SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet spun out and slammed into the wall during the 2025 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ending his race early on Lap 17. The crash, which occurred in Turn 3, marked a disappointing finish for the Trackhouse Racing driver in a weekend where he struggled to find pace. Ross Chastain will look for a rebound at Iowa. The NASCAR star can surely rebound soon.
Ross Chastain, running outside the top 30 at the time, attempted to block Michael McDowell’s No. 71 car on corner entry. McDowell, caught off guard by Chastain’s sudden braking, made contact with the left rear bumper of Chastain’s Chevrolet. The impact sent Ross Chastain spinning, with the car’s front and rear crashing into the outside wall. Heavy damage to the splitter, nose, and right rear forced Chastain to limp back to the pit box. His crew deemed the damage irreparable, ending his day.
The incident triggered the race’s first caution flag, briefly halting the action on the 2.5-mile oval. Chastain, visibly frustrated, visited the infield medical center for evaluation and was released without issue. The crash capped a challenging weekend for the Alva, Florida, native, who had already faced setbacks in qualifying and practice sessions.
Chastain, who suffered tire problem’s in Friday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park, qualified poorly on Saturday at the speedway and saw his day end early on Sunday in the Cup race.
While a brutal weekend for Chastain on track, his Coca-Cola 600 victory does keep him locked into the playoff field, with a chance to regroup next week at Iowa.
However, the DNF at Indianapolis adds to a string of recent struggles and frustrations. The setback dropped him in the playoff standings, though his win ensures a postseason berth and a chance at a mulligan.
McDowell, who continued racing after the incident, noted Chastain’s unexpected braking caught him by surprise. The contact, while unintentional, sparked discussion among fans and analysts about Chastain’s aggressive driving style, which has drawn both praise and criticism in recent seasons.
The Brickyard 400, a crown jewel event in the NASCAR Cup Series, saw Indiana native Chase Briscoe start on pole, leading a Toyota-dominated front row. Bubba Wallace ultimately claimed victory, fending off Kyle Larson in overtime to secure his spot in the playoffs. The race, contested over 160 laps, featured intense battles and multiple cautions, with Chastain’s crash among the early defining moments.
Chastain, a former watermelon farmer turned NASCAR star, now shifts focus to the next race. His team plans to regroup and address the No. 1 car’s performance issues ahead of the upcoming event at Iowa Speedway, where he will also compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JRM. The 32-year-old driver, known for his bold moves like the “Hail Melon” at Martinsville in 2022, aims to rebound and strengthen his playoff position as the regular season winds down.
The Indianapolis crowd witnessed a dramatic day of racing under partly cloudy skies, with temperatures in the low 90s and a 60% chance of rain looming later in the afternoon. Despite the weather threat, the race concluded without significant delays, leaving Chastain and his team to reflect on what might have been.
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