In one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent NASCAR history, Ross Chastain overcame a crash in practice and a last-place starting position to win the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Driving a backup No. 1 car for Trackhouse Racing, Chastain surged through the field and passed William Byron with just six laps remaining to take the checkered flag in NASCAR’s longest and most grueling race.
This marked Chastain’s first win of the 2025 season, his sixth career Cup Series victory, and Trackhouse Racing’s first win of the year. The historic drive made Chastain the first driver to win the Coca-Cola 600 after starting dead last.
Ross Chastain Shocks the Field in Backup Car
Ross Chastain’s weekend started in disaster after he crashed during Saturday’s practice session and was forced to skip qualifying. That meant he started 40th in the 40-car field, a spot from which no driver had ever won this race. But the backup car from Trackhouse Racing was dialed in. With smart pit strategy and fresher tires late in the race, Chastain picked off the leaders one by one.
The defining moment came with six laps to go. William Byron, who had dominated the race by leading 283 of the 400 laps and winning the first three stages, was holding off the field on older tires. Chastain closed the gap and made the winning move, bringing the Charlotte crowd to its feet.
“This is the biggest win of my life,” Chastain said in Victory Lane. “To go from the back, with a backup car, against the best teams in the sport—this is something I’ll never forget.”
William Byron Dominates But Falls Short; Briscoe, Allmendinger Round Out Top Five
William Byron looked to be on track for his second crown jewel win of the season after taking the Daytona 500 in February. The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports driver swept all three stages and was in control for most of the night. But when it mattered most, his tires couldn’t hold off the charging Chastain.
“I gave it everything I had,” Byron said. “We had a great car all night. Just came up short on tire strategy at the end.”
Chase Briscoe finished third after starting from the pole, earning a strong result for Joe Gibbs Racing. AJ Allmendinger surprised many with a fourth-place finish, while Brad Keselowski led the way for Ford with a solid run in fifth. Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, and Noah Gragson completed the top 10.
Drama, DNFs, and Milestones: A Night to Remember
The 2025 Coca-Cola 600 wasn’t short on headlines. Denny Hamlin was in position to contend for a podium but was forced to pit from third place in the final laps due to a fueling mistake. He ended the night in 16th.
Eight drivers failed to finish, including Kyle Larson, who had a brutal double DNF weekend after crashing out of both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Larson’s attempt at the double ended in disappointment when an accident took him out on Lap 245.
Jimmie Johnson made his 700th career Cup Series start but didn’t get the finish he hoped for. The seven-time champion was caught in an early wreck and finished 40th—dead last.
Other notable non-finishers included Daniel Suárez, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Zane Smith, and Carson Hocevar.
Full Race Results – 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
| No | Driver | # |
| 1 | R. Chastain | 1 |
| 2 | W. Byron | 24 |
| 3 | C. Briscoe | 19 |
| 4 | A. Allmendinger | 16 |
| 5 | B. Keselowski | 6 |
| 6 | C. Elliott | 9 |
| 7 | M. McDowell | 71 |
| 8 | C. Bell | 20 |
| 9 | R. Preece | 60 |
| 10 | N. Gragson | 4 |
| 11 | R. Stenhouse Jr | 47 |
| 12 | J. Berry | 21 |
| 13 | E. Jones | 43 |
| 14 | S. van Gisbergen | 88 |
| 15 | K. Busch | 8 |
| 16 | D. Hamlin | 11 |
| 17 | J. Logano | 22 |
| 18 | T. Gilliland | 34 |
| 19 | T. Dillon | 10 |
| 20 | A. Dillon | 3 |
| 21 | C. Custer | 41 |
| 22 | C. Buescher | 17 |
| 23 | C. Zilisch | 87 |
| 24 | T. Gibbs | 54 |
| 25 | C. Ware | 51 |
| 26 | T. Reddick | 45 |
| 27 | J. Nemechek | 42 |
| 28 | R. Herbst | 35 |
| 29 | A. Bowman | 48 |
| 30 | J. Haley | 7 |
| 31 | A. Cindric | 2 |
| 32 | D. Kraus | 44 |
| 33 | J. Bilicki | 66 |
| 34 | C. Hocevar | 77 |
| 35 | B. Wallace | 23 |
| 36 | D. Suarez | 99 |
| 37 | K. Larson | 5 |
| 38 | R. Blaney | 12 |
| 39 | Z. Smith | 38 |
| 40 | J. Johnson | 84 |
News in Brief: Complete Results from NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600 is known for testing the endurance and heart of every team in the garage—and this year, Ross Chastain proved he had both. From crashing in practice to climbing from 40th to first, his performance was nothing short of legendary. While heartbreak struck contenders like William Byron and Kyle Larson, Chastain’s improbable win gave fans a reminder that in NASCAR, anything is possible.
As the series shifts toward the summer stretch, one thing is certain: Ross Chastain and Trackhouse Racing are back in the spotlight—and back in the fight.
ALSO READ: BetMGM 300 Full Results: William Byron’s Comeback, Rookie Rise, and Post-Race Drama
