Ross Chastain Refuses To Apologize For His Coca-Cola 600 Celebration

When you win the Coca-Cola 600 in the fashion Ross Chastain did this weekend, you celebrate how you want to.

After overcoming a last place start to take the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 1 Chevy did it all in victory lane. And while some NASCAR fans thought it was a bit over-the-top, Chastain defended his actions during his postrace press availability.

"I won and no one can tell me what to do," Chastain said. "I will admit that we reached the two-hour mark a little bit ago since the finish, and they were barking at me in victory lane and I was a little more cordial earlier. They know, and I've told them in the past, when I win, I'm going to soak this in because of the times I didn't."

"Winning Truck races or Xfinity races and then racing Cup the next day is the best thing but the worst because you can't celebrate it and I like beer," the 32-year-old continued. "I'd be drinking a beer whether Busch Light sponsored me or not and I would be drinking Busch Light if they sponsored me or not. So, whenever we do this, yes, I was still completely sober out there on the track, but I wanted to take it in."

Chastain became the first NASCAR driver in over 50 years to win a race after beginning it in last place (not due to a pre-qualifying penalty). So it's easy to imagine why he was so excited by Sunday's result.