This weekend is the Memorial Day Weekend tradition for NASCAR, the Coca-Cola 600. It is the season’s longest race and one of the “Crown Jewel” races in the sport.
The Coca-Cola 600 is one all drivers aspire to win. However, it one that most drivers never will win. It is 100 miles longer than the Daytona 500 and 200 miles longer than the majority of races during the year. This extra time on the track wears on the cars mechanically and the drivers mentally. The driver and car that can handle the extra stress and still perform to the end has a chance at the glory of winning the race.
Here is what the drivers and cars will be facing at the track and in the race.
Charlotte Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,980 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,500 feet
Coca-Cola 600 Data
Season Race #: 14 of 36 (05-29-22)
Race Length: 400 laps / 600 miles
Stage Length: 100 laps each
These active drivers have performed well overall at Charlotte Motor Speedway in their NASCAR Cup Series careers.
Kyle Busch – 106.1
Chase Elliott – 99.0
Denny Hamlin – 94.9
Kyle Larson – 92.0
Tyler Reddick – 91.6
Martin Truex Jr. – 91.4
Kevin Harvick – 91.2
William Byron – 90.4
Joey Logano – 89.7
Brad Keselowski – 87.5
These active drivers have won the Coca-Cola 600 already in their careers.
| Kevin Harvick | 3 Wins | 2014, 2013, 2011 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 3 Wins | 2019, 2017, 2016 |
| Brad Keselowski | 2 Wins | 2020, 2013 |
| Austin Dillon | 1 Win | 2017 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 Win | 2020 |
| Joey Logano | 1 Win | 2015 |
| Kurt Busch | 1 Win | 2010 |
| Kyle Busch | 1 Win | 2018 |
| Kyle Larson | 1 Win | 2021 |
There have been eleven different winners in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Season to date. Counting this weekend’s race there are 13 more races before the NASCAR Playoffs begin. That means if there are six new winners for the season in the final 13 regular season races, a driver with a win will not make the post-season. That is a very real possibility this year it seems. Only two drivers have won more than one race so far this year.
We will have to watch and see if the number of 2022 NASCAR Cup Series winning drivers increase on this holiday weekend. The Coca-Cola 600 takes place Sunday, May 29th starting at 5 p.m. central time (6 p.m. eastern time) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
