Ross Chastain Wins Hollywood Casino 400

Ross Chastain claimed his first win of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season and his fifth career victory by triumphing in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. After a poor qualifying performance, Chastain surged in the final laps, overtaking Martin Truex Jr. and holding off William Byron to secure the win. This victory ended Chastain's 30-race winless streak and was marked by his celebratory smashing of a watermelon, reflecting his background as a seventh-generation watermelon farmer. Chastain's win was significant as he narrowly missed the playoffs, echoing his role as a disruptor in the NASCAR Playoffs. The race was eventful with incidents involving Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, but Chastain's perseverance and strategic driving led him to victory.