Ross Chastain outlasts William Byron to win first race of 2024 at Kansas

Another fantastic race from Ross Chastain as he put on a show fighting off drivers in the second half of the race at Kansas. For the fifth time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Chastain is a winner!

Ross Chastain has once again found victory lane. He is not in the NASCAR Playoffs this year, but this win means everything to him.

The Melon Man gets it done at Kansas! He bested Kyle Busch and outlasted William Byron, and it’s a bad day to be a watermelon.

NASCAR fans had to wait 30 races this season until seeing Ross Chastain win. He has now won at COTA, Talladega, Nashville, Phoenix, and Kansas. Those big ovals seem to be Chastain’s preferred tracks. When he is on an intermediate track with a fast car, he’s almost always a threat.

Chastain had to fight for this win today. With 35 laps to go, it was shaping up to be a dogfight between Chastain and Kyle Busch. Inexplicably, Busch got loose behind Chase Briscoe as he lapped the 14-car and spun out.

That mistake and caution opened up the door for Ross Chastain. When the No. 1 team is in the lead, passing goes from difficult to downright impossible. Chastain is the last driver you want to see in front of you. Unless you have a great car, he’s not going to make it easy.

This race ended up being consequential for the NASCAR Playoffs. Drivers who were once favorites are now on the outside looking in going to Talladega.

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