Ross Chastain, famous for his “Hail Melon” mad dash into the NASCAR Championship 4 in 2022, was in Richmond on Friday to help Virginia DMV promote … safe driving?
“What happened to my friend changed the way I think about driving forever,” said Chastain, telling the story of a close friend who, in 2011, was involved in a serious car crash that left him with life-altering injuries and unable to walk again.
“When people get behind the wheel, they should remember – the real victory lap is making it home. Wearing a seat belt and choosing a sober driver aren’t just safety tips – they’re decisions that save lives,” Chastain said.
NASCAR is in town this weekend for a night Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway.
Chastain won’t need to do another “Hail Melon” to get into the 2025 Playoffs with his win at Charlotte in May.
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The maneuver that gained him fame – video of the “Hail Melon” garnered more than 100 million views online – had Chastain reaching 130 mph as he drove up the wall in Turns 3 and 4, allowing him to overtake Denny Hamlin for fourth place in the 2022 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, pushing him past Hamlin into the Championship 4.
But that was a professional driver on a track with other professionals.
The Who’s Your Driver? campaign – a joint effort of Virginia DMV and DRIVE SMART Virginia, a nonprofit dedicated to making roadways safer for everyone – that Chastain was at RIR on Friday to promote is aimed at encouraging drivers, particularly young ones, to put their seat belt on and never drive under the influence.
In Virginia, one-in-three fatal crashes involves alcohol. In 2024, 318 people were killed and more than 4,000 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes across the Commonwealth.
Virginia enforces a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21, making it illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content over 0.02 percent – roughly the equivalent of just one drink.
“One drink can change your life – or someone else’s – forever,” DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey said. “If you’re making plans to go out, take a moment to plan how you’ll get to your destination. Whether it’s a rideshare, a cab, a sober friend, there are always safer options to getting home than getting behind the wheel impaired.”
On Friday, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at Chastain’s race car, chatted one-on-one with the NASCAR driver, and learned how the safety equipment used in professional racing mirrors the everyday tools that help keep drivers safe.
“In racing, there’s always a plan – a pit crew, a spotter, a strategy to get to the finish line safely,” said Kristin Pettway, executive director of DRIVE SMART Virginia. “We want drivers off the track to think the same way. If you’re going out and alcohol is involved, line up your ride home before the green flag drops. That simple choice can save your life or someone else’s.”
For more information on the Who’s Your Driver? campaign, visit whosyourdriver.org.
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Chris Graham
