Tue May 27 19:50:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Chastain Steals Coca-Cola 600 Victory After Dominant Byron Fades**
CONCORD, N.C. – In a stunning turn of events, Ross Chastain drove a backup car from the rear of the field to victory lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning the Coca-Cola 600 late Sunday night. The win marks Chastain’s first of the season and his sixth career Cup Series win.
William Byron, who dominated most of the race, leading 283 of 400 laps and sweeping the first three stages, appeared to be on his way to a weekend sweep after winning the Xfinity Series race on Saturday. However, Chastain executed a masterful late-race pass, diving under Byron in Turn 1 with just six laps remaining, to take the lead and hold on for the win.
“Holy cow, we just won the 600!” Chastain exclaimed after the race.
Chastain’s path to victory was anything but easy. A tire issue in Saturday’s practice forced his Trackhouse Racing team to build a backup car, relegating him to a 40th-place starting position. The team worked tirelessly to prepare the car, with some crew members reportedly getting little to no sleep. Chastain methodically worked his way through the field, showcasing impressive speed and determination.
Byron, visibly disappointed, cited tire wear and difficulty navigating lapped traffic as factors in his late-race fade. He finished 0.673 seconds behind Chastain.
The race was filled with drama and incidents. Kyle Larson, after competing in the Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day, had a rough outing, spinning early and ultimately being collected in a multi-car wreck. Denny Hamlin, a strong contender throughout the race, saw his chances evaporate due to a fuel issue during a late pit stop. Jimmie Johnson’s 700th Cup Series start ended prematurely in a crash.
Chase Briscoe finished third, followed by AJ Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski, who secured his first top-10 finish of the season.
First Piper 