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A year has passed since Ross Chastain pulled off what many now call the most unbelievable move in NASCAR history—a high-speed wall-ride at Martinsville Speedway that left the motorsports world stunned and fans in awe. It was a moment that not only changed the course of a race but also challenged the boundaries of what’s possible in professional racing.
Heading into the final laps of the elimination race at Martinsville, Christopher Bell was poised to secure his place in the Championship 4 with a win. Joey Logano had already locked in his spot, while Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin held the remaining transfer positions. Chastain, racing for Trackhouse Racing in his first year with the team, was on the outside looking in—trailing by two points with one lap to go.
Chastain had enjoyed a breakout season, picking up two wins and posting the most top-five and top-ten finishes among all drivers. But his aggressive driving style had earned him a fair share of adversaries, most notably Hamlin. The two clashed multiple times throughout the year, and their Martinsville battle proved no different. They exchanged contact repeatedly as they fought for a coveted spot in the title race.
With Hamlin ahead and just one lap remaining, Chastain appeared out of options. But instead of conceding, he made a decision that would go down in racing lore. As the field slowed for the final corners of the short track, Chastain did the opposite—he upshifted and floored the throttle. Slamming his No. 1 Chevrolet against the outside wall in Turn 3, he launched into a full-speed wall-ride around the final bend.
The crowd watched in disbelief as Chastain’s car scraped along the barrier, overtaking five drivers in a matter of seconds. He crossed the finish line alongside Hamlin, narrowly eliminating his rival from the playoffs in dramatic fashion. The lap wasn’t just fast—it was historic. Chastain set a new track record at Martinsville with a time of 18.845 seconds, nearly a full second quicker than the pole position lap run by Kyle Larson earlier that weekend.
Almost instantly, footage of the “Hail Melon” went viral. Social media exploded with reactions, accumulating over 100 million views. It wasn’t just NASCAR fans who took notice—drivers from all corners of motorsport weighed in, from Formula 1 to IndyCar.
Two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso was among the most vocal admirers, calling it the highlight of 2022 in motorsport. He commented that it resembled something out of a video game—specifically the kind of stunt you’d try in a racing simulator with damage turned off, never expecting it to work in real life.
IndyCar champion Will Power shared the same amazement, calling it “one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time.” NASCAR legends also chimed in, with Mark Martin describing it as “cold-blooded,” and Jeff Gordon labeling it “pretty incredible.”
Not everyone saw it as a positive for the sport. Kyle Larson, ironically the weekend’s polesitter, criticised the move, calling it “embarrassing” and suggesting it didn’t reflect well on NASCAR. Despite this, the general response from fans and most drivers was overwhelmingly supportive.
As for Chastain, he credited the inspiration to a childhood memory. Growing up in Florida, he and his brother Chad would play NASCAR 2005 on the Nintendo GameCube. That’s where the idea was born—and in a moment of desperation, he turned virtual experience into real-world history.
Still, the move raised serious questions about safety. What if it had gone wrong? The wall-ride provided such a dramatic advantage that it prompted concern over whether others might attempt similar tactics in future races.
One year later, the “Hail Melon” remains a defining moment in NASCAR’s modern era—a blend of boldness, instinct, and video game logic come to life. Whether it goes down as genius or recklessness, one thing’s for sure: it won’t be forgotten.
