Video game and brother inspired Nascar star's death-defying wall-riding move

NASCAR star Ross Chastain has described what went through his mind as he pulled off his incredible wall-riding move to make up five places on the final lap in Martinsville

Mark Whiley Sports Writer

15:54, 31 Oct 2022

[Ross Chastain tries to explain his incredible move after the race in Martinsville]

Ross Chastain tries to explain his incredible move after the race in Martinsville(Image: NBC/Twitter)

NASCAR driver Ross Chastain has become the talk of motorsport after his incredible wall-hugging move sawhim overtake five cars on the final lap and keep his title hopes alive.

With the NASCAR Cup at the final play-off stage, Chastain needed to finish in the top five to secure a place in the Championship, the traditional end-of-season race which sees the top four drivers on level points with the highest finisher taking the crown.

It looked all over for Chastain, who was 10th on the final tour of the 500-lap race in Martinsville, the penultimate round of the season. However, Chastain had other ideas as he audaciously rode the wall on the outside of the track and floored it, slingshotting past the five cars he needed to keep his title hopes alive in jaw-dropping fashion.

Speaking after the race, Chastain said the move had been in his mind, having first seen his brother Chad try it while playing the NASCAR 2005 video game.

I played a lot of NASCAR 2005 on the GameCube with Chad [who is also a racer] growing up, Chastain told NBC.

You can get away with it [on the game] and I never knew if it would actually work [in real life]. I did that when I was eight years old.

It flashed back in my head on the white flag [last lap]. If it wrecks, OK, we dont make it. It might not work, but Ill try it.

I asked [his team] if we needed it, and we did. I couldnt see who was leading. I just grabbed fifth gear down the back [straight] and fully committed. I hoped it didnt catch the turn four access gate or something crazy but I was willing to do it.

What is the most ridiculous move you've seen in motorsport? Tell us in the comments section below.

[The NASCAR 2005 game which the Chastain brothers played in their youth]

The NASCAR 2005 game which the Chastain brothers played in their youth(Image: EA Sports/YouTube)

[Ross Chastain begins his audacious wall ride]

Chastain begins his audacious wall ride(Image: NBC/Twitter)

[The view from inside Chastain's car as he rode the wall]

The view from inside Chastain's car as he rode the wall

On his feeling as he pulled the move, Chastain said: My brain could not comprehend, my bandwidth was shot when I entered [turn] three and I grabbed fifth gear. Everything went blurry. I couldnt comprehend it.

However, the move wasnt popular with all of his rivals. Kyle Larson, who tried a similar wall-riding move during a race last year, said: Its just a bad look. Im embarrassed that I did it at Darlington.

Maybe if I didnt do it last year, people wouldnt even think to do that, so Im embarrassed myself and glad that I didnt win that way [at Darlington]. Its not just a good look. Not a good look. Its embarrassing.

Larson added: If you think [Chastains move is fair], why would you think thats fair?

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