Ross Chastain removes Martinsville “Hail Melon” wall, set to preserve the NASCAR history
NASCAR has banned the wall ride, pointing out that the move compromises the safety of drivers and fans.
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Ross Chastain at Martinsville (Credits: the Free Lane Pass)
Martinsville Speedway and No:1 Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain have come together to preserve the wall on which he executed the video game-inspired Hail Melon. The 20-foot session of the wall between turns 3 and 4 was removed using a forklift. The track authorities are playing to either place it in the NASCAR Hall of Fame at Charlotte or the Trackhouse facility for preservation.
The 2022 playoff Round of 8 cuts of the race witnessed the iconic and viral wall ride by the Championship runners-up. Chastain was outside the top 10 in the final lap and had to gain a couple of places to earn Championship 4 entry. With just two corners left in the race, he stepped on the gas and drove it full speed, keeping it on the wall. He was able to slingshot himself to the top 5 with the move.
“This does not compare to anything. I’ve been here a lot of years, but that’s off the charts. It still amazes me. And I know when people watch it… it just doesn’t look real. I still don’t think it’s real. I honestly have a hard time believing I did it,” said Martinsville Speedway Clay Campbell during the wall removal event.
NASCAR has banned the move and any driver that will repeat the move will be penalized by the sanctioning body. Following the ban, Trackhosue Racing announced that they will preserve the No:1 car from Martinsville and will display it in their team facility.
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Ross Chastain explains Martinsville wall move
Chastain pointed out that the move wasn’t pre-planned and he executed the move on the heat of the moment. He said, “I don’t know why it popped in my head, If I had some cool answer I would tell you. I wish I did. Our brains are very creative. It just popped in my head and I acted,”.
He added that the move didn’t go as he had planned. Chastain said, “It’s actually not perfectly straight coming the back straightaway. I thought I would just blend into it easy, but I actually didn’t hit the wall until here where it really starts turning, and it was a bigger impact than I thought. I thought I would just be scrubbing it going straight, but it actually got in the way.”
He revealed that he lost control of the car and dint had his hands on the wheel due to the G-Force. Chastain said, “About dead center or a little further down I realized I wasn’t doing anything. But when I let go the G-forces were so strong my right hand was on the floor and my left one was on my hip. It actually gave me a really bad feeling that now I’ve lost control. Up until that point, until I let go of the wheel, I thought I had it… “I still don’t think it’s real,” Chastain added. “I honestly have a hard time believing I did it,”.
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