Coca Cola 600 Tag

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The second stage, like the first stage, of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway got off to a quick start. Kyle Busch pitted from the lead between Stages 1 and 2. Martin Truex, Jr. regained the lead in his No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota Camry after the pit stops. When the race restarted, Truex pulled away from Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson and his No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS finally crackedRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – After starting the Coca-Cola 600 with promise, Matt DiBenedetto’s race came to a crashing end after 142 laps. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver started the race in 30th in the No. 32 Cosmo Motors Ford Fusion for Go Fas Racing led by Gene Nead. Stage 1 was quiet for DiBenedetto and by the end, he had climbed to 25th, one lap down. 42 laps into Stage 2, DiBenedetto tagged the wall exiting turn four. As he entered turn one, hisRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The first stage of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway got off to a quick start. Kasey Kahne and Ty Dillon had to start the race from the rear. Kahne for a rear gear change, and Dillon for an unapproved tire change. Kyle Busch took the lead in his No. 18 M&M’s Red, White, and Blue Toyota Camry from polesitter Kevin Harvick in turn one just after the start. Jeffrey Earnhardt’s engine blew apart on theRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – 21 laps into an otherwise tame Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway mayhem broke out. Jeffrey Earnhardt’s engine let go on the track. Earnhardt’s No. 33 Towne Bank Chevrolet SS spewed debris and rear-end grease as he limped along the frontstretch. Debris from Earnhardt’s engine ripped through Chase Elliott’s No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet SS, cutting an oil line. Elliott’s car burst into flames as it dropped oil on the frontstretch. He slowed as the front end of his car became engulfed inRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – In the final practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 one of the two drivers who failed to make a qualifying time topped the charts. In addition to that, seven of the Top 10 qualifiers were once again outside the Top 10 on the speed charts when the practice session came to an end. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Kyle Larson placed his No. 42 Target Chervolet SS on top of the speed charts with a lapRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer  CONCORD, N.C. – In the second practice for the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, six of the Top 10 qualifiers were outside the Top 10 on the speed charts. Meanwhile, most of the top five on the speed charts were made up of young drivers including two Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Contenders. Wood Brothers Racing’s Ryan Blaney topped the speed charts in his No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Fusion with a lap of 188.055 mph,Read More

After squeaking out the fastest lap in the second round of Thursday night’s knockout qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick left no doubt when it counted. Touring the 1.5-mile track in 27.918 seconds (193.424 mph) to post the fastest lap of the day in the final round, Harvick claimed his first Coors Light Pole Award for the Coca-Cola 600 and his second overall at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet will lead the field to green in NASCAR’s longest race on Sunday afterRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – To most, the Coca-Cola 600 is just another race. 2017’s marks the third annual 600 Miles of Remembrance for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Every driver’s windshield banner will display the name of a United State military veteran who sacrificed everything. Families are not only invited to the race as guests, but are also honored in a ceremony in which miniature windshields with the name of their loved ones are presented to them. On Kyle Busch’s M&M’s Red, White, and BlueRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule was finally unveiled during the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder. One of the more notable changes is that the October playoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will change from using the 1.5-mile oval configuration to the 13-turn, 2.4-mile ‘roval’ configuration. One driver who will not compete on the roval but is interested to see how the racing turns out is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Earnhardt announced his retirement from full-time competition earlier this season. TheRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – So far, the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season has not lived up to the expectations of many for Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROTY) contender Erik Jones. 11 races into the season, Jones has just one Top 10 finish, an eighth at Phoenix Raceway, and three DNFs at Daytona, Richmond, and Talladega. The first practice for the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a bright spot for Jones and his No. 77 5-Hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota CamryRead More