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AlphaInvictus OP t1_iufa2pq wrote

>Chastain went from 10th to fifth on the final lap of the race by intentionally driving his car into the wall at full speed. He accelerated against the wall through the entirety of Turns 3 and 4 and passed five cars so that he would have a chance to win the 2022 Cup Series championship in the winner-take-all title race at Phoenix on Nov. 6.

Crazy. He credited a video game as his inspiration. See kids. Video games DO pay off.

333

StormReborn34578 t1_iufahzd wrote

I'm pretty sure he also broke the track record for fastest lap by doing that although Im not sure. One of the best things I've ever seen lmao.

167

spectral_fall t1_iufangi wrote

This is NASCAR history. The move literally defied the laws of physics.

−25

ClitoralElegy t1_iufanxu wrote

Been a fan for 25+ years and this is genuinely one of the craziest things I've ever seen in motorsports.

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shewy92 t1_iufapja wrote

He zoomin.

That was a legit video game move and was awesome. He made 10 year old and former 10 year old NASCAR video game players proud

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Team_Ed t1_iufb01f wrote

The idea that this is a legal NASCAR strategy is the most NASCAR thing that ever NASCARed.

Edit: I mean this as a good thing

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Legacy_600 t1_iufbo20 wrote

I can not believe physics worked like that.

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mstpguy t1_iufc2ft wrote

Haven't watched NASCAR in over 20 years, that was enjoyable!

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moomoomistacow t1_iufcmm0 wrote

It’s just as likely that they throw a caution because they see smoke from him getting in the wall. Risky proposition there

7

ImGrumps t1_iufcve5 wrote

Such an amazing thing to pull that off and know that whatever happens you gave it everything. Love that he made reference to NASCAR 2005 in his post race interview. Total IRL video game move.

Watching the end of this over the F1 race was absolutely the right choice today.

102

Leuel48Fan t1_iuffubt wrote

Sim racing developers (particularly iRacing) have been trying for AGES to naturally prevent that from happening at some of their virtual short tracks, turns out if executed properly irl, IT WORKS TOO!

I'm also sure the new stiffer, more durable NextGen chassis played a role in how successfully the move worked.

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Leuel48Fan t1_iufg4zz wrote

Replying to Team_Ed (#358,334)

It's legal because there was never a rule saying it ain't prior. (Because the guys that tried it before just damaged their cars and kept or lost spots). Moving forward will probably be a different story.

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Wide_right_ t1_iufgb08 wrote

Replying to Team_Ed (#358,334)

sending it on the last lap shouldn’t be legal? if they wanna wreck themselves and not even come close to damaging another car or put anyone else at risk, let em

5

Wide_right_ t1_iufghu2 wrote

this was wild. I watch with my dad when I visit on the weekends but I was just getting out of the shower as he’s downstairs freaking out. I come down to watch this replay and this guy is staring at the screen like he just saw boobs for the first time. I’ll remember the move, but seeing his reaction was great

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NachoBag_Clip932 t1_iufgic4 wrote

It was fun and exciting and something that everyone will be talking about and all you can think is which suit will complain and eliminate anyone from doing it again.

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Lunndonbridge t1_iufgp8h wrote

Lol he did what I used to do in Need for speed and burnout games to beat the computer around sharp turns.

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rydude88 t1_iufjv2s wrote

That is the most insane things Ive ever seen in all my years of watching racing.

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Inevitable_Cook_1423 t1_iufm4b6 wrote

I grew up in NASCAR country and used to go to the races. Tuned in between football games for the last 50 laps. That was the most amazing thing I’ve seen in racing.

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Nas160 t1_iufpdqh wrote

Replying to AlphaInvictus (#358,110)

NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup...

Ross is one of my guys and I'm elated...but...I still can't process it... it's like he broke goddamn physics or something. He's a god. I'm not gonna sleep well for Sunday.

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Nas160 t1_iufq60n wrote

"Shoutouts to NASCAR 2005 on the GameCube I did that move all the time when I was 8"

vs.

"growing up I always...spent time stomping.........KOOPAS.....in the original mario bros arcade game"

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buster_rhino t1_iufrdrw wrote

Hold up so he just pressed up against the wall and floored it? That is insane! How long til they make that move illegal? If dudes start trying that regularly I could see it being very dangerous?

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Hollybanger45 t1_iufu9nr wrote

He ran that wall like a hockey puck on the boards. That was brilliant! I’m a fan now!

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fredapp t1_iufw738 wrote

Is this going to become a common thing now?

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AnAngryPanda1 t1_iufwc8i wrote

One of the most genuinely insane things I’ve ever seen in sports.

16

PepeSylvia11 t1_iug0ndd wrote

Replying to moomoomistacow (#358,718)

He still would’ve made it into the championship. He only needed to gain 2 positions. He got 5. So if they were to call the caution the second they see smoke he probably would’ve already had it in the bag.

7

Dtoodlez t1_iug0rjt wrote

Holy shit. I don’t know anything about racing what so ever but that was insane.

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PepeSylvia11 t1_iug0u4h wrote

Replying to fredapp (#363,479)

Many fans genuinely believe it’s going to become a rule on the short tracks next year, and for good reason.

If there’s nothing stopping every, non-leading car from doing that on the last lap, everyone’s going to try it and it’ll be incredibly dangerous.

This may very well be the first and last time you see this.

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manticore16 t1_iug1ts4 wrote

I can’t believe that 1) that’s legal and 2) that WORKED.

8

Pantsman1084 t1_iug38z1 wrote

Replying to PepeSylvia11 (#364,618)

If the car is the reason for the caution, they are usually not allowed to stay in the position they were in and will revert to the last scoring loop they passed as long as they keep moving. If your situation would have played out, he may not have made it. This is an exceptional moment and probably the only time we'll ever see this.

6

Yolectroda t1_iug9l6d wrote

Replying to NachoBag_Clip932 (#359,681)

It was awesome, fun, exciting, and great, but it probably should be prevented in the future. If nothing else, this becoming a thing in races will result in accidents that hurt people, possibly spectators, eventually. It's the spirit of NASCAR..."That was awesome and brilliant....now never do it again!"

15

MillenniumKenobi t1_iugd8aa wrote

Replying to Dtoodlez (#364,652)

It’s never been done (successfully) before. And is essentially a Hail Mary. He needed 3 spots to pass the driver ahead of him in points, so that he could get the final spot in the championship race. He ended up passing 5 cars in 1 turn by full sending it 😂

16

jyar1811 t1_iugdwlg wrote

This is the first and last time you will see this mega self yeet maneuver because they’re going to make it illegal in the morning. I’m just glad I was alive to see it happen

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dominationnation t1_iugeo92 wrote

It was wild. This shit was like Takumi dropping his wheels into the gutter on Mt Akina.

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taylorlehman t1_iugev15 wrote

EIL5 - why did that make him go so fast?

4

Deathwatch72 t1_iugeza6 wrote

All we need for the perfect video is somebody to overlay the guitar solo from Panama into a video of him doing it

5

FillinThaBlank t1_iugf77l wrote

It doesn’t work at most tracks. This is the shortest track on the schedule, and hence one of the only tracks where the turns are small and this move is viable.

Will still probably be illegal soon.

3

MaxPres24 t1_iugfyv2 wrote

Replying to fredapp (#363,479)

No. He had to get lucky for it to even work this time. There’s so many things that could’ve happened for this not to work

Also it annihilated the car

4

7Stringplayer t1_iugh6rd wrote

Replying to Yolectroda (#367,032)

This is one of maybe 3 or 4 tracks where it would even be possible. But no doubt NASCAR should prevent this in the future by dictating anything not the racing surface can't be used for a pass

1

7Stringplayer t1_iugimvb wrote

Replying to PepeSylvia11 (#364,671)

There's also a door in turn 4 for entry and exit from the track. He missed hitting it, but if he had it would've certainly destroyed the car and possibly shot him back into the racing line at almost twice the speed of everyone else. Not to mention if another car had been sent into the wall as he was coming around

9

jkman61494 t1_iugjnah wrote

As a Ross fan this was amazing to see. 25 years a fan of nascar and nothing comes CLOSE to the craziness of this. A movie scene in real life when you consider the person he passed in the standings was his biggest rival this year

4

7Stringplayer t1_iugl0zc wrote

Replying to taylorlehman (#368,496)

Using the wall allows you to exceed the natural grip of your tires, so you're able to carry higher speeds into the corner than without. Most tracks the speed into the corner is high enough that even light contact with the wall is enough to cause damage or cut down a tire. Martinsville is short enough that a wall ride is a viable strategy for a two corner hail mary attempt. His car was destroyed on the right side and if it werent the last lap he'd be done for. All other tracks, the corner speeds and the length of the wall are too high and long for this to be viable. You'd lose too much speed and damage the car too much

5

TackyBrad t1_iugs3fa wrote

Replying to 7Stringplayer (#369,170)

I just wonder how it's enforced? Subjectively? Like what about some of the epic finishes of old where the two leaders spin each other out and go careening through the grass trioval frontstretch and across the line? Could the guy in second therefore not be allowed to pass during that wreck in the grass?

What about legitimately during other wrecks where some cars have had to go real low and even into the grass to get by safely and pass everyone?

I think this will be immensely difficult to write a rule for objectively and it will have to be left up to race officials to decide on individual occurrences.

1

TackyBrad t1_iugs7ka wrote

Do we have in car footage or comms? I'm wondering if he announced it or if we can get some crew chief reaction or spotter.

1

hookyboysb t1_iugs98m wrote

Replying to shewy92 (#358,286)

The real track record was set by Greg Sacks in a Modified car in 1986, 18.746 seconds. Still, beating the Cup series record in a slower car than the previous record is an amazing achievement.

11

golfburner t1_iugsv7j wrote

Probably the best move in NASCAR history.

7

william-o t1_iugt7u6 wrote

Replying to PepeSylvia11 (#364,671)

Yeah the playoffs points chase is fun and all, what they didn't consider is the lengths drivers will go to in order to advance, aka, wreck the race and break the rules to improve their own odds to go to the next stage despite not being in front of the pack.

2

Robbylution t1_iugvj4d wrote

Replying to Leuel48Fan (#359,524)

Can’t they just increase the coefficient of friction for the outside walls and be done with it? Or would that be too punishing for a quick nudge? Maybe if they ramp up the cf as the contact time increases…

4

ThatOtherGuy_CA t1_iugzv73 wrote

You know, I never thought NASCAR would need to add a rule against wall riding, but here we are.

1

Bwil34 t1_iuh75mp wrote

Crazy that he passed Hamlin just in time to get into the final 4 over Hamlin

2

blackvr t1_iuhhfuw wrote

Replying to Robbylution (#373,053)

There’s all sorts of things that could be done but they’ve been trying to go about it in a realistic way. Turns out wallriding is viable in real life too.

At the end of the day it’s going to come down to their damage model being detailed enough to deter this. Obviously last corner last lap with huge stakes on the line in this situation so damage doesn’t matter, but that will be the key to keeping it from happening regularly.

12

Rhalellan t1_iuhj4oz wrote

Not the first time this has been attempted. It is the first time it actually worked. Ol Cousin Carl tried it and just tore his car apart, and Rocketman Ryan tried it also. Neither car even made it to the finish line.

That Ross tried it doesn’t surprise me, we’ve already seen the guy do some sketchy shit to win. The fact that it actually worked is what is amazing.

2

BaconFlavoredToast t1_iuhk6gh wrote

Replying to Nas160 (#361,710)

No, he did the opposite. He proved physics. The wall was acting like he had a string attached to the middle of the turn. He used centripetal force to allow him to go faster on the turn.

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anotherstupidworkacc t1_iuhyjyb wrote

I understand why it's dangerous and I understand why some people want it outlawed but JFC I'm glad it happened at least once. That was genuinely the most exciting thing I've ever seen in a non-X-Games type race.

2

gjp11 t1_iui9c54 wrote

Replying to buster_rhino (#362,217)

Im not sure nascar needs to do anything about it. Tbh it Would only work on the last lap on certain short tracks. Martinsville is perfect for it cause it’s a more narrow low banked short track meaning you can’t keep top speeds around the turns.

But Like on a more banked super speedway like Daytona or even a lot of the mid distance speedways you can maintain speed going around the turns so it doesn’t make much sense.

Plus you can only really do it on the last lap. The damage to the car means it’s a last ditch effort.

Also all it takes is someone to come up the high line on the final straight and block you and if this becomes a regular strategy that’s what leaders will do.

I think it’s a “problem” that will solve itself as drivers adjust.

But god what a crazy finish. It was so exciting. I’m a big trackhouse racing fan so I loved it.

10

Yolectroda t1_iuiassa wrote

Replying to chrisdc87 (#386,586)

Those aren't even close. They're impressive goals, but nothing in there is particularly crazy or out of the ordinary for soccer.

I would legitimately love to see a crazy soccer play that comes close to this absurd move. I've never seen anything close.

13

chrisdc87 t1_iuibbwp wrote

Replying to Yolectroda (#386,856)

That’s fair. I guess I don’t get nascar. I understand the impact of the forces on the body, impressive. But this stunt is just centrifugal force and a really well designed wall, right?

−2

getofftheirlawn t1_iuicbrt wrote

This man just video gamed it. Holy shit! I mean that is straight out of the arcade.

1

Yolectroda t1_iuiddes wrote

Replying to chrisdc87 (#387,018)

It's also a really well designed car (theoretically, this would have destroyed cars in the past if anyone tried it), and most importantly, it's having the ingenuity and guts to try it, as it's never been done. Something kinda similar has been tried in the past, but it failed. It's basically throwing out all of the conventional wisdom of how to race and doing something different and it working.

Then for some of us, it's also a bit of video game BS mixed in, as some of us would do this kind of thing in racing games in years past (which don't have any track or car damage).

This will likely be made illegal in the very near future to prevent others from doing it again.

4

TackyBrad t1_iuir7hl wrote

Replying to chrisdc87 (#388,118)

Probably the best way to process it would be that it's so outlandish and foolhardy and unlikely to work that they never even considered outlawing it. However, I would expect there to very soon be a new rule preventing it in the future.

That's how crazy it is and how outside the box. They didn't think they needed a rule against it but now will almost certainly make one.

Maybe this is stupid or won't help, but imagine if Maradona's "hand of God" was actually legal at the time and just no one had thought to do it because of the integrity of the sport and everyone just knows you're not supposed to do that. However, he does it to score an incredibly important and iconic goal and it forces a rule to be made preventing it.

It's that sort of situation

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Sandman11x t1_iuircjk wrote

Did not understand what he did until I read the comments. Amazing achievement.

1

Klendy t1_iuj2sby wrote

Replying to blackvr (#378,158)

It's viable for one set of turns (maybe two laps at most at Martinsville) before you destroy your car so badly it cannot continue. After the first impact you'll have very little control on the next straight and have to hope you stay stuck to the wall. Video games and simulators don't yet replicate the damage well enough to discourage it

1

Pantsman1084 t1_iujazc4 wrote

Replying to Klendy (#398,142)

Right, but that is the only time this would have and did work. What I'm saying is that if they had thrown the caution, they would have reverted to the last scoring loop and frozen the field as is, race over. Then they would have assessed who was the cause of the caution and even though he kept pace until the finish line, they could have determined that he would not have been able to keep pace otherwise and may not have given him the spot he finished in. This is obviously speculation, but what isn't is that we will never see this happen again. There will be a rule change.

1