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Video: Ross Chastain's 1-in-a-Million Move to Qualify for NASCAR Championship 4

27
Adam Wellbrock
·4 min read
nascar cup series xfinity 500
Video: Ross Chastain's 1-in-a-Million NASCAR MoveStacy Revere - Getty Images

Just when you maybe thought you’ve seen it all in NASCAR, you've never seen a lap quite like the final two corners on the final lap of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain was headed down the back stretch in 10th place, and more important 2 points behind Denny Hamlin for the final Championship 4 qualifying spot. Two corners later, he had made up five places and took the checkered flag in fifth place and with enough points to qualify for the Championship 4 at Phoenix.

The lap was nothing short of made for Hollywood, as Chastain put his Chevrolet on the wall entering Turn 3, brushed the wall nearly all the way around and passed five cars in the process. His final lap was 2.5 seconds quicker than anyone else in the field, and was also an unofficial track record.

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If you’re brave enough to ride on-board with Chastain, click here:

When asked after the race where he got the idea and if he’d ever tried that line before, Chastain simply said: “NASCAR 2005 on the GameCube."

It’s a move that paid off but has drivers’ attention.

“It worked, so more power to him,” Joey Logano said.

Kyle Larson wasn't as impressed. “That’s not a good look for our sport, maybe you guys think it’s cool, I think it’s embarrassing.”

Christopher Bell won Sunday's race, and the Championship 4 field is Bell, Chase Elliott, Logano and Chastain.

Results

NASCAR Cup Series Race

74th Annual Xfinity 500

Martinsville Speedway

1. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 500.

2. (1) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 500.

3. (4) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 500.

4. (9) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 500.

5. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 500.

6. (12) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 500.

7. (25) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 500.

8. (24) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 500.

9. (3) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 500.

10. (2) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 500.

11. (10) Harrison Burton #, Ford, 500.

12. (7) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 500.

13. (19) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 500.

14. (5) Cole Custer, Ford, 500.

15. (15) Aric Almirola, Ford, 500.

16. (8) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 500.

17. (13) Michael McDowell, Ford, 500.

18. (23) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 498.

19. (26) Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, 498.

20. (27) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 498.

21. (14) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 498.

22. (31) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 498.

23. (21) AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 498.

24. (22) Chris Buescher, Ford, 497.

25. (17) Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, 497.

26. (30) Austin Cindric #, Ford, 497.

27. (29) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 497.

28. (36) Cody Ware, Ford, 495.

29. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 494.

30. (35) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 488.

31. (32) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Brakes, 466.

32. (33) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 460.

33. (16) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 316.

34. (34) BJ McLeod(i), Ford, Fire, 225.

35. (28) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, Accident, 188.

36. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 500.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 77.239 mph.

Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 24 Mins, 18 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.869 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 6 for 53 laps.

Lead Changes: 8 among 5 drivers.

Lap Leaders: K. Larson (P) 1-68;C. Elliott (P) 69-120;D. Hamlin (P) 121-323;C. Bell (P) 324-395;C. Elliott (P) 396;C. Bell (P) 397-469;C. Elliott (P) 470;C. Briscoe (P) 471-495;C. Bell (P) 496-500.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Denny Hamlin (P) 1 time for 203 laps; Christopher Bell (P) 3 times for 150 laps; Kyle Larson (P) 1 time for 68 laps; Chase Elliott (P) 3 times for 54 laps; Chase Briscoe (P) 1 time for 25 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,9,41,5,14,20,12,1,99,10

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,9,5,41,20,12,22,1,99,45