Ross Chastain fights from last to first to win wild Coca-Cola 600

Ross Chastain’s day started from 40th place in a backup car, but he steadily worked his way up through the field, making full use of the 600 mile event. He was 20th by the end of the Stage 1, seventh by the end of Stage 2, fifth by the end of Stage 3, and in Victory Lane after the checkered flag.

“When I left the shop last night, I went over and sat in this car for the first time,” said Chastain. “It was about 10 o’clock when I left. They worked until 2:30. They were back at 5:30 this morning. Most of them drive 30, 45 minutes home. A little shower, I think. I don’t even know if they slept. Back there at 5:30. They get this thing ready, and that’s the dedication it takes from Trackhouse.

“There was people there that had their Saturdays off yesterday, and they came in. For this Jockey Chevy and the McCrea family, to carry them — he was riding with me, Mr. McCrea. His family is here with Allie and mom and sister, brother. That’s what this weekend is all about is to think about and remember the ones that sacrificed so much for us … The McCrea family told me to be a sponge. That was something that their dad told them a lot. I got to tell you, I didn’t feel much like a sponge tonight. I was rattling around out there.”

Continuing on his charge through the field, Chastain said: “To drive on that final run in the World 600 and pass two cars that had been way better all night. [Crew chief] Phil Surgen wanted me to pit two laps earlier. I went two laps longer just out of a little bit of confusion. Man, that paid off at the end. These Goodyear Eagles held on longer because they were a little bit fresher. Holy cow, we just won the World 600!”

It was a sensational drive in a backup car, earning Trackhouse Racing its first win of the 2025 season. In the final run, he had to fight his way around Denny Hamlin, who was going to run out of fuel anyway. But his true fight came when he caught the dominant No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of William Byron.

The two drivers battled fiercely in the closing laps with Chastain making the winning move with six laps to go. He slid up the track and Byron tagged the wall. He was not able to respond as Chastain drove off with the win, smashing a watermelon in celebration once again.

Byron ended the race second after leading 283 of 400 laps. He also won all three stages before losing out to Chastain, who led just eight. Polesitter Chase Briscoe finished third, AJ Allmendinger fourth, and Brad Keselowski fifth. Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, and Noah Gragson filled out the remainder of the top ten.

Stage 1

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images

Briscoe started the race from pole position, but didn’t even lead the first lap as Larson surged forward. As they battled, it opened the door for Byron to make a big three-wide move for the lead on just the second lap of the race, taking over the top spot.

Larson did not let his teammate hold it for long, retaking the lead and setting the pace for the first half of the stage. However, Larson hit the wall while leading by several seconds, knocking the toe out. Soon after, he fully lost control and spun, exiting Turn 4. 

During pit stops, the pole-sitter had to go to the rear of the field after the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team lost control of a tire.

The No. 66 team also lost a wheel on track, which will mean further penalties and suspensions next week.

Byton went on to dominate the rest of the stage ahead of Reddick and Bell, but the stage actually ended under caution as another Hendrick driver found trouble. Bowman caught the wall exiting Turn 4, knocking the toe out as well. He immediately spun, triggering the second caution of the race.

Stage 2

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Jimmie Johnson, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota, Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Photo by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The beginning of the second stage featured the first multi-car incident of the race. Making his 700th career start, Jimmie Johnson lost control and spun sideways, collecting Connor Zilisch and Cole Custer. They were able to continue, but Johnson was not. He became the first driver to fall out of the race, finishing 40th.

The rest of the stage saw Byron continuing his domination, even through a cycle of green flag pit stops. Hamlin displaced Reddick in the runner-up spot, but he wasn’t able to run down Byron either. Shane van Gisbergen had an impressive save on the frontstretch after contact from behind.

At the very end of the stage, Kyle Busch spun at the troublesome Turn 4, going for a ride through the infield grass. 

Stage 3

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images

Ty Gibbs had a couple big moments in the early laps of the third stage, but he held onto it as he makes his 100th start in the Cup Series. Busch’s troubles continued as he got into the wall again before carrying on.

Hamlin remained much closer to Byron as the battle for the race lead heated up, Even Hocevar joined the fray.

Zane Smith took a big impact on the backstretch, slamming nose-first into the wall. But the biggest incident of the stage came later on as Blaney, Suarez and Briscoe ran out of room while running three wide. Suarez and Blaney wrecked out of the race, taking Larson with him. Justin Haley also got a piece of it, but he was able to continue.

Larson’s ‘Double’ ends with a double DNF, finishing 27th in the Indy 500 and 37th in the Coke 600. 

Stage 4

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

The final stage began with Hocevar blowing the engine while battling for the race lead, ending his strong run. It was then Byron and Hamlin again battling for the race lead through the final stage.

During the final round of pit stops, Byron was able to get a comfortable margin to Hamlin, but it didn’t matter either way. Hamlin’s teams failed to get the car full of fuel while Chastain, who pitted two laps after the leaders, quietly chipped away at the three seconds between himself and Byron.

The pass for the win came with just six laps to go in NASCAR’s longest race.