NASCAR Fan Attempted to Steal from Ross Chastain Soon After Historic Coke 600 Win

A fan allegedly tried to steal the hat of Ross Chastain after the Trackhouse star won the Coca Cola 600.

NASCAR Fan Attempted to Steal from Ross Chastain Soon After Historic Coke 600 Win

Ross Chastain's wild encounter wild fan at Charlotte (Via @RossChastain and @STaranto92/X)

The Coca Cola 600 is one of the biggest races in NASCAR. This year’s race packed some exciting action on-track with Trackhouse star Ross Chastain clinching the victory. However, Chastain found himself in a tricky spot when a fan tried to grab a hat from his car.

Following the race, Ross Chastain was celebrating his win in Victory Lane. The 32-year-old was taking in the moment alongside Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks. As the two cherished the victory, a fan tried to force his way to the window and grab a hat from the car.

The incident was caught by a CBS reporter at the track. It is believed that security officials soon reached the scene and got the fan away from the area. The Coke 600 winner reportedly used profane language against the fan before security arrived. Luckily, Ross Chastain was not harmed during the incident and soon reached the press conference to discuss his victory.

Ross Chastain recalled the entire ordeal. He told the media that he was wearing the hat which the fan tried to steal. The Trackhouse star claimed that the fan came to him on pit road, and the two initially high-fived one another. However, the man soon put his hand on Chastain’s hat, attempting to grab it from the 32-year-old. The Coke 600 winner claimed that the fan soon started shouting that he had stolen the hat.

This is the hat… It was unfortunate, a guy was on pitroad. He was super excited, he reached in, I high-fived, I didn’t know him. And he just like grabbed my hat and then I thought that oh he’s just saying ‘great job buddy.’ Then he just pulled the hat and said, ‘I got your hat! I got your hat!’

Ross Chastain said post-race.

After the man ran away, Chastain turned off his car and talked to NASCAR security officials. He told them that he wanted his hat back at all cost. The officials managed to get back the hat for the 32-year-old and the fan was controlled.

I was like ‘come give it back’ and then he ran away.. then I just shut the car off. Then NASCAR security was there, I was like ‘I want.. that’s my winning hat.’

Ross Chastain added.

Ross Chastain explains special bond with NASCAR hats

Racing is an emotional sport. Drivers go head-to-head at over 200 miles an hour in dangerous conditions, all in a bid to take victory. It is common for NASCAR stars to retain something special from their wins to remember their good days in the sport. For Ross Chastain, hats are this souvenir.

Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain (Via IMAGO)

The Trackhouse star revealed that he wears special hats for every NASCAR race. Chastain’s hats have a special hole that allows him to rest it on the transmission. Once the race is over, the 32-year-old takes the hats home as part of his collection.

Every week, every racecar I drive, I have to have a hat with a hole in it so that I can put it on the shifter and it rides on the transmission, every race. And that’s the hat, then I put that on the shelf. It means a lot to me.

Ross Chastain explained.

It is thus no surprise that Ross Chastain was keen on keeping this hat. Winning the Coke 600 was a special moment in his career, making the hat even more memorable. Chastain can now move on from this incident. But questions will be raised over the security situation in NASCAR as the fan could so easily grab the hat of a race winner.

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