NASCAR’s longest race is a grind. It’s a slog. But it provides ample time and opportunity for just about anything to happen.

Like Sunday’s occurrences.

After crashing in practice, pivoting to a backup ride and starting 40th in the 40-car field, Ross Chastain steered his No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet to the front and won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He led just eight laps, but those included the most important ones.

He passed William Bryon, who swept the first three stages in dominating fashion, with six laps to go.

“I’m going to soak this in,” Chastain said afterward.

“... Just stayed in it. I didn’t get too happy when I was passing cars. I didn’t get too sad when we caught that first green-flag cycle on the wrong side of it.”

Byron placed second. Chase Briscoe, A.J. Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski slotted third, fourth and fifth.

Here are three takeaways from the Memorial Day Weekend event:

1. Ross Chastain scores signature win at Charlotte

The win was the sixth of Chastain’s Cup Series career.

The 32-year-old from Alva, Florida, has now claimed a victory in each of the last four seasons. Sunday was his first of 2025.

No Coke 600 winner has ever started lower than Chastain’s 40th. Following his Saturday crash, he said his team worked until 2:30 a.m. Sunday and returned to the garage at 5:30 a.m. to ensure the secondary car was ready.

It was.

“Holy cow, we just won the World 600!” Chastain shouted.

It continued a good stretch. Chastain has finished seventh or better in five of the last seven races, including second at Texas earlier this month.

2. Jimmie Johnson hits cool milestone in NASCAR return

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 25: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #84 Carvana Toyota, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

It wasn’t a triumphant return to NASCAR for Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time Cup Series champion finished 40th after hitting the wall on Lap 111 and heading to the garage.

But it was notable.

First of all, any time the 49-year-old shows up in his No. 84 Toyota is noteworthy these days despite a string of lackluster results since retiring from regular competition. The Coca-Cola 600 was only his second race of the season, along with his sneaky third-place finish at the Daytona 500 in February.

But Sunday marked his 700th career start, and it occurred at the same place he debuted at the Cup level in October of 2001. He joined the top circuit on a full-time basis the following year.

Johnson is now tied with Buddy Baker for 20th all-time in Cup Series starts.

Daniel Suarez (300 Cup starts), Ryan Preece (200) and Ty Gibbs (100) also reached milestones Sunday.

3. NASCAR schedule update as calendar flips to June

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 25: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Hendrick 1100 Chevrolet, signs an autographs for a young NASCAR fan on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

The 2025 NASCAR season is already entering its fifth month.

Believe that? It does sound crazy.

But next Sunday will bring about the 14th race of the regular season, not counting All-Star Weekend earlier this month. The drivers will turn their attention to the Cracker Barrel 400 — 300 laps around Nashville Superspeedway.

Last year, Joey Logano won the event.

Coverage will begin at 7 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ross Chastain goes from worst to first in Charlotte's Coca-Cola 600 | NASCAR takeaways