Ross Chastain overcome with emotion after winning Coca-Cola 600

Ross Chastain did the unthinkable on Sunday night at the Coca-Cola 600. Or at least something that hasn’t been done since 1969.

Chastain went from the very back of the field at P40 to the win. According to NASCAR Insights, he’s the first driver to win from an official starting position of last since Bobby Allison at Richmond Fairgrounds in 1969.

So when Ross Chastain exited his car, he was emotional. He grabbed a piece of his signature watermelon and took a huge bite.

Pit road reporter Marty Snider gave Chastain a minute to collect himself. Then he asked if he could have ever seen that as a possibility.

“Marty, I’m going to soak this in,” Chastain said. “Did I? Yes, when I left the shop last night I went over, sat in this car for the first time. It was about 10 o’clock when I left. They worked till 2:30. They were back at 5:30 this morning. Most of them drive 30, 45 minutes home, little shower, I think, I don’t even know if they slept. Back there at 5:30 to 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.”

From worst to first.

Ross Chastain soaks in an incredible victory. #NASCARonPrime pic.twitter.com/OEgOR62jnr

— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) May 26, 2025

Ross Chastain did his part. He was patient, not trying to be overly aggressive working his way through the field. And ultimately he battled to be up front.

Then he had an awesome showdown with William Byron, eventually passing him with about three laps remaining. That was all she wrote.

Chastain, who was honoring late Army Specialist Kevin McCrea, reached into his car and produced a picture of the man he was honoring. He shouted out the family and honored them too, ahead of Memorial Day.

“The McCrea family told me to be a sponge, that was something that their dad told them a lot,” Ross Chastain explained. “I’ve got to tell ya, I didn’t feel much like a sponge tonight, I was rattling around out there. To drive on that final run in the World 600 and pass two cars that had been way better all night.

“Phil Surgen wanted me to pit two laps earlier. I went two laps longer just out of a little bit of confusion. And man that paid off at the end. These Goodyear Eagles held on a little longer because they were a little bit fresher. And holy cow, we just won the World 600!”