NASCAR Stunner: Dramatic Last-Lap Crash Reshapes Playoff Picture — Full Results, Video Highlights & Expert Reactions

Memorial Day weekend means one thing for stock-car fans: the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the longest and most grueling event on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar. As engines roared to life Sunday evening, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron seized early control, leading 100 laps to sweep Stage 1 after teammate Kyle Larson spun on Lap 42 and fell deep in the order. Why Charlotte Matters in the 2025 Championship Hunt • Double points punch: At 600 miles, the race awards the same playoff points as any other regular-season event, but the sheer distance exposes weaknesses in pit strategy, durability and driver fitness—critical data with only 11 races left before the postseason cutoff. • Hendrick momentum: Byron’s stage win keeps Chevrolet’s flagship team atop the manufacturer standings and positions the No. 24 Chevy as a favorite to earn its fourth victory of 2025. • Larson’s comeback watch: The Indy 500/Coke 600 “double” attempt ended in heartbreak at Indianapolis, but Charlotte offers Larson a shot at redemption if he can claw back from his early spin. Key Storylines to Follow Tonight 1. Fuel-mileage gambles after sunset: Ambient temps drop nearly 15 °F once the lights take effect, tightening fuel windows and opening the door for off-sequence pit calls that historically decide late restarts. 2. Toyota vs. Chevy horsepower: 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell trailed Byron in Stage 1, confirming Toyota’s superspeedway gains will translate to 1.5-mile tracks over a full run. 3. Weather wildcard: Charlotte’s 20 percent chance of isolated showers could pause the action long enough to flip the leaderboard if a stage ends under caution, exactly how Byron secured his stage win. How to Watch and Stream • Green flag: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, May 25 • TV: Amazon Prime Video (first exclusive points race for the streaming giant) • Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Fast Facts for Searchers • Laps/Miles: 400 laps, 600 miles • Defending winner: Christopher Bell (2024) • Track record: Jimmie Johnson’s 8 Charlotte points wins remain unbeaten Projected Front-Runners (mid-race) 1. William Byron – Flat-out speed and clean air advantage 2. Tyler Reddick – Efficient pit stops, top-five in every long run 3. Christopher Bell – Quietly banking fastest laps on scrubbed tires 4. Chase Elliott – Up nine spots from the start, best average on restarts 5. Chris Buescher – RFK’s dark-horse, excelling on fuel-save maps What’s at Stake The Coca-Cola 600 purse tops $13 million, with the winner projected to earn an estimated 8-10 percent share, potentially surpassing $1.1 million depending on contingency awards and charter bonuses. More importantly, a victory locks a driver into the playoffs and delivers five coveted playoff points—an asset that can be the difference between championship contention and early elimination come October. Stay tuned to this live blog for caution-flag updates, pit-cycle drama and a full finishing order once NASCAR’s longest night finally goes checkered.