Ross Chastain secured a dramatic win at the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26, 2024, overcoming a difficult start to deliver a powerful victory for Trackhouse Racing. The celebrated triumph highlighted the team’s resilience and dedication at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, with Chastain’s Coca-Cola 600 victory celebration marking a key milestone in his NASCAR career.
Earlier that weekend, Chastain experienced a significant setback when a blown tire caused a crash during practice, forcing him to miss qualifying and start 40th in a backup #1 Chevrolet Camaro. Despite this challenge, the team worked tirelessly overnight, dedicating their Memorial Day weekend to repair and prepare the secondary car for the race.
The Team’s Relentless Effort Behind the Scenes
Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, reflected on the collective effort that led to their first win of the season. On SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Marks described the win as “magical” and praised the team’s commitment and culture.
“It’s so impressive and it’s such a testament to what we at the company work so hard at and try to build this culture where everybody’s all in,” said Marks. —Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing Owner
Marks detailed the intense work ethic demonstrated late into Saturday night after the crash. The team assembled around the backup car, with members working until early morning hours to ensure it was race-ready.
“The response from the company, everybody, all hands on deck, working at the race shop until 2:30 in the morning, Ross’ mom was there, everybody came in, they ordered pizzas. […] Couple guys went home, took showers, came right back, didn’t sleep at all, finished off the (backup) car,” the team owner said. —Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing Owner
He emphasized how close the performance of the backup car was compared to the primary vehicle, calling the final result a “beautiful expression of teamwork.”
“The numbers looked pretty close (between the primary and backup cars), felt like we had something to work with, and then just magic. I don’t know how else to describe it. It was a beautiful expression of teamwork and everything that we are all about at Trackhouse.” —Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing Owner
Chastain’s Landmark Victory and Race Highlights
Ross Chastain’s win in the Coca-Cola 600 marks his sixth career NASCAR Cup Series victory and his first crown jewel race triumph. Prior to this, he had won at diverse venues such as Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Circuit of the Americas, showcasing his adaptability across different tracks.
This victory sets the #1 Trackhouse Racing team on course to return to the playoffs after missing the postseason last year. Chastain’s best run came in 2022, when he reached the Championship 4 following his controversial wall-riding move at Martinsville Speedway.
Chastain credited crew chief Phil Surgen for their late-race performance, highlighting how Surgen finally achieved the perfect car balance that allowed the decisive move for the lead.
“On the last run, Phil Surgen finally nailed the balance. It’s the first time all night I said, ‘You nailed it’,” the 32-year-old Florida native said (via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). —Ross Chastain, Driver
Top Finishers and Team Performance
In the race’s closing stages, Chastain overtook William Byron, who had dominated most of the event by leading 283 laps out of 400. Byron ultimately finished second, followed by pole-sitter Chase Briscoe, A.J. Allmendinger, and Brad Keselowski rounding out the top five.
Trackhouse Racing teammates had mixed results. Shane van Gisbergen finished 14th, just outside the top ten, while Daniel Suarez was forced out of the race after a multi-car wreck on lap 245 led to a DNF.
Significance of the Victory for Trackhouse Racing and Chastain
Ross Chastain’s win at Charlotte represents a turning point for Trackhouse Racing as their persistence through setbacks culminated in a dramatic comeback victory. The success reflects the team’s strong internal culture and ability to perform under pressure.
With the momentum gained from this Coca-Cola 600 victory, Chastain and Trackhouse are well-positioned to make a strong postseason push in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign. The team’s dedication and resourcefulness are likely to remain key assets as they aim for further successes throughout the season.
