The 2025 Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race culminated in a surprise Ross Chastain win after making a dramatic charge from last to first to secure his first season victory and his first-ever win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
This year’s edition of NASCAR’s longest race unfolded with a blend of dominance, heartbreak, and resilience, as the world’s premier stock car drivers battled through 400 grueling laps under the lights, each seeking to etch their name into the record books of one of the sport’s crown jewel events.
The drama for Ross Chastain and his Trackhouse Racing team began even before the green flag. During Saturday’s practice, Chastain suffered a devastating setback when a blown tire sent his No. 1 Chevrolet hard into the outside wall between Turns 3 and 4.
The damage was extensive enough that his team was forced to prepare a backup car overnight, leaving Chastain unable to participate in qualifying. As a result, he started the race in the 40th and final position.
Pole position for the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 was claimed by Chase Briscoe, however, it was William Byron who established himself as the car to beat at the drop of the green flag.
The Charlotte native, fresh off a four-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, dominated the early and middle stages of the race.
Byron swept the first three stages, leading a staggering 283 of the 400 laps and becoming the first driver in the event’s history to win the first three stages of the Coca-Cola 600.
NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 Race Results 2025
Behind Byron, Briscoe maintained his strong pursuit while A.J. Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski also remained in contention as the laps wound down.
Meanwhile, Ross Chastain began his methodical ascent through the field, steadily picking off cars with calculated aggression and patience, aided by the pace and reliability of his backup Trackhouse Chevrolet.
Byron, still leading, found himself in a fierce battle with Denny Hamlin who had been a factor in the top five for much of the night. The two exchanged the lead several times with Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing team opting for a slightly different pit strategy in the closing 100 laps.
However, a critical miscalculation during Hamlin’s final pit stop left his car short on fuel, forcing an unscheduled stop that dashed his hopes for victory and relegated him to a 16th-place finish.
With Hamlin out of contention, Byron looked poised to cruise to his second crown jewel victory of the season but Chastain was closing in fast.
Utilizing fresher tires and a relentless pace, Chastain erased what had seemed like an insurmountable gap and with just six laps remaining he made his move, diving below Byron’s Chevrolet as they entered Turn 1 on Lap 395 to take the lead.
The final laps saw Chastain maintain a comfortable margin, crossing the finish line 0.673 seconds ahead of Byron to claim his sixth career Cup Series win and his first of the 2025 season.
Ross Chastain win at Charlotte Motor Speedway also solidified his place in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. He also became the first driver ever to win the Coca-Cola 600 after starting at the very back of the field.
Behind the two frontrunners, Chase Briscoe delivered a strong third-place finish ahead of A.J. Allmendinger who took fourth for Kaulig Racing while Brad Keselowski marked the top Ford driver in fifth.
Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, and Noah Gragson rounded out the top ten, each driver navigating the demanding 600-mile test with skill and perseverance.
Further down the order, Kyle Busch finished 15th after a steady run while Denny Hamlin’s late-race fuel issue dropped him to 16th. Joey Logano, Todd Gilliland, Ty Dillon, and Austin Dillon completed the top 20.
The race was not without its casualties; eight drivers failed to finish including Kyle Larson who suffered a DNF following a crash, capping a difficult day that had started with disappointment at the Indianapolis 500.
Jimmie Johnson’s milestone 700th start ended in heartbreak as he exited early after an accident, finishing 40th and last.
