The longest night on the NASCAR calendar delivered an unforgettable storyline under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
From the sheer dominance of William Byron to the chaos of multiple wrecks and the late-race heartbreak of fuel strategy gone wrong, the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 was a war of attrition. At the heart of it all was the unrelenting charge of Ross Chastain.
The Trackhouse Racing driver started 40th, dead last on the grid, after wrecking his primary car in practice. The team scrambled into the early morning hours, preparing a backup car not even meant for Charlotte.
Yet by the end of 600 punishing miles, Chastain was standing atop his car in Victory Lane, having pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in his recent NASCAR memory.
For New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen, it was a quieter but deeply significant night. In his first Coca-Cola 600, SVG delivered his strongest oval result to date, crossing the line in 14th.
It was a performance that blended patience, survival instinct, and flashes of outright racecraft as the Kiwi continued to grow more comfortable in the crucible of NASCAR competition.
A Gritty Climb from the Rear
Chastain’s path to victory was far from straightforward. His weekend looked doomed after a tyre failure in practice sent his primary No. 1 Chevrolet into the wall, forcing the team to fall back on a backup car meant for the following week in Nashville. With no time for a qualifying run, Chastain was sent to the back of the grid.
But what followed was a masterclass in perseverance. Through chaos and cautions, long green-flag stretches, and relentless battling, Chastain picked his way through the field. By the final stage, he had clawed his way into the top five and began stalking the leaders.
With just under 30 laps to go, Chastain made his move, first passing Denny Hamlin, whose car was teetering on the edge of a fuel gamble, and then inheriting the lead with six laps remaining after Hamlin was forced to pit.
Byron, who had led the vast majority of the night, simply had nothing left to answer with. From dead last to first, Chastain took the checkered flag in a drive that will be remembered for years.
SVG Steady and Sharp in Career-Best Oval Drive
Van Gisbergen started deep in the pack in 30th, and the opening laps looked ominous as he slid back to 37th. But the Kiwi didn’t panic. As others faltered or overreached, SVG quietly climbed, capitalizing on long runs, pit cycles, and a strong restart pace to run consistently inside the top 20.
Van Gisbergen had a heart-stopping moment just after completing the first 100 laps, recovering brilliantly after the rear of his car stepped out following a tap from Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
A huge moment came in Stage 3 when a multi-car wreck involving teammate Daniel Suárez erupted in front of him. Van Gisbergen had to dive low to avoid the spinning cars, sustaining minor floor damage in the process. Still, he pressed on.
Despite the setback, Van Gisbergen continued to run smart, avoiding further incidents and staying on the lead lap. As the laps ticked down, he found himself as high as 14th, where he ultimately finished. It was a strong, composed performance from the three-time Supercars champion, who is showing increasing pace and poise on NASCAR’s biggest ovals.
Mixed Fortunes for Trackhouse Teammates
While Chastain soared and SVG impressed, it was a tough night for Trackhouse Racing’s other entries.
Suárez was caught in a multi-car pileup in Stage 3. After sliding up the track, he made contact with Chase Briscoe and Ryan Blaney before spinning back into the path of Kyle Larson and Justin Haley. The damage ended Suárez’s race prematurely in one of the night’s biggest incidents.
For Coca-Cola 600 debutant Connor Zilisch, it was a baptism by fire. After qualifying 33rd, Zilisch’s night unravelled early when a chain reaction incident involving Jimmie Johnson and Cole Custer left his No. 87 car with damage.
Despite that, the 18-year-old salvaged a respectable 23rd-place finish, gaining crucial experience in one of NASCAR’s most gruelling contests.
Byron Dominates—But Falls Short
No one led more laps or looked more commanding than Byron. After taking the lead on Lap 3, the Hendrick Motorsports driver controlled the pace for much of the first three stages, sweeping all of them and establishing himself as the man to beat.
But as often happens in the 600, the final stage changed everything. First, Carson Hocevar’s engine expired while running second. Then, Hamlin snatched the lead from Byron, only for fuel concerns to undo his challenge.
As strategies diverged and chaos unfolded behind, Byron found himself back in front, but couldn’t hold off the relentless Chastain in the final laps. Byron would have to settle for second on a night he’ll feel slipped through his fingers.
A Night of Drama, a Statement Win
There was no shortage of drama in the 2025 Coca-Cola 600: Larson’s early slide through the turf, multi-car crashes, fuel strategy gambles, and even pit road heartbreak.
Through it all, the story of the night was one of resolve. Chastain’s victory from last place was as much a testament to Trackhouse Racing’s tenacity as it was his own talent.
And for SVG, a quietly strong drive amidst the madness signalled growing confidence on NASCAR ovals. With each race, the Kiwi is becoming less of a curiosity and more of a contender.
“We’ve just been chipping away the last few weeks; getting better and better,” said van Gisbergen.
“I feel like we’ve just been growing in confidence. We’ve been a bit under the radar, but we had some good pace there.
“Unfortunately when Daniel (Suarez) and Ryan (Blaney) wrecked, I had to go across the infield and it damaged something underneath and we were really tight.
“There were about five of them jumping on the front splitter to get it back down, but it wasn’t quite the same. A lot of the cars we finished behind, we were better than them, but it was promising.”
In the heat, chaos, and emotional toll of NASCAR’s ultimate endurance test, Trackhouse Racing left Charlotte with scars, with momentum, and with a winner.
Top 5 Finishers – Coca-Cola 600 (Round 13, 2025 NASCAR Cup Series)
- Ross Chastain
- William Byron
- Chase Briscoe
- Tyler Reddick
- AJ Allmendinger
Header Image: Shane Van Gisbergen (Facebook)
