‘Hail Melon’ racecar to be preserved
Trackhouse Racing will preserve Ross Chastain’s “Hail Melon” No. 1 Chevrolet from the Cup Series Martinsville 2022 Playoff race.
Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks took to Twitter Wednesday, Feb. 1, to announce that the racecar that Ross Chastain used to wall-ride the outside retaining wall on the last lap at Martinsville Speedway to secure a Championship 4 berth will be preserved “as best as possible.”
“Ross’ move at Martinsville was a historic moment and should be preserved for the fans for years to come,” Marks said.
Chastain picked up five positions and points with the move, enough to bump Denny Hamlin from Championship 4 eligibility and earn Chastain his first Cup Series Championship 4 appearance.
Chastain ultimately finished second at Phoenix — and in points — to 2022 champion Joey Logano.
NASCAR announced on Tuesday, Jan. 31, any type of wall-riding tactic would levy a time penalty.
MORE: New stage procedures, ‘Hail Melon’ ban
Marks said keeping the car in its current state and not using it in future races would cost the team “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” but the rule change NASCAR made helped make the decision for the team.
“This sport isn’t just about the balance sheet,” Marks said. “It’s about passion and moments and people.”
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Dominic Aragon View All
Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.
From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book "All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story" with racer Geoff Bodine.
Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.
You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.