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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Ross Chastain smashes a melon at Kansas

JHby:Jonathan Howard•09/30/24•

Jondean25

Ross Chastain Kansas NASCAR
Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images

The NASCAR schedule moved to Kansas this past weekend and all three national series were in postseason action. There was a lot going on this weekend, so let’s get into it and break it all down.

NASCAR Playoff time, and drivers in each series were showing it. This is the time when drivers have to put up or shut up. We saw a little bit of both, admittedly.

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In the three national series races, only one playoff driver won. This could be a season of spoilers if things don’t start to turn around and soon.

Isabella Robusto wins ARCA Menards Series pole

To start the weekend of racing, Isabella Robusto was able to win her first ARCA Menards Series pole award. It was her first time racing on a 1.5-mile track.

Unfortunately, an early mistake on Lap 2 took her out of the race. She was not clear when she thought she was and ended up in the wall.

Corey Heim wins in exciting finish over Ty Majeski

The end of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race might have been the best of the weekend. Ty Majeski drove a great race, but was one lap short on fuel.

Corey Heim then came in, picked up the white flag, and brought it home for the checkered flag. Six wins on the year for Heim, how many more can he get?

Aric Almirola spoils the party, won’t be last time

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Aric Almirola was the big winner. Almirola is racing the entire playoffs in the No. 20 car, attempting to get an owners’ championship for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Look, it was a good race from Almirola, but no one wants to see the retired Cup guy win. It will take a lot for the regulars to beat the veteran down the stretch.

Cole Custer vows revenge against Chandler Smith

In the aftermath of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Cole Custer vowed his revenge. He felt Chandler Smith wronged him on a restart and potentially costed him the race.

P2 for the defending Xfinity champion. Custer is hoping to have another big day at Talladega next week.

Lap 1 wreck a sign of things to come in NASCAR 2025?

We have to talk about the Lap 1 wreck. Coming out of Turn 2, Ty Dillon for whatever reason, goes four-wide. Well, as you could have guessed, that didn’t work out too well.

Dillon will race full-time for Kaulig Racing in 2025. Should we expect this to be a regular thing next season?

Josh Berry parked, Rodney Childress fuming mad

As a consequence of that wreck, Josh Berry was parked by NASCAR. He felt he only needed tires, but NASCAR used the same rule they used against Ryan Blaney at Watkins Glen.

Rodney Childers was fuming mad. It has also sparked more discussion over how NASCAR should handle these situations.

Kyle Busch spins while leading at Kansas

One of the biggest moments of the weekend came when Kyle Busch spun out of the lead. While lapping Chase Briscoe, Busch got loose and his car went to the inside wall.

This allowed Ross Chastain to take the race over. The Melon Man would not be deterred, either.

Ross Chastain wins, makes NASCAR history

It is always a SMASHING good time when Ross Chastain wins. For the second year in a row, Chastain is a spoiler in the NASCAR Playoffs.

Chastain has been one of the best drivers in the series since the postseason began. He might be out of it, but he’s going to remind everyone what he’s able to do. His fifth win in the No. 1 car, that’s a record for that number in the Cup Series.