NASCAR driver’s video game inspired ‘wall ride’ stunt officially banned

Remember that awesome-as-hell, straight-out-of-the-basement, Nintendo GameCube move a NASCAR racer whipped out at the end of a wild race in Virginia at the end of October? Yeah, well, the fun-killing schoolmarms who control stock-car rules have said, “Nope, no more of that.”

Trackhouse Racing No. 1 driver Ross Chastain. Recap: Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing No. 1, was in 10th position at Martinsville. He needed a top four finish to qualify for the playoffs.

Chastain deployed a move he (and many others of his generation) used only in video games 20 years ago — the wall ride, where he motored into the corner at top speed and used the wall to brake and corner his vehicle. The move worked. Chastain jumped from the 10th spot to fourth in the last corner. Half-mile track to stay alive in NASCAR’s playoff format, and finished second overall the next weekend at Phoenix. It’s truly the stuff of legend.

Legend will be its last name. Per NASCAR reporter Zack Albert, Chastain’s “wall-ride” maneuver is now considered a violation of rule 10.5.2.6.A, which encompasses “any violations deemed to compromise the safety of an Event” or pose a risk to anyone participating in or attending it.

“Basically if there’s an act that we feel that compromises the safety of our competitors, officials, spectators, we’re going to take that seriously,” said Elton Swayer, NASCAR’s chief competition executive. “And we will penalize for that act going forward.”

So NASCAR’s administration has laid down the law: There will be no more wall-riding. Any driver who attempts to do this will be subject to a lap penalty or time penalty.

Chastain admitted that the gamble was risky in October. “But I was willing to do it,” he told NBC. A trackside reporter asked him if the idea for his move came from. NASCAR 2005 GameCube, which Chad and he both played obsessively with.

Given that the sport literally traces its heritage to bootleggers running whiskey in the 1950s, Chastain’s buccaneering spirit must be applauded. But yeah, if drivers are busting out a wall ride at the end of every race, the novelty would wear off — and someone would be likely to get hurt.