Ross Chastain isn’t having the best of the NASCAR Cup Series season. Although he has solid points standing, without a win, there’s always an anxious energy surrounding one’s playoff qualification. With six races remaining in the regular season, starting at Pocono, Chastain aims to secure his spot in the knockout rounds with a victory.

However, it’s not just the thrill of winning a race he has lost recently. He’s also no longer NASCAR’s Lucky Dog. Just before the Truck Series race at Pocono, the melon man spoke with EssentiallySports in an exclusive interview about his season so far. During the conversation, he also revealed who he believes is NASCAR’s new Lucky Dog.

Ross Chastain names his successor in the Cup series

The Lucky Dog rule, also known as the Free Pass, is a unique regulation that can dramatically change the race. This rule essentially allows the first-lapped driver to come back on the lead lap when the caution flag is displayed. Although this rule is one of the most highly debated topics in the community, the drivers certainly make the most of it.

Ross Chastain was lucky enough to benefit from this rule in his initial days of Cup racing. But that no longer seems to be the case, as during our chat, he even conceded this title to a younger driver.

When Bharat Aggarwal of EssentiallySports asked Chastain who he thinks is the ‘Lucky Dog’ of NASCAR, the #1 driver replied, “It used to be me.”

“I used to get fit all the time when I drove the #15, #77 cars. Yeah, hopefully, my lucky dog days… – we don’t call it that anymore, right? But I had that title for a few years, and now maybe… Harrison Burton.”

When asked who he thinks is NASCAR’s Unlucky Dog, Chastain had a rather wholesome reply. “We’re all lucky. We’re all in NASCAR; we’re all really lucky.” Currently, the Trackhouse Racing star is placed 12th in the points standings and within a safe distance from the cutline. But he knows he needs to start racking up wins to be able to contest during the playoffs.

So how exactly is Chastain looking to turn around his season? Without delving into technical details or long explanations, he simply stated, “Win, right? That’s all we come here to do. A few things go our way, make a few good decisions through the weekend, and we’ll have a shot.”

It’s been a stretch of 19 Cup races since fans have seen the Melon Smash celebration. Hopefully, Ross Chastain and the No. 1 team will find their rhythm and start to build momentum before the crucial part of the season begins.