Ross Chastain Creates History in Phoenix After 9 Years

Ever since the introduction of the much-contested elimination playoff structure in 2014, NASCAR has crowned the winner of the coveted Championship 4 race as the champion of the season. Well, not this time. After 9 years, history just got rewritten.

And it was all through the hands of Trackhouse Racing speedster Ross Chastain. Despite being ineligible for Championship 4, the #1 Chevy star won the Grand Finale at the 1-mile tri-oval racetrack in the foothills of the Estrella mountains in Arizona, near Phoenix.

Ross Chastain wins at Phoenix

It seemed like Ross Chastain conjured a speed out of nowhere that had even the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney fidget in frustration. Chastain snatched the lead away from Denny Hamlin on lap 282. He scooted forth to hold on to that lead till NASCAR brought out the checkered flag.

The melon man led the final 31 laps to become the first driver ineligible for the championship to win the season finale for the first time since the current playoff structure was introduced in 2014. HMS icon Kyle Larson finished third with teammate William Byron in the fourth, who broke a 3-year streak of the pole winner winning the race and championship at the quirky oval of Phoenix Raceway.

While munching on a slice of watermelon and sipping on a can of Busch light beer, Ross Chastain said, “I don’t believe it’s ever happened. We did something else that’s never been done before. For everyone on this team, this vision for Trackhouse and what this was,  was goals like these; They were lofty!” It was the second win of the season and fourth overall for the “Melon man”.

Ross Chastain grabbed the lead for the first time from SHR legend Kevin Harvick on lap 117. Harvick’s long-time sponsor Anheuser Busch will be moving to Chastains’s #1 Chevy team in 2024. The 30-year-old athlete said, “Obviously next year with Busch Light, I couldn’t think of anything I would want to do more is to try to be like Kevin Harvick.”

“Racing him early in the race was bucket list little kid in me. Racing (a NASCAR video game) in 2005, I drove as the 29 GM Goodwrench car (of Harvick). Now I’m driving a Chevy for GM to victory lane, a Camaro,” he added.

Watch this story: Blaney Triumphs Over Harvick in Thrilling YellaWood 500

With a second-place finisher in the 312 lap-long-race, Team Penske star Ryan Blaney became a first-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, and that too, in his first Championship four appearance. And with that, he defended the title for his boss, which Joey Logano brought home last year.

Roger Penske has not one, but two reasons to rejoice

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This year’s Championship is the second consecutive win for Team Penske after Joey Logano won it in 2022. But that’s not all. Back when Joey Logano won his first Championship in 2018, Will Power, driving for Team Penske, won the Indianapolis 500 as well. It has been 5 years since that feat has not been achieved, until on Sunday. This year, Roger Penske won his 19th Indianapolis 500 through the able hands of Josef Newgarden.

Ryan Blaney is not an emotional man. But even he couldn’t hold back his tears after finishing 1.230 seconds behind Ross Chastain. While talking to NBC Sports’ Marty Snider, Blaney said, “Just so proud of this team. Unbelievable year, unbelievable playoffs for us. To win back-to-back Cup titles for Mr. Penske, that’s so special. Having my family here, winning my first Cup title. I got emotional in the car. I’m not a very emotional guy.”

Ryan Blaney is a third-generation driver, hailing from a family of racers. His uncle Dave Blaney and grandfather Lou have made their names in the history of motorsports by winning several dirt track championships. So, to be able to uphold his family tradition is a big thing for Ryan Blaney.

“It’s meant everything. Obviously, I come from a family of racers, my grandfather, dad and uncle. Dad is obviously who I grew up watching and admiring (and) wanted to be like. To be able to do what he did, because as a kid I just wanted to do what dad did, so to be able to race and let alone compete for wins and championships, still have my parents around, people that you look up to that are still around, it makes it even more special,” he added.

The Pennezoil driver will now enjoy a few months of the offseason before he pulls his socks up and comes back stronger to claim the title for the third time for his team in 2024. It’s only a matter of time before we get to know how that goes for Blaney.

Read more: “Been Super Close for Many Years”- Ryan Blaney Gets Emotional As Championship Ticket Completes Unfulfilled Martinsville Dream