NASCAR
Ross Chastain Takes Niece Motorsports to Darlington Truck Win After Overtime Dash
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Leading only the final three laps, Ross Chastain capitalized on others’ mistakes to find Darlington victory lane. After several drivers ran into issues up front, the Niece Motorsports No. 45 Chevrolet came to life in overtime and ended the night smashing a watermelon.
The rain delayed night started with a few big hits for the prerace favorite. Kyle Busch spun while racing for the lead on lap two. After pitting for repairs, the No. 7 Chevrolet would blow a tire only a handful of laps later. Busch’s Truck season did not end with another win, but rather with a series-first last place showing.
Up front Corey Heim swept both Stages, going for back-to-back wins in the TRICON No. 11. His run to consecutive wins would come to a crashing end however to start Stage 3. Heim was a victim taken out when Dean Thompson got loose, hitting several bystanders into turn three.
This field-clearing crash opened the door for defending Darlington winner Christian Eckes. The No. 19 Chevrolet took command for the first time on a restart and held on until Ty Majeski motored by inside the final 30 laps.
Majeski was en route to his first victory and Ford’s first NASCAR win overall in 2024, before a late caution. Jack Wood pounding the wall set up overtime, and it was a mad dash into turn one.
Trucks shoving and sliding everywhere on corner entry allowed Ross Chastain to sniff the lead and drive away. By the white flag the Niece Motorsports truck built up a big enough lead to cruise to victory lane.
After wrecking out of last May’s Darlington Cup race late, Chastain was in position to steal one in the Trucks. Chastain was very direct in saying who led his charge to the win.
It takes Phil Gould, it takes Niece Motorsports,” Chastain said. “We have been trying to win at Darlington. This is where my career changed, where my life changed forever! For better or worse, however all this works out. That first opportunity with CGR and Spire to put me together with that group and the year before, see me pumping the honey wagon, getting the honey wagon over off of turn two, to now finally getting the Florida Watermelon queen here. It’s Florida Watermelon season. They’ve been with me for so long with Ms. Deborah. And Mother’s Day weekend; my mom’s here, the moms in our group. And to win it with ‘Click It, Don’t Risk It’ with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. This ‘Protect Your Melon’ campaign is something that funded my career for several years, and now to have these cool moments that we get to have it on these trucks and cars on Friday and Saturday, and it’s so cool. We won Darlington.”
“Well, Dad drove this (watermelon) up yesterday from the farm. I was down there Monday and Tuesday, and Dad drove these up. He drove through the night to get up here. There’s so much sacrifice from so many people back at the farm and those in the agriculture industry. That’s why you see me talk about watermelons and talk about agriculture. There’s so much misinformation, there’s such a small percentage of our population in charge of feeding the rest of the world. Not that a watermelon is part of anybody’s everyday diet, like I’m trying to shovel this down right now. It tastes so good, but a watermelon farmer just won Darlington. And for everything this means for Niece Motorsports. I think five years ago to the day we won our first race, and we’re back in victory lane!”
Behind Chastain at the checkers were Nick Sanchez, Ben Rhodes, Christian Eckes, and Ty Majeski. The rest of the top-10 were Chase Purdy, Colby Howard, Taylor Gray, Ty Dillon, and Tanner Gray. Hear from some of these drivers below.
The Craftsman Truck Series rolls on to North Wilkesboro Speedway. Part of NASCAR All-Star weekend, the truckers have a points paying race on the line around the historic short track. Brand new pavement is sure to throw everyone for a loop in the Wright Band 250. The race goes green Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credit to James Gilbert/Getty Images
