{"id":10120,"date":"2022-03-28T12:55:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T16:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=10120"},"modified":"2022-07-22T12:08:29","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T16:08:29","slug":"three-big-stories-cota-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2022\/03\/28\/three-big-stories-cota-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Big Stories: COTA (2022)"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASCAR’s return to Circuit of the Americas left us with some morsels about which to talk.<\/p>\n

Ross Chastain<\/strong>‘s journey to victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series gives those who yearn for a blue collar driver a horse onto which to hook their cart. Furthermore, Circuit of the Americas got a fair shake to prove it belongs on the schedule. Meanwhile, NASCAR had some “Only in NASCAR” moments, Sunday.<\/p>\n

So without further adieu, let’s dive into the Three Big Stories of NASCAR’s return to COTA.<\/p>\n

Three Big Stories: COTA (2022)<\/h2>\n

Ross Chastain gives those who yearn for a blue collar driver a horse to hook their cart onto<\/h3>\n
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AUSTIN, Texas – MARCH 27: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 ONX Homes\/iFly Chevrolet, celebrates by eating a watermelon after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Echopark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 27, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Photo: Dylan Buell\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For those who lament the lack of down to Earth, blue collar drivers, Chastain’s the driver for you.<\/p>\n

When he’s not at the track, he works on a watermelon farm in Florida<\/a>. He’s weaved this into his racing career, too, as he smashes melons after every victory (minus a mallet, sorry Gallagher).<\/p>\n

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Iconic \ud83c\udf49 @RossChastain<\/a> | @TeamTrackhouse<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/S9LfZngYGJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 27, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n