Ross Chastain made history during Memorial Day Weekend by winning the Coca-Cola 600 in astonishing fashion, a surge that saw him start last out of 40 cars and move through the entire field in a backup car. His patience and determination helped deliver the most prestigious victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career, marking an iconic moment for Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and punctuating what has already been an eventful season in Charlotte.
This Ross Chastain historic Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR victory not only cements his status among elite drivers, but also underscores the importance of resilience and calculated risk-taking in high-stakes motorsports events, particularly in the NASCAR Cup Series.
A Celebration Marked by Tradition and Motivation
After the monumental win, Chastain joined his Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet team for a night-long celebration, reflecting the joy and relief following such a grueling contest. Six days after the race, the significance of the victory was still palpable for Chastain as he continued to wear his victor’s ring, awarded after the Coca-Cola 600.
Although he eventually removed the ring to prepare for his upcoming drive with JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the moment remained inspiring. The ring carried not only the word ‘Champion’ but also the ‘Coca-Cola 600 2025’ inscription, a nod to both Chastain’s achievement and the enduring legacy of the Smith family and Speedway Motorsports Inc. whose iconic red and blue logo adorned the ring.
Chastain described the importance of these mementos:
“It says ‘Champion’ and it says ‘Coca-Cola 600 2025’,”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
He elaborated on how the ring became a source of motivation during a physically and emotionally demanding week:
“So yeah, definitely going to take it off now for practice. But it has been motivation this week because this week was a grind. And sometimes I just had to touch the ring and be like — okay, smile, go to the next thing, make the next flight, get home, like all the stuff … the ring is a very special part of it, as well as the trophy, which I can’t even pick the dang thing up … it’s too heavy.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Overcoming Setbacks from Practice to the Spotlight
The path to victory was not without challenges. Trackhouse had faced headwinds throughout the season, with struggles to produce competitive speed during practice and qualifying sessions each Saturday. This trend continued into race weekend at Charlotte, highlighted by a tire failure that sent Chastain into the wall during practice. The crash forced the team to forgo qualifying as they hurriedly prepped a backup car overnight—a moment that may have tested a lesser driver’s resolve.
Ironically, Chastain’s backup car matched the performance from earlier in the weekend, yielding hope despite starting at the back of the field. As he reflected on the car’s speed, Chastain observed:
“We were right there with the No. 24 [William Byron] for the fast lap in our (practice) group,”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
The race itself became a story of patience and strategy in navigating traffic and executing timely overtakes. Chastain shared his race approach:
“There were times where I almost got in the wall, but I lifted. There were times where I almost got to someone’s outside or almost cleared them off the corner and lifted. In a 600-mile race, that allows you to do that. These races are a lot shorter this weekend, though.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Securing a competitive balance in the car locked in critical lap times, and Chastain credited his team for executing perfectly during the frantic car switch:
“I asked my team to just build the (backup) car the same because I didn’t need any changes. Usually you want to migrate the balance a little. You want to tighten up just a little bit on corner entry, a little bit on exit. But I was just like just build it the same, and we will be really good. And we’ll adjust in the race, but I didn’t have any — that’s probably the first time, definitely in my Cup career, that I’ve ever gotten out of a practice session and didn’t ask for anything. And that’s why I was so full of a smile all Saturday as they were building the next car. I knew if they could replicate that, we’d have a real shot. So the lap time comes with the balance.”
—Ross Chastain, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
What’s Next for Chastain and Trackhouse Racing
Following this watershed result, Chastain and Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet immediately turned their attention to Nashville, the site of another Cup victory for Chastain in 2023. Energized by his recent success and a positive showing in qualifying—starting fifth for the Nashville Cup event—expectations are high as he seeks back-to-back wins.
This Ross Chastain historic Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR victory is not only a testament to his evolution as a driver, but also a proud moment for all involved—from the engineers preparing the backup car to the Smith family, William Byron and other competitors, and the dedicated fans following every twist of the Cup season. For Chastain, overcoming setbacks remains a hallmark of his journey, and each new race, whether in Charlotte or Nashville, writes another line in an already remarkable racing story.
