The 2023 playoffs are already underway, and one driver who has yet to really make any noise is Ross Chastain. His No. 1 team was the talk of the garage during the 2022 playoffs, as he pulled off a number of crazy moves to reach the championship four in 2022.
That included the now famous 'Hail Melon' move when he rode the wall to pass several cars at Martinsville last fall.
In this year's playoffs, Chastain has promised that he doesn't have any crazy plans up his sleeves.
He reminisced about his famous move from last season with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass during NASCAR Playoff Media days, and how he doesn't plan to do anything like that and is focused on trying to win the 2023 championship.
During playoff media day last week, I wondered about Ross Chastain?s approach ? does he have another Hail Melon planned, what he learned last year that he hopes to put to use and whether his relatively quiet summer means he?s in a better place with his competitors. pic.twitter.com/AVFUSXYxGy
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 7, 2023
"Nothing up these sleeves, nothing, (no) trick. We'll just go and try to scrap up as many points as we can each round and transfer through- you know we can win one of these or a few of these. It's okay to win, somebody's got to. No Hail Melon, just go beat them," Chastain said with a laugh.
Chastain was then asked if he felt confident with his team and if they reach the championship four, and finish one spot higher than runner-up this time.
"I do (feel good)," Chastain said. "I wouldn't want to do this with any other group."
Chastain may not have any wild moves planned, but expect him to get his name into the picture in the later rounds of the playoffs. He did it last year, and there is no reason he can't at least get to the round of eight with a shot to advance to the championship four come Martinsville.
His fifth-place finish at Darlington, be it a quiet one, certainly is a good start. No 'Hail Melon', no problem for Chastain and Trackhouse Racing.
