1 driver into the wall. And, in a retaliatory move, just a few laps later, Chastain gave it back to the #5 driver with a similar move after a restart. However, it didn&#8217;t end well as Chastain lost control of his car and spun, thereby taking Larson with him, ending their race. Naturally, this didn&#8217;t go well with HMS owner Rick Hendrick who a stern warning to the Trackhouse Racing star. â€œI donâ€™t care if heâ€™s driving a Chevrolet if he wrecks our cars. I donâ€™t care. Iâ€™ve told Chevrolet that. If you wreck us, youâ€™re going to get it back. If you donâ€™t do it, theyâ€™ll run all over you,&#8221; Hendrick shared at the time. â€œHe doesnâ€™t have to be that aggressive. I guess at this point in the race maybe youâ€™re super aggressive, but you just donâ€™t run people up in the fence. Heâ€™s going to make a lot of enemies. Itâ€™s hard to win a championship when youâ€™ve got a lot of paybacks out there,â€ the team owner further said. Image Credits: Imago However, Chastain, who was being constantly criticized for his aggressive driving style made a comeback only a month later when he clinched the pole position at Nashville Superspeedway and even finished the race P1. Later, in a post race interview, the driver hit back at critics and said, â€œThis is incredible. This is for every little kid out there anywhere in the world, when you are criticized and you are going to be competitive,Â they will try to tear you down. You will start believing in them. You canâ€™t do it.â€ &nbsp; Ross Chastain Social Media  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RossChastainRacing/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rosschastain/  Twitter https://twitter.com/RossChastain/  &nbsp;  Full Name Ross Lee Chastain  Popular Name Ross Chastain, Watermelon Man  Birth Date December 4, 1992Â   Birth Place Alva, Florida, U.S.  Age 31  Height Â &#8211;  Weight Â &#8211;  Parents Ralph Chastain, Susan Chastain  Siblings Chad Chastain  Nationality American  Ethnicity Caucasian  Net Worth $4 million  Salary Â &#8211;  Spouse Â &#8211;  Relationship/Marital Status Â Dating Erika Anne Turner  Children Â &#8211;  Profession Â Stock car racing driver  Team Trackhouse Racing  &nbsp;

Denny Hamlin’s Crew Chief Calls Out Kyle Larson’s Hypocrisy in Criticizing “Embarrassing” Ross Chastain

Why was it hypocritical of Kyle Larson?