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The Charlotte, N.C. native and grandson of early NASCAR legend "Tiger" Tom Pistone was remembered as a cornerstone of grassroots motorsports
Former NASCAR driver Chase Pistone has died, his family has confirmed. He was 42.
Pistone's brother Nick broke the news in an emotional Facebook post on Monday, March 2. "Well, my young brother and best friend is gone," he wrote. "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. I love you and I miss you so much already."
No cause of death has been announced. However, Nick and his brother Tom asked that the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number — 988 — be shared alongside news of his passing. NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace also referenced the loss on X, noting that someone he had raced with in Legends cars had taken his life.
Racing ran deep in Pistone's DNA.
He was the grandson of Tom "Tiger" Pistone, who won two NASCAR Cup Series races in 1959 and was a foundational figure in the sport's early era. Chase himself began racing at age 6 and went on to claim the Summer Shootout Championship Legends title four times, twice in Semi-Pro and twice in Pro competition, between 1999 and 2005. He accumulated more than 80 feature event victories across Legends, Late Model and USAR competition over the course of his career.
The Charlotte native competed across multiple national series, including the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the ARCA Menards Series. In 2006, he finished inside the top 10 at Iowa Speedway driving the No. 50 Dodge for Bobby Jones Racing.
In later years, Pistone channeled his experience into shaping the next generation of drivers through his Chase Pistone Inc. Legends program. RFK Racing executive Brian Murphy remembered him as a mentor who generously gave his time, knowledge and passion to young racers coming up through the sport. Industry outlet Legends Nation called him a fixture in motorsports, noting his team was consistently a contender wherever it competed.
He was 42. Rest in peace.
