The NASCAR and racing community is mourning one of their own.
Chase Pistone, a former NASCAR driver and grandson of racing legend Tom Pistone, has died, his family announced. He was 42.
No cause of death was provided by the family, though his older brother Nick Pistone, who confirmed his death along with their brother Tom Pistone, told Legends Nation to "post the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is 988 on a phone or text."
© Getty Images"Well, my young brother and best friend is gone," Nick, also a former race car driver, wrote on Facebook on Monday, March 2, sharing a split image of Chase as a baby and then as an adult.
"I'm brokenhearted and don't know if I'll ever get over this," he continued. "I miss you Chase already and I hope you are [sic] in a better place."
"I love you and I miss you so much already!!!!!!!" his statement concluded.
Nick, speaking with Legends Nation, also shared: "I was his biggest fan and I loved him so much."
Chase, born August 20, 1983 in Charlotte, North Carolina, began racing when he was only six years old, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was nicknamed Tiger, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner.
The late racer competed for NASCAR Xfinity, Truck, and ARCA Series, and between 1999 and 2005 won the Summer Shootout Championship Legends four times as a driver.
His career spanned from 2006 to 2014, during which he accrued over 80 feature event wins in Legends, Late Model, and USAR competitions.
His racing career ended around 2014, and he later worked as a car builder as owner of CP Inc, through which he built Legends and Late Model stock cars, and offered various car leasing programs.
© Getty ImagesFellow professional stock car racing driver William "Bubba" Wallace, who competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, paid tribute to Chase on Twitter (now X), writing: "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… Makes you think about life and how precious it is…"
Little is known about Chase's personal life, and whether he is survived by a spouse or any children.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
