THE RACE: Coca-Cola 600
TRACK: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race #13 of 36
Date: Sunday, May 27, 2018 in Concord, NC
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 6:18 pm/et
Sections on this page:
Television | Radio/Streaming | Schedule | Track/Race Info | Race Rundown
Qualifying / Practice / Entry Info | Weather Links | Tire Notes | Odds
NASCAR RaceDay: 4:30pm/et on FS1
NASCAR Sunday Pre-Race Show: 5:30pm/et on FOX
Television Race Coverage: FOX, 6:00pm/et
Practices:
Thursday, May 24, 2:35-3:25pm/et, TV-FS1;
Saturday, May 26, 9:05-9:55am/et, TV-FS1;
Saturday, May 26, 11:05-11:55am/et, TV-FS1
Qualifying for positions 1-40, Thursday, May 24 at 7:15 pm/et, TV-FS1;
re-air scheduled: None
In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon
Pit Reporters: Jamie Little, Regan Smith, Vince Welch, Matt Yocum
In-Race Analyst: Larry McReynolds
Race / Hollywood Hotel Host: Chris Myers
Analysts / Hollywood Hotel: Jeff Gordon, Darrell and Michael Waltrip
Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Monday, March 28 at 3:00 am/et on FS1
TV Listings, Links and Info:
see the TV Listings and Links page
Performance Racing Network (PRN)
SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90
ONLINE STREAMING
FOX Sports GO (available with participating TV provider login)
Radio: PRN Live Streaming
SiriusXM Internet Radio (available via internet connected device, with subscription)
EVENT SCHEDULE
Event Schedule times are local to the track
Thursday, May 24
9:30 AM-11:30 AM MENCS HAULERS ENTER (EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
11:30 AM-9:00 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
1:30 PM MENCS ROOKIE MEETING, SPOTTER MEETING, & RANDOM DRAWING
2:35 PM-3:25 PM MENCS 1ST PRACTICE
7:15 PM MENCS QUALIFYING (MULTI-VEHICLE / THREE ROUNDS)
Friday, May 25
No on track action
Saturday, May 26
7:30 AM-2:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPEN
9:05 AM-9:55 AM MENCS 2ND PRACTICE
11:05 AM-11:55 AM MENCS FINAL PRACTICE
Sunday, May 27
12:30 PM MENCS GARAGE OPENS
4:00 PM MENCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
5:20 PM MENCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
6:00 PM MENCS RACE (400 LAPS, 600 MILES)
MENCS = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Charlotte Motor Speedway Track News, Stats & Links page
May 2017: see the Charlotte Race Info page
October 2017: see the Charlotte Race Info page
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Robert Irvine
Command to start engines: Robert Irvine
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas
Honorary Pace Car Driver: TBA
Color Guard: UNC-Charlotte ROTC Color Guard
Invocation: CDR Steve Coates, U.S. Navy
National Anthem: Captain Skye Martin, U.S. Marine Corps
Flyover: 4 F-15's's from Seymour Johnson AFB
Sunday Charlotte Notebook: Brad Keselowski confident he could beat the heat in Coca-Cola 600; Kaz Grala excels in debut with new NASCAR Xfinity team; Jack Roush hustled to NASCAR Hall of Fame for voting announcement.[More](5-27-2018)
Saturday Charlotte Notebook: Bubba Wallace looks to next stretch of races with anticipation; Can Harvick Overcome Last-place starting spot; Short strokes.[More](5-26-2018)
What to Watch for: Charlotte: The Biggest (and Longest) Day in Racing; Kevin Harvick Tries to Pull Charlotte Double; Kyle Busch Looks Solve Charlotte's Web; Can Jimmie Johnson Snap Streak at Home Track?; NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019; Who's Hot and Who's Not - Charlotte Edition[More](5-25-2018)
Thursday Charlotte Notebook: A new primary sponsor for Jimmie Johnson? Get in line; Brad Keselowski's boss gets well-deserved honor; Short strokes[More](5-24-2018)
Fallen service members to be recognized on car windshield: In tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, all 40 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars will bear the name of a fallen service member on their car windshields during the Coca-Cola 600.[More](5-24-2018)
Charlotte Weekend Preview: Kevin Harvick's magical season; XFINITY Series returns.[More](5-24-2018)
Stories of service and sacrifice inspire NASCAR drivers, fans this Memorial Day weekend: The men and women to be honored during "NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola" Memorial Day weekend tribute at Charlotte Motor Speedway to fallen United States service members demonstrate integrity, pride, and bravery. Their stories cannot help but inspire both those inside the race car for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX) and those watching the great race in person. Each race team is commemorating a fallen soldier, a person who gave the ultimate sacrifice - his or her life - for our country and for our freedom.[More](5-24-2018)
A look at many news, notes and story lines for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Charlotte Motor Speedway, see the stats on the Statistical Advance - Analyzing Charlotte Motor Speedway page
Kyle Busch finishes off bucket list with dominating victory at Charlotte: From start to finish, Busch fashioned a dominating victory at the only active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series track at which he had never won a points event. He's now the only driver in NASCAR history who has won at every Cup track at which he has run.[More](5-27-2018)
Kyle Busch won the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The win is his 4th win of 2018, 1st win at Charlotte and 47th career win.
He dominated the race, starting on the pole, winning all four stages, leading 377 of the 400 laps and he has now won a race at every active track on the NASCAR Cup schedule.
#78-Truex, Jr. finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #2-Keselowski, #48-Johnson, #1-McMurray, #42-Larson, #41-Busch, #88-Bowman, and #17-Stenhouse, Jr.
Just 9 cars were on the lead lap at the finish.
There were 9 lead changes among 4 drivers and 11 cautions for 54 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 136.692mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
MENCS at Charlotte
- Kyle Busch: 47th career win moves him into sole possession of 15th all-time (broke tie with Buck Baker for 15th)
- Busch: 1st win at Charlotte; has now won at all 23 tracks where has run a Cup Series race (will make first start on Charlotte Roval this season)
- Busch: led 377 laps; the 3rd-most he's led in a race in his career
- Busch: 4th win this season; 4th straight season with at least 4 wins
- Busch: 875 laps led this season; he led 735 in 2015 in his championship season (in 25 races)
- Martin Truex Jr.: finished 2nd; 3rd straight top-3 finish at Charlotte and 4th straight top-5 finish in 600
- Denny Hamlin: finished 3rd; 5th top-5 finish in last 6 Charlotte races (has never won at track)
- Jimmie Johnson: finished 5th; 2nd top 5 this season (3rd at Bristol); had 4 all of last season
- Kevin Harvick: finished last (40th); snapped 3-race win streak and 1st time finishing last in a race in his Cup Series career
(ESPN Stats & Info)
Race Fast Facts - Charlotte
Kyle Busch won the 59th Annual COCA-COLA 600, his 47th victory in 475 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2018.
This is his first victory and 17th top-10 finish in 29 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 26 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his eighth top-10 finish in 2018.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 17th top-10 finish in 26 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Darrell Wallace Jr. (16th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Busch leads the point standings by 67 points over Joey Logano.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(5-27-2018)
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Driver Chase Standings:
[after Charlotte, race 13 of 36]
#18-Kyle Busch [4 wins], 573
#4-Kevin Harvick [5 wins - 4 can be used for playoffs], 485
#22-Joey Logano [1 win], 506
#78-Martin Truex Jr. [1 win], 430
#14-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 421
#3-Austin Dillon [1 win], 244
#2-Brad Keselowski, 437, -136
#41-Kurt Busch, 429, -144
#11-Denny Hamlin, 429, -144
#42-Kyle Larson, 382, -191
#10-Aric Almirola, 376, -197
#12-Ryan Blaney, 375, -198
#48-Jimmie Johnson, 327, -246
#20-Erik Jones, 314, -259
#88-Alex Bowman, 299, -274
#9-Chase Elliott, 296, -277
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Top-Ten Stage 3 Results (lap 300) of the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (lap 300/400):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#20-Jones, 9pts
#2-Keselowski, 8pts
#41-Busch, 7pts
#1-McMurray, 6pts
#11-Hamlin, 5pts
#95-Kahne, 4pts
#78-Truex, Jr., 3pts
#17-Stenhouse, 2pts
#31-Newman, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 200) of the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (lap 200/400):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#78-Truex, Jr., 9pts
#42-Larson, 8pts
#11-Hamlin, 7pts
#14-Bowyer, 6pts
#10-Almirola, 5pts
#9-Elliott, 4pts
#48-Johnson, 3pts
#31-Newman, 2pts
#20-Jones, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 100) of the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (lap 100/400):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#12-Blaney, 9pts
#42-Larson, 8pts
#48-Johnson, 7pts
#78-Truex, Jr., 6pts
#10-Almirola, 5pts
#14-Bowyer 4pts
#11-Hamlin, 3pts
#17-Stenhouse, Jr.,, 2pts
#20-Jones, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap back during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #34-McDowell, 18th
Caution 2: #15-Chastain, 24th
Caution 3: #32-DiBenedetto, 37th
Caution 4: #15-Chastain (2), 24th
Caution 5: #72-LaJoie, 26th
Caution 6: #2-Keselowski, 4th
Caution 7: #21-Menard, 14th
Caution 8: #34-McDowell (2), 18th
Caution 9: #13-Dillon, 21st
Caution 10: #47-Allmendinger, 23rd
Caution 11: #6-Kenseth, 17th
Charlotte Sunday Pre-Race Schedule (ET):
6:00pm: Presentation of Colors by UNCC ROTC Color Guard
6:00pm: Invocation by US Navy CDR Steve Coates
6:00pm: Amazing Grace by Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band
6:02pm: "21 Gun Salute" by Fort Bragg Firing Party
6:02pm: Taps by Bugler from Fort Bragg
6:03pm: National Anthem by USMC Captain Skye Martin
6:05pm: Fly-by TOT by 4 F-15's's from Seymour Johnson AFB
6:10pm: "Drivers, Start Your Engines" by Celebrity Chef, Veteran & Founder of the Robert Irvine Foundation, Robert Irvine
6:18:30pm: Green flag
See the starting lineup for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the Starting Lineup Page (pdf).
To the rear: #43-Wallace, Jr. (unapproved adjustments), #00-Cassill (failed pre-race inspection)
NASCAR Overtime Race Procedure: Rule and notes on the NASCAR Overtime rules/news/stats page.
Wave Around: how the wave around rule works: All vehicles between the leader and the caution vehicle at the start/finish line when the "one to go" signal is given by the starter are considered "Wave Around" eligible. "Wave Around" vehicles will not be permitted to enter pit road at any time during this yellow flag/caution period. "Wave Around" vehicles must receive the green flag on the race track before being permitted to enter pit road without a penalty. Vehicles under a penalty and the "Free Pass" vehicle will not be eligible to receive a "Wave Around".
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
With 40 cars running, pit stalls 19, 42, and 43 are not being used.
Pole winner #18-Busch chose pit stall 1, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole winner #22-Logano. took pit stall 2.
#11-Hamlin, who starts 3rd, took the 36th stall, with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall in use was taken by #20-Jones, who starts 4th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com's Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-26-2018)
Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's: (will be added as available)
Official Race & Points Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Cumlative Race Report
Penalty Report
Happy Hour Speeds
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Order
Practice 1 Speeds
Crew Rosters
Latest / Final Entry List
Preliminary Entry List
See the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race results page
QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#20-Jones 187.045
#42-Larson 186.664
#12-Blaney 186.104
#22-Logano 186.047
#11-Hamlin 185.938
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 26 drivers): #20-Jones 184.579
most laps run: #22-Logano, 55 laps.
slowest: #55-Earnhardt 176.887 & #66-Hill 176.120
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (5-26-2018)
First Saturday practice for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was canceled due to wet track conditions.(5-26-2018)
Kyle Busch saves best for last in Charlotte pole run: Streaking around the 1.5-mile oval in 28.149 seconds (191.836 mph), Busch claimed his third Busch Pole Award of the year, his third at Charlotte and the 30th of his career. [More](5-24-2018)
Kyle Busch won the Busch pole for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with speed of 191.836mph for his 3rd pole of 2018, 3rd at Charlotte and 30th of his career. Busch has won 7 times from the 19 previous poles.
#22-Logano will start 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #20-Jones, #2-Keselowski, #31-Newman, #1-McMurray, #12-Blaney, #10-Almirola, #19-Suarez, #42-Larson, and #3-Dillon.
#18-Busch was fastest in the second round with a speed of 191.591mph.
#1-McMurray was quickest in the first round with a speed of 191.035mph, will start 7th.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 40 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(5-24-2018)
Charlotte Motor Speedway - Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch won the Busch Pole Award Pole Award for the 59th Annual COCA-COLA 600 with a lap of 28.149 seconds, 191.836 mph.
This is his 30th pole in 475 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his third pole and ninth top-10 start in 2018.
This is his third pole in 29 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Joey Logano (second) posted his 11th top-10 start of 2018 and his seventh in 19 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 16th top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his ninth in 13 races this season.
William Byron (21st) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(5-24-2018)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#18-Busch 191.591
#11-Hamlin 190.409
#22-Logano 190.282
#12-Blaney 190.228
#31-Newman 190.087
the rest of the top 12: 1 10 42 20 3 2 19
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 17 21 78 41 6 37 38 13 24 9 48 43
(5-24-2018)
First Round of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 15 scheduled minutes.
#1-McMurray 191.035
#18-Busch 190.094
#20-Jones 189.974
#12-Blaney 189.720
#41-Busch 189.600
the rest of the top 24: 22 21 11 17 2 31 9 3 42 78 48 37 19 43 6 24 13 10 38
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 15 95 88 14 47 32 34 96 72 23 00 66 55 52 4 7
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 40 entered
(5-24-2018)
Coverage of Qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 7:15pm/et.
Television (TV): FS1, 7:00pm/et
Radio: Live online at Performance Racing Network (PRN)
Group qualifying under the three-round qualifying format:
• Round 1 -- All entries will have 15 minutes to post a qualifying time, after which the 24 registering the fastest laps will advance to the second round. Those failing to advance will be sorted based on first-round times in descending order (from fastest to slowest).
• Round 2 -- The 24 fastest from the first round will have 10 minutes to post a second-round qualifying time, with the 12 fastest advancing to a third round. Those not advancing will earn starting positions 13 through 24 based on time, again in descending order.
• Round 3 -- The final round will be five minutes in length. The fastest times from this session will determine the first (Coors Light Pole Award) through 12th starting positions.
There will be a seven-minute break between each round; teams may make adjustments to their entries only during the individual breaks. They will not be allowed to jack the vehicle or raise the hood, and once the car or truck enters the garage, it will no longer be permitted to return to the track for additional qualifying attempts.
Qualifying Order for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #37-Buescher.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #1-McMurray.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(5-24-2018)
First practice for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 50 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#11-Hamlin 190.134
#12-Blaney 189.673
#2-Keselowski 189.434
#3-Dillon 189.414
#20-Jones 189.261
most laps run: #24-Byron and #55-Earnhardt, 10 laps
No drivers ran 10 or more consecutive laps.
slowest: #51-McLeod 176.858
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Friday Practice speeds (pdf) (5-24-2018)
Entry List for the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 41 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are now listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #00-Cassill, #7-Yeley, #15-Chastain, #51-TBA, #52-McLeod, #55-Earnhardt, #66-Hill, #72-LaJoie, #96-Kligerman.
Open teams that do not have a charter and will be required to qualify on time: #7-Yeley, #55-Earnhardt, #66-Hill and #96-Kligerman.
Since 41 cars are entered, one driver will miss the race.
UPDATE: The #52 team has withdrawn. There are 40 teams entered.(5-23-2018)
UPDATE: B.J. McLeod will be in the #51.(5-24-2018)
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
For qualifying rules and formats, see the Qualifying Rules page
How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Charlotte(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph
Weather Channel - Concord, NC
Weather Channel - Mooresville, NC
Weather Channel - Charlotte, NC
Accuweather
National Weather Service
Race Weather
Race Day Forecast
WeatherBug
Weather Underground
Charlotte Goodyear Tire Notes See complete tire information for the race weekend across all series on the [Goodyear Tire Notes - Charlotte Motor Speedway page.(5-23-2018)
RACE & CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Vegas Insider
Race and Championship odds
NASCAR Top-Five Finish Prediction
Charlotte Race Preview by Micah Roberts
Bovada Sportsbook:
Race and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Championship