In one of NASCAR’s most improbable comeback stories of the season, Ross Chastain transformed disaster into triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 after starting dead last in a hastily-built backup car.

Saturday’s practice session looked like it might end Chastain’s weekend before it truly began. His No. 1 Chevrolet suffered a tire failure that sent him hard into the outside wall between Turns 3 and 4, destroying his primary race car. The crash meant no qualifying attempt and a mandatory start from 40th position in whatever his Trackhouse Racing team could piece together overnight.

What followed was a masterclass in dedication and teamwork. Chastain’s crew worked until 2:30 AM, returned at 5:30 AM, and even called in team members who had Saturday off. Some barely made it home for a shower before returning to complete the backup car.

“When I left the shop last night, I went over and sat in this car for the first time,” Chastain explained after his victory. “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.”

For most of the 600-mile marathon, William Byron appeared to have the field covered. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led an commanding 283 of 400 laps and swept the first three stages of NASCAR’s longest race. His No. 24 Chevrolet was simply the class of the field for the majority of the evening.

Byron had already won Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte and seemed poised to complete a rare weekend sweep. The third stage saw him engaged in a thrilling battle with Denny Hamlin, with the lead changing hands nine times between the two drivers.

After the halfway break honoring America’s fallen heroes, Byron faced increased pressure from Hamlin, who hounded him relentlessly until taking the lead on lap 262. However, Byron’s superior long-run speed allowed him to reclaim the top spot on lap 291 and maintain control through the third stage.

The race’s outcome hinged on fuel strategy and tire management in the closing laps. During the final green-flag pit cycle on lap 348, Hamlin’s crew failed to get the second fuel can properly connected, forcing an unscheduled pit stop on lap 388 that eliminated the Joe Gibbs Racing driver from contention.

Meanwhile, Chastain had been methodically working his way forward throughout the 400-lap distance. A strategic decision to extend his final pit stop by two laps proved crucial, giving his Goodyear tires a slight freshness advantage over Byron’s rubber.

On lap 395, with just six laps remaining, Chastain made his move. He dove to the inside of Byron entering Turn 1, then slid up the track in Turn 2 to complete the pass and take his first lead of the race.

“He got a run on me and was able to get to the bottom and clear me off of Turn 2,” Byron said. “Disappointing just to lead that many laps and such a great effort by our whole team.”

Chastain crossed the finish line 0.673 seconds ahead of Byron, capturing his first win of the season, his first at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the sixth victory of his Cup Series career. The triumph also secured his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

The win represented a complete reversal of fortune from Saturday’s crash. Chastain’s methodical drive from 40th to first showcased both his skill behind the wheel and his team’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

“To drive on that final run in the 600 and pass two cars that had been way better all night,” Chastain marveled. “Holy cow, we just won the 600!”

Pole winner Chase Briscoe overcame an early tire violation to finish third, while AJ Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five. Keselowski’s fifth-place showing marked his first top-10 result of the season.

The race wasn’t without its dramatic moments and disappointments. Kyle Larson, attempting the Memorial Day Double by running both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, endured a forgettable night that included an early spin, wall contact, and eventual elimination in a multi-car accident on lap 246.

Carson Hocevar ran competitively in the top five until an engine failure ended his strong run after 307 laps. Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s 700th career start ended early due to a Turn 4 incident on lap 112.

Chastain’s victory serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing and the importance of never giving up. From what appeared to be a weekend-ending crash on Saturday to a playoff-clinching victory on Sunday, his Coca-Cola 600 triumph will be remembered as one of the season’s most remarkable turnarounds.

For Byron and Hendrick Motorsports, the runner-up finish was bittersweet. Despite dominating the race and executing nearly flawlessly for 395 laps, they came up just short of what would have been a statement victory.

As the NASCAR Cup Series continues its march toward the playoffs, Chastain’s dramatic win at Charlotte proves that in stock car racing, it’s not how you start but how you finish that matters most.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images