Ross Chastain earned one of the most exciting victories in NASCAR history with an improbable move from last to first at the Coca-Cola 600, his first crown jewel win and sixth Cup Series victory of his career.

Driving a backup car, Chastain defied a pre-race crash in practice, a midnight dash by his team, and stiff competition to earn a victory for the ages at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

From Last to First: Historic Coca-Cola 600 Comeback

NASCAR Cup: Ross Chastain Smashes Watermelon After Crazy Last-to-First Win NASCAR Cup: Ross Chastain Smashes Watermelon After Crazy Last-to-First Win
watermelon.org

According to an early ESPN report, Chastain started 40th in the race after his main car wrecked during Saturday morning practice. The car was deemed unsafe by NASCAR officials, leaving Trackhouse Racing to rebuild a backup vehicle originally prepared for next week's race at Nashville.

Against all odds, the 32-year-old racing driver achieved a historic performance, earning himself the distinction of being the first driver to win NASCAR's longest race from behind the field since Bobby Allison achieved it in 1969.

His win was sealed by a dramatic final-race pass on two-time Daytona 500 champion William Byron, who led an astonishing 283 laps and swept the first three stages of the race.

Chastain Shows Why He's the Newest 'Watermelon Man'

Chastain paid tribute to his family's tradition with his now-famous watermelon smash victory party, a ritual born from his heritage as an eighth-generation Florida watermelon farmer.

"This thing is fresh from Florida. It just came up from our family farm. Man, for the Florida watermelon industry, that's your watermelons you're getting right now, so y'all better go buy a dang watermelon to celebrate," he said.

He added, "I want to see videos of smashed watermelons flood the socials. I want to see it. Florida watermelons are in season."

Team Trackhouse's Tireless Effort Pays Off

Crew chief Phil Surgen unveiled the urgency behind the scenes, disclosing that more than 30 employees converged on the shop, with some staying past 2:30 a.m. to get the backup car together.

Without an engine and other parts, just hours from racing, the team banded together to get Chastain back in action.

Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks hailed the effort as a "master class," praising the team's grit and resilience under pressure.

Heartbreak for William Byron and Denny Hamlin

William Byron, who just signed a four-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports, fell tantalizingly short of a hometown win but couldn't hold off Chastain's closing rush.

Byron said that his latest loss was disappointing because he led many laps but could not win in the end.

Denny Hamlin also fell out of contention after overestimating fuel on his last pit stop, finishing 16th.