Beloved Former NASCAR Driver Dead Tuesday At 42

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 10:50 AM ET

The NASCAR world is in mourning this week as former driver and car builder Chase Pistone has passed away. He was 42 years old.

It was Pistone's brother Nick who shared the tragic news on Facebook. Details of Pistone's passing are still unclear, but Nick and their brother Tom asked that the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline be shared along with news of his passing

“Well, my young brother and best friend is gone. I’m broken-hearted and don’t know if I’ll ever get over this. I miss you Chase already and I hope you are in a better place," Nick wrote.

Sad News: Chase Pistone, a fixture in motorsports and especially Legend Car racing, has passed away, Legends Nation confirmed with his brothers, Nick and Tom. Chase was not only a wheelman in Legends and Late Models, but his Chase Pistone Inc. Legends team was a force to be… pic.twitter.com/inTB91jGLm
— Legends Nation | LegendsNation.com (@legendsnation) March 2, 2026

Tribute to Pistone

Among the many to pay homage to Pistone upon his passing when the news came out last night was 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace. The three-time Cup Series race winner said that he and Pistone raced together in Legends Cars and called on everyone to reflect on how precious life is.

"Been in the feels.. Woke up Sunday morning at 2am wide awake.. stumbled across an old tune that shook me. Only to realize later on at 2am was when the shooting happened in Austin.. A guy I raced with in legends cars took his life today.. Just a lot of damn sadness man.." Wallace wrote. "Makes you think about life and how precious it is… That tune… Nutshell- Alice In Chains Love yall."

Makes you think about life and how precious it is…

That tune…

Nutshell- Alice In Chains

Love yall.
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) March 3, 2026

"Heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend ChasePistone. He was not only a talented racer but a true mentor who poured his time, knowledge, and passion into the next generation," RFK Racing's Brian Murphy wrote.

"Awful news. ChasePistone had some select starts at NASCAR's national level between 2005 and 2014 and had talent. His best run ever came in the Truck Series at Gateway in 2014, where he started fifth and finished ninth. RIP," writer Steven Taranto shared.

MADISON, IL - JUNE 05: A NASCAR Cup Series logo is seen in the pedestrian tunnel during the NASCAR Cup Series Inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300 Presented by TicketSmarter on June 5, 2022, at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Pistone was the grandson of former NASCAR Cup Series race winner "Tiger" Tom Pistone. But success largely eluded him on the track. He competed in 10 races between the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series circuits between 2005 and 2014, finding the most success in 2014.

His best performance came in the 2014 Drivin' for Linemen 200, where he finished ninth.

Pistone found far more success in other racing-related and car-building ventures.

Our hearts go out to Pistone's family and loved ones.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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