A late race caution sent the Coca-Cola 600 into NASCAR overtime and gave Brad Keselowski the chance to win the race.
Chase Elliott had taken the lead of the race with laps winding down and stretched it out to a somewhat comfortable distance. With just two laps remaining in the 400 lap race William Byron (Chase Elliot’s teammate) spun bringing out the caution flag. Since the race could not be completed under green at that point, by NASCAR rule the green-white-checkered finish would be instituted.
When the cars came around to an open pit road, Chase Elliott chose to pit for new tires. Many of the other cars at the front of the field remained on the track. Brad Keselowski assumed the lead of the race under the yellow flag.
When the green flag waived to re-start the race Brad raced out to the front and held the lead. He was able to hold of the charging Jimmie Johnson to claim his first ever win in the Coca-Cola 600. Jimmie’s second place finish was disqualified after failing post-race inspection. See the complete race results for the Coca-Cola 600 here.
I was off work last week when NASCAR returned to the track with two races at Darlington Raceway. Kevin Harvick won the first race Sunday, May 17th. See the complete race results for that race here. Denny Hamlin was the winner of the second, rain shortened race at the track Wednesday, May 20th. See the complete race results for that race here.
As a result of the three races Kevin Harvick is the leader of the NASCAR Cup Series point standings. Joey Logano is in second place with Alex Bowman holding third place. Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski round out the top five in fourth and fifth places respectively. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
The NASCAR Cup Series teams are back on the Charlotte Motor Speedway tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27th for another race starting at 7 PM central time (8 PM eastern time). This race will be just 500 miles instead of 600 miles like Sunday’s race was.
How are you feeling about the races with no fans in the stands?
By: Buck Stevens
Darlington Race #1 Recap…
Darlington Race #2 recap…
