Accelerent - Kansas City

Alva, Florida native Ross Chastain grew up on his family’s watermelon farm—an eighth-generation legacy—and raced local short tracks from a young age. The same entrepreneurial spirit that drove his family’s farming operation also fueled his rise through grassroots racing. He quickly advanced to the NASCAR Truck Series and Xfinity Series, earning his first national series win in the Xfinity Series at Las Vegas in 2018 and adding multiple victories in both Xfinity and Truck divisions. By 2019, Chastain was chasing the Truck Series championship, notching three wins and securing a second-place finish in the standings—as well as being voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver that year.

In 2022, Ross began piloting the No. 1 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series—cementing a breakthrough year. He claimed his first Cup win at Circuit of The Americas, followed by victory at Talladega. That season also featured his iconic “Hail Melon” wall‑ride maneuver at Martinsville, clinching him a spot in the Championship 4 and earning him a second-place finish in the overall standings. He followed up his 2022 success with two more Cup Series wins in 2023 at Nashville and Phoenix. In 2024, Chastain captured a dramatic win at Kansas Speedway, showcasing his late-race poise and continued rise as a top-tier competitor. 

Beyond the track, Ross is a savvy businessman who remains hands-on with his family’s agricultural operations and leverages his NASCAR platform to build partnerships and promote the watermelon industry. In addition to his passion for agriculture, and knowing the dangers of racing at high speeds, Chastain also uses his Protect Your Melon and Use Your Melon campaigns to advocate for highway safety across the country. Continuing his success, he added to his win tally—including the 2025 Coca‑Cola 600 at Charlotte, Trackhouse’s first crown jewel victory—and consistently ranks among the Cup contenders with multiple top‑5s and top‑10s each season. Known as “The Watermelon Man” for smashing watermelons in victory lane, Chastain combines a farmer's work ethic, business acumen, and fierce competitiveness, making him one of NASCAR’s most dynamic and respected personalities today.

Dan Clark is the founder and CEO of an International Leadership Development Company; a HighPerformance Business Coach; New York Times Best Selling Author of 35 books; University Professor; a Primary Contributing Author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series; International Podcaster; Gold Record Songwriter; and an Award Winning Athlete who fought his way back from a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career.

Dan was inducted into the National Speakers Hall of Fame – and has been named one of the Top Ten Motivational Speakers In The World.

Dan has spoken to over 6 million people, in all 50 states, in 71 countries, on 6 continents, to more than 6000 audiences including most of the Fortune 500 companies, Super Bowl Champions, NASA, and to our Combat Troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Asia and Africa. Dan has appeared on over 500 television and radio shows including Oprah and Glenn Beck, PBS and NPR, and has been featured in the Mayo Clinic Journal, Forbes, Inc., Success, Entrepreneur, Thought Masters and Millionaire Magazines.

Dan's extraordinary life includes soaring to the edge of space in a U2 Spy plane; flying fighter jets with the Air Force Thunderbirds; racing automobiles at Nur-burg-ring and sailboats in Australia; serving on the Olympic Committee and carrying the Olympic Torch in the Winter Games; and keynoting the United Nations World Congress.

Dan was named an Outstanding Young Man of America - and has since received the United States Presidential Medal presented by President Ronald Reagan; the United States Distinguished Service

Medal presented by the U.S. Department of Defense; was the national recipient of the prestigious Air Force American Spirit Award; and was named Utah Father of the Year!