Kevin Harvick reacts to Ross Chastain wild 'Hail Hamlin' attempt at Charlotte

Ross Chastain became a NASCAR legend with his jaw-dropping “Hail Melon” move at Martinsville Speedway in 2022. The legendary wall-riding, last-lap gamble launched him into the Championship 4.

However, his latest desperate maneuver, which Kevin Harvick dubbed the “Hail Hamlin,” didn’t end nearly as well. The Trackhouse Racing driver spun Denny Hamlin in the final turn at the Charlotte ROVAL, trying to claw past the veteran before sliding across the finish line backward.

The move ultimately didn’t matter. Chastain had already fallen too far behind Joey Logano in points, with the reigning Cup Series champion advancing to the Round of 8 instead.

On the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, the 2014 Cup Series champion broke down what he saw from Chastain. It’s evident he believes the bold attempt from the Alva, Florida native was doomed before it began.

“At that point, it was pointless. I think the Hail Mellon worked out — the Hail Hamlin didn’t. So he’s been on both sides of it,” Harvick stated. “But it’s about the really good guys who can make it happen in those moments. They need those spectacular moments, but putting yourself in a position where you don’t have to do those types of things is really what you want. And they put themselves — he put them — in a position where he had to try something like that.

“He also could’ve pitted. If he had pitted, they would’ve never been in that situation. The whole field pitted for the most part. They could’ve put another set of tires on right there and had plenty of speed to keep competing. So they missed it from a strategy standpoint too.”

In Harvick’s eyes, Chastain’s issues went beyond one corner or decision. He believes the Trackhouse driver simply pushed too hard in a race that demanded composure. Multiple mistakes ultimately sealed his playoff fate.

“Ross Chastain is very well prepared week in and week out,” Harvick added. “His work ethic is over the top. He’s very honest; he gives it all that he has. There’s no questioning any of that. I think in these types of moments, this is when you find out where people are from a championship standpoint. Is it real, or is it not, when you get to the last level?

“I think he just tries to do too much. I think he overthinks some of these things to the point where, ‘Do I really need to race that hard to the end of pit road so far that I’m trying to gain a spot on the 77 (Carson Hocevar) car that I go so far that I hit the wall driving off pit road?’ You got to draw the line between realistic and unrealistic, right? Don’t try to overdo the things that you’re doing.”

Now, with another postseason run cut short, Chastain faces a long offseason to reflect. He hasn’t advanced to the Round of 8 since that iconic “Hail Melon” moment in 2022. As Harvick noted, finding the balance between aggression and execution will be key to getting back in the saddle again.