14 Years After Executing Carl Edwards’ Vision, ‘Hail Melon’ Fame Ross Chastain Was Left Trembling by Kansas’ Tri-Oval

Kansas’ Tri-Oval is set to host another nail-biting episode of the NASCAR race today. The urgency among drivers has grown by quite a margin after the results of Darlington. Barring Kyle Larson, drivers will have everything to fight for at Kansas Speedway. With only two races left to make an impact that oversees them to the round of 12, a certain tinge of desperation like the one Martinsville witnessed last year by ‘Melon Man’, Ross Chastain, can be seen.

However, the roots of Chastain’s out-of-the-box move lie in Kansas. Going back 14 years, Carl Edwards unveiled one of the most iconic moments in NASCAR history in a move that seemed straight out of a video game. Although Edwards’s move didn’t come off as he would have expected, Chastain managed to do one better this time around.

Carl Edwards’ audacious move at the Kansas Speedway

Carl Edwards is often known as one of the best drivers to have never won a championship. Despite an illustrious career, the biggest trophy in NASCAR is the one that has eluded him. But that didn’t stop him from entertaining the fans with his outrageous skill and flair. In 2008, with an electric Kansas Speedway in the background, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson was being chased by Edwards in hopes of an overtake.

What followed next was definitely unexpected. In a brave attempt, Edwards moved outside of Johnson and kept his distance from him as he pushed the pedal. Getting close to the wall, he went as far right as he could alongside the wall in an attempt to outpace Johnson, who was expected to be moving up on the bank. However, the move failed to impress as he lost pace, and eventually Jimmie passed him in a matter of seconds.

When asked about it in a post-race interview, Edwards said, “I played a lot of video games where you can just run it in the wall and hold it wide open.” 

Well, credit to him for trying the video game move, albeit in an unfavorable circumstance and without the expected result. Ross Chastain, on the other hand, did something with a similar blueprint to Edwards.

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The only difference? Chastain was successful and made his way into the championship.

Ross Chastain recreated Edwards’ attempt in ‘Hail Melon’

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Ross Chastain and his ‘Hail Melon’ move at Martinsville last year were a talking point for the community for a long time. Some stood against the audacity of it, while some stood bewildered by the creativity of it as it reminded them of Carl Edwards’ vision 14 years ago.

A daring attempt in the final lap of the race could have gone horrendously wrong, as it did for Edwards. Apart from that, it holds great risk as well. A minor miscalculation can throw the car off the track, potentially damaging other cars and drivers as well. To prevent such happenings, NASCAR decided to rule out any further incidents like this.

Under Section 10.5.2.6. A to the rulebook, NASCAR banned the move that has been cemented in the history of the sport.

To summarize the aftereffects of the wall ride, Chastain’s hands were spotted trembling after the race. Undoubtedly, it was the side effect of a move that put a great deal of strain on the driver trying to control a car riding the wall and avoiding opponents.

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As the playoff race at Kansas Speedway closes in, the amalgamation of the occasion and the venue has triggered memories of the dangerous yet iconic move.