NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, May 26th

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Major headlines out of the weekend:

Ross Chastain's Back to Front Coke 600 Win
Kyle Larson's Double Attempt
Reflecting on Other 'Motorsports Christmas' Races
Xfinity and Truck Series Races in Charlotte

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Ross Chastain's Back to Front Coke 600 Win:

Ross Chastain delivered a stunning victory in the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, overcoming a last-place start in a backup car after crashing his primary vehicle in practice. His Trackhouse Racing team worked overnight to prepare the replacement, and Chastain climbed through the field, ultimately passing William Byron with six laps remaining to secure his first win of the season and sixth career Cup Series victory.

Byron dominated the race, leading 283 of 400 laps and sweeping the first three stages, but was unable to fend off Chastain’s late charge. Chase Briscoe, AJ Allmendinger, and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five. Denny Hamlin, who led 53 laps, fell out of contention due to a fueling mishap and finished 16th.

The event featured 34 lead changes among 11 drivers and eight cautions over 52 laps. It was the first NASCAR Cup Series race streamed exclusively on Prime Video, marking a new era in NASCAR broadcasting. The reception to Amazon’s coverage was overwhelmingly positive from fans and media alike. The race also honored fallen service members through the “600 Miles of Remembrance” initiative, with each car displaying the name of a fallen hero on its windshield.

Chastain became the first driver since 1969 to win a NASCAR Cup Series race from the last place starting position not due to a penalty. The win locked Chastain into the playoffs and marked a significant morale boost for Trackhouse Racing. Byron, despite the loss, reclaimed the points lead from Larson. The series now heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the next race on June 1.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

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Kyle Larson's Double Attempt:

Kyle Larson’s ambitious attempt to complete the Memorial Day “Double” — racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day — ended in disappointment for the second consecutive year. Despite meticulous planning and improved logistics, Larson failed to finish either race, crashing out of both events and reigniting debate over the feasibility of the grueling 1,100-mile challenge.

Larson’s day began at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he started 19th in the Indy 500. After a rain delay pushed the start nearly an hour late, Larson’s race ended prematurely on lap 92 when he lost control in Turn 2 during a restart, triggering a multi-car crash. He was credited with a 27th-place finish. The early exit allowed him to depart for Charlotte ahead of schedule, arriving at Charlotte Motor Speedway in time for driver introductions — a critical requirement under NASCAR’s revised playoff eligibility rules.

In the Coca-Cola 600, Larson started second and led early, but his race quickly unraveled. He hit the wall on lap 38, spun on lap 43, and spent much of the race recovering from damage. Just as he was regaining ground, a multi-car crash on lap 246 collected his No. 5 Chevrolet, ending his night in 37th place. In total, Larson completed only 599 of the 1,100 miles he had set out to run.

The effort was backed by Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren, with extensive logistical support and contingency plans, including a backup driver and a strict timeline to ensure Larson could start both races. However, the narrow time window between events, unpredictable weather, and the physical and mental toll of competing in two vastly different cars proved too great.

After the race, Larson expressed deep disappointment and uncertainty about attempting the Double again. While he remains interested in racing the Indy 500 in the future, he acknowledged that the logistical demands and risks may outweigh the rewards. His comments, along with the back-to-back setbacks, have sparked broader questions about whether the Double is still a viable pursuit in modern motorsports.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Reflecting on Other 'Motorsports Christmas' Races:

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix delivered high drama, strategic complexity, and historic milestones, each showcasing the unique challenges and traditions of their respective disciplines.

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Álex Palou etched his name into racing history by becoming the first Spaniard to win the Indy 500. The three-time IndyCar champion executed a flawless race, passing Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go and holding the lead through a late caution to secure his first oval victory. Palou’s win marked his fifth in six races this season, extending his championship lead and solidifying his dominance in the series. The race itself was chaotic, with six cautions in the first 108 laps and several high-profile incidents. Scott McLaughlin crashed during the pace laps, Marco Andretti was eliminated on Lap 1, and rookie polesitter Robert Shwartzman collided with his pit crew. Kyle Larson’s much-anticipated “Double” attempt ended in disappointment when he crashed on Lap 91. Josef Newgarden’s bid for a third consecutive Indy 500 win was cut short by a mechanical failure. The race concluded under caution after Nolan Siegel’s crash, with David Malukas and Pato O’Ward rounding out the podium following Ericsson’s disqualification for a technical infraction.

Meanwhile, the Monaco Grand Prix introduced a new mandatory two-pit-stop rule aimed at enhancing the spectacle on a notoriously processional circuit. Lando Norris capitalized on his pole position to claim victory, fending off Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri. Despite the rule change, overtaking remained scarce, and the race was largely defined by strategic manipulation. Teams like Racing Bulls and Williams employed tactics to slow the field and create pit windows for their lead drivers, drawing criticism from competitors. George Russell received a drive-through penalty for an illegal overtake on Alex Albon, and Max Verstappen, running an alternate strategy, finished fourth after a late pit stop. Drivers voiced mixed reactions to the new rule, with Verstappen likening the race to “Mario Kart” and others questioning its effectiveness in improving the racing experience. Nonetheless, Norris’s win tightened the championship battle, bringing him within three points of Piastri.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Xfinity and Truck Series Races in Charlotte:

In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Corey Heim delivered a commanding performance in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, leading 98 of 134 laps and sweeping both stages en route to his fourth win of the 2025 season and 15th of his career. Heim, driving for TRICON Garage, rebounded from recent frustrations and misfortunes to dominate the field, finishing over six seconds ahead of Ross Chastain. Kaden Honeycutt earned a career-best third-place finish, helping Niece Motorsports secure its first-ever triple top-10 finish with Matt Mills in seventh. The race featured only one major incident—a multi-truck crash involving Chandler Smith, Ty Majeski, and others—which briefly interrupted Heim’s control. Despite green-flag pit cycles and strategic gambles by others, Heim reclaimed the lead with 17 laps to go and never looked back. His win extended his regular-season points lead to 100 over Chandler Smith.

Meanwhile, the NASCAR Xfinity Series race—the BetMGM 300—was a showcase of resilience and strategy. William Byron, racing at his home track, overcame a pit road speeding penalty after sweeping the first two stages. Dropping to the rear of the field, Byron methodically worked his way back to the front, aided by a series of late-race cautions. On the final overtime restart, he surged past Justin Allgaier, who had stayed out on older tires, to claim his fifth career Xfinity win and first at Charlotte. Connor Zilisch, returning from injury, finished a strong second, while Nick Sanchez rounded out the podium. Allgaier, who led a race-high 103 laps, faded to fourth after his tire strategy backfired. Post-race, Sammy Smith was disqualified from fifth place for failing to meet minimum weight, promoting Dean Thompson to a career-best fifth.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous:

William Byron Commits to Hendrick Motorsports Through 2029: William Byron has signed a four-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, ensuring he will remain in the No. 24 Chevrolet through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season. At 27, Byron has already amassed 14 Cup wins, including back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 2024 and 2025. He has made six consecutive playoff appearances and reached the Championship 4 in both 2023 and 2024. Team owner Rick Hendrick praised Byron’s blend of talent and work ethic, calling him “the real deal.” Byron emphasized his desire to continue building on the legacy of the No. 24 car, once driven by Jeff Gordon, and expressed excitement about the team’s future goals.

Kyle Busch to Stay with Richard Childress Racing Through 2026: Kyle Busch will remain with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) through the 2026 season after the team picked up the option on his contract. Despite a winless streak dating back to early 2023, Busch and RCR remain optimistic about their trajectory. Busch, a two-time Cup champion with 63 career wins, acknowledged the challenges but praised the team’s culture and his strong working relationship with teammate Austin Dillon. RCR has made several structural changes to improve performance, including engineering upgrades and leadership shifts. Busch also reiterated that retirement isn’t imminent, citing a long-term goal of racing in the Truck Series alongside his son, Brexton.

Jimmie Johnson Not Retiring, Eyes More Part-Time Starts: Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson clarified that his 700th career start at the Coca-Cola 600 is not his final race. Though only scheduled for two races in 2025, Johnson expressed interest in running more events in the future. As co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, Johnson is focused on building the team into an independent, competitive organization. He acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from driver to owner and emphasized the importance of patience and long-term planning. Johnson also sees his part-time driving role as a way to mentor young talent and support team development.

Christopher Bell Adjusts to New Spotter Midseason: Christopher Bell, currently third in the Cup standings and tied for the most wins in 2025, is adjusting to a new spotter after longtime spotter Stevie Reeves unexpectedly quit. Matt Philpott, a former JGR mechanic and recent spotter, has stepped in. Bell admitted the transition is uncharted territory but is working closely with Philpott to build chemistry, including using iRacing and observing from the spotter’s stand. Despite the abrupt change, Bell remains focused on maintaining his strong season.

Wood Brothers Racing Celebrates 75 Years with Hall of Fame Exhibit: The NASCAR Hall of Fame has unveiled a yearlong exhibit celebrating Wood Brothers Racing’s 75th anniversary. Titled “Wood Brothers 75 Years: A Family Legacy,” the display features 54 artifacts, five race cars, and multimedia elements that chronicle the team’s storied history. The exhibit honors the contributions of the Wood family across four generations and highlights their 101 Cup Series victories.

Trimble Joins RFK Racing as Multi-Year Sponsor: RFK Racing has announced a multi-year partnership with Trimble, a global technology company. Trimble will sponsor Ryan Preece’s No. 60 Ford Mustang starting at Nashville Superspeedway and expand its presence across RFK’s fleet, including cars driven by Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski. The partnership emphasizes innovation and data-driven performance, aligning with RFK’s tech-forward approach.

Garage 66 Expansion: Garage 66 plans to expand its NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2025, with confirmed entries at Nashville, Chicago, and Indianapolis. Chad Finchum will drive at Nashville, while Josh Bilicki is slated for Chicago and Indianapolis. The team is also exploring superspeedway entries at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta.

Days of Thunder Sequel: Tom Cruise has confirmed that discussions are underway for a sequel to the 1990 NASCAR-themed film “Days of Thunder.” NASCAR has expressed openness to participating in the project, which Cruise mentioned alongside other upcoming film developments.

Antitrust Lawsuit Developments: The Race Team Alliance (RTA), representing 13 Cup Series teams not directly involved in the legal dispute between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR, has filed a motion to avoid being included in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit. The RTA argues that their inclusion would unnecessarily complicate and prolong the case.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on these topics.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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