By Dave Skretta
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Ross Chastain finally got to smash a watermelon for the first time this season Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
Smashed the hopes of a bunch of playoff drivers trying to earn an automatic berth in the next round, too.
The seventh-generation watermelon farmer took the lead from Martin Truex Jr. on a restart with 20 laps to go, then held off title contender William Byron the rest of the way to the finish line. It was the first win for Chastain since last year’s finale at Phoenix, when he also played a bit of a spoiler on the day that the NASCAR Cup Series crowned its champion.
“We haven’t gone anywhere. We keep showing up,” said Chastain, who barely missed out on qualifying for the playoffs. “It’s not easy when you’re failing or struggling at something, and you just can’t get to where you want to get to.”
The retiring Truex, who was eliminated from the playoffs last week, finished third in what was likely his final Kansas race.
He was leading when Carson Hocevar brought out the final caution of a wreck-filled day. Truex picked the top on the restart, and Chastain opted for the bottom, and it was the No. 1 car from Trackhouse Racing that got the big push to the front.
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