NASCAR driver Ross Chastain visits the Poconos ahead of Cup Series

MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — NASCAR driver Ross Chastain made a pit stop in the Poconos with a trained guide by his side. He spent part of the day at Sunset Hill Shooting Range near Henryville.

“It’s like driving into turn one at Pocono oh my goodness, yeah, getting to shoot a couple of different types of ammunition there definitely the biggest gun, that slug gun I’ve ever shot,” said Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver.

There’s a reason why the targets are watermelons, “He’s the melon man. You know his family is watermelon farmers, so he came from that, so it is tradition when he does win a race, he smashes a watermelon from on top of his race car,” said Nick Igdalsky, Pocono Raceway CEO.

“Surprised, no, but happy to see them, yes. Look, whatever people do with their watermelons, I don’t care, as long as they’re buying watermelons, whatever they want, but we busted a couple today,” said Chastain.

The visit comes less than two weeks before the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway near Long Pond. The stop at the shooting range was just one of several on the agenda.

“This is a high-capacity tourist attraction. Tens of thousands of people come through here to shoot weapons that they can’t typically hold in their homes, so it gives them a safe experience to do so,” said Igdalsky.

Chastain says it’s not too often he gets to explore what the area has to offer, “We’re usually flying in the day of practice we are super focused on practice, qualifying the car in the best spot for Sunday that is why I like doing this kind of stuff since COVID it’s been kind of tougher, but we are definitely back to normal now so I think it’s the first time in a few years a driver has been here ahead of the race weekend.”

The NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway is from June 20 through June 22.