F4F - Ross Chastain Watermelon Farmer/Racecar Driver

Jun 21

Episode Summary

Farm4Profit has a VERY special guest Ross Chastain, 8th generation watermelon farmer and NASCAR driver. Growing up in Alva, Florida, Ross transitioned from farming to racing, now driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing. Discover his journey from farm fields to race tracks, his family's farming legacy, and his future aspirations

Listen in on this fantastic conversation Tanner and Corey have with Ross “The Watermelon Man”.

Episode Notes

Ross Chastain
Where are they from, what do they farm, how did they get into farming
How’s the family - do they farm with family?
Grew up in Alva, Florida
Older brother of NASCAR driver Chad Chastain
How did he get into NASCAR?
Busch Race Car Driver
Driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing
Part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the no. 92 Chevrolet Camaro for DGM ARacing
Part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports
Melon Man - branding
Racing in Nashville in The Battle of Broadway 150 on Thursday, June 27
Known for his “Hail Meon” wall ride at Martinsville
Racing History
Started racing at 12
Competed in both late models and fastruck series events
Interest from his father’s hobby racing
Moved to Charlotte in mid-2011
He then took over the No. 66 Turn One Racing entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
First raced he finished 10th
Connections in watermelon farming industry got him 4 more races
2019: broke the all-time NASCAR record for most consecutive races run across all three national series to start a season
Farm Rescue Supporter
8th generation watermelon farmer
Helped on farm until he was 13
Has been vocal about one day returning to the farm
Roughly 2,500 watermelons to the acre
Ten-year crop rotation
7187 is their bread and butter the past 10-12 years