{"id":618,"date":"2011-08-08T14:54:58","date_gmt":"2011-08-08T14:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.whataboutwatermelon.com\/?p=618"},"modified":"2017-06-08T14:55:28","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T14:55:28","slug":"ross-chastain-and-his-watermelon-car-hit-the-big-leagues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.whataboutwatermelon.com\/index.php\/2011\/08\/ross-chastain-and-his-watermelon-car-hit-the-big-leagues\/","title":{"rendered":"ROSS CHASTAIN AND HIS WATERMELON CAR HIT THE BIG LEAGUES"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Last year, I wrote about Ross Chastain, then a 17-year-old professional race car driver on the FASCAR circuit (Florida Association of Stock Car Auto Racing). I wrote about Ross because he and his #36 car are proudly sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board.<\/p>\n

When I say \u201csponsored by,\u201d I don\u2019t mean sponsored in a small-sticker-on-the-rear-fender kind of way. The folks at the NWPB are the main sponsors <\/em>of Ross and his speed machine, which means there\u2019s a grinning watermelon emblazoned on the hood of Ross\u2019s car and on the center of his driving suit. It also means Ross celebrates each victory by hoisting a slice of ice-cold watermelon in the winner\u2019s circle after the race.<\/p>\n

Ross and his watermelon car have been doing so well on the FASCAR circuit that Ross (now 18) was invited to race in his very first NASCAR Truck Series race last month. That\u2019s right, NASCAR. The Big Leagues of auto racing. Ross didn\u2019t disappoint, either. He finished in 10th<\/sup> place \u2013 not bad for a guy who had just graduated from high school and was competing in his first NASCAR race. Even better, Ross\u2019s truck finished the 200-lap race without a scratch. \u201cNo scrapes from other cars, no dings from the wall,\u201d said one article<\/a> about Ross\u2019s recent success.<\/p>\n

The day after Ross\u2019s top 10 finish, he stopped by the Illiana Watermelon Association booth at the Kroger 200 race to help pass out watermelon samples and accept donations for the Riley Hospital for Children. That\u2019s a picture of Ross in action at the top of this entry.<\/p>\n

Because of his impressive showing, Ross will likely appear in more NASCAR Truck Series races this year, and the National Watermelon Promotion Board will be along for the ride. I\u2019ll keep you posted on Ross\u2019s success. In the meantime, Ross and I will be chatting soon for an interview, which I\u2019ll post here on What About Watermelon in the near future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last year, I wrote about Ross Chastain, then a 17-year-old professional race car driver on the FASCAR circuit (Florida Association of Stock Car Auto Racing). I wrote about Ross because he and his #36 car are proudly sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board. 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