GAFFNEY, S.C. (September 26, 2017) – Ross Chastain is returning to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this weekend at Dover International Speedway, and he’ll be teaming up with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety to encourage race fans to “Use Your Melon” and Drive Sober. OHS will also be on board Chastain’s No. 4 JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Sober 200.
Chastain is scheduled to make his second career start in the Cup Series in the Apache Warrior 400 in Dover driving the No. 15 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet SS. Chastain made his Cup debut earlier this year at Dover and impressed many by scoring a top 20 finish.
"My Cup debut in June far surpassed my expectations," Chastain said. "To be able to run competitively and come home with a solid finish in my first time driving a Cup car was awesome. I want to thank (team owner) Johnny Davis for putting it all together. He has helped me so much in this sport and now is helping me further my career the Cup series, so I can't thank him enough.”
Both of Chastain's cars will carry the theme of "Use Your Melon. Drive Sober." for the Dover races to encourage drivers to always driver sober. This campaign is a follow-up the OHS and Chastain’s successful “Protect you Melon. Buckle Up.” messaging earlier in the year. The watermelon-themed logos and safety campaigns are inspired by Chastain’s family history of watermelon farmers and his ties to the watermelon growers’ associations.
"As a race team we spend a lot of time on the road," said team owner, Johnny Davis, "One of the scariest things that you can encounter on the road is an impaired driver. I am very thankful that OHS has chosen us to help share their message, and I believe that it will help save some lives."
“OHS is committed to saving lives,” said OHS Director Jana Simpler. “Our sponsorship of Ross Chastain and the Drive Sober 200 gets the Drive Sober message out to thousands of NASCAR fans in Delaware. We invite attendees to visit our FanZone where they can operate racing simulators, enter a golf and lug nut competition, and sign an on-line pledge to drive sober.”
OHS will continue to employ a comprehensive marketing approach to engage with racing enthusiasts and loyal NASCAR fans through on-track, hands-on, traditional, digital and social media messaging during the NASCAR season.
"This partnership is extra exciting to me because OHS and JDM have found a way to promote two causes that are closest to my heart -- safe driving and agriculture," said Ross Chastain. "The 'Protect Your Melon' campaign was a lot of fun in the spring, so I can’t wait to get the fans at Dover involved with the ‘Use Your Melon’ campaign. I can't wait to see more watermelons at the track, and less people driving while impaired everywhere."
Watermelons labeled with "Use Your Melon" will be in grocery stores and farmers markets throughout Delaware.