Five Questions Before The Coca Cola 600

Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Drivers, race teams and fans are preparing for the longest race on the NASCAR circuit, six hundred miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway. One of the most anticipated race days on the schedule that is shared and preceded by the historic Indianapolis 500. It will be a day filled with pageantry, patriotism, and excitement in the Queen City along with remembering those fallen service members who are honored on Memorial Day. 

Here are a few questions heading into the Coca-Cola 600 …

1. How many NASCAR drivers have competed in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 on the same day?

There have been four drivers who competed in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 – Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, the late John Andretti, and Kurt Busch. In 2001, Stewart was the only “double duty” driver to complete the entire laps of both races. He finished sixth in Indianapolis (Chip Ganassi Racing) and third in Charlotte (Joe Gibbs Racing). Unfortunately, this year there are not any drivers competing in both races so we will have to wait and see if that changes next season. 

2. Will there be a change in the Cup Series points standings once the checkered flag waves?

Chase Elliott is the current points leader, sitting 52 ahead of second place Ryan Blaney and 58 ahead of third place, two-time Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch. Both Elliott and Busch are tied at one win and nine top five finishes for the season thus far. Even though Blaney has not gotten a win, he has earned four top five and six top ten finishes. Many factors such as car performance and pit strategy can shake up the current standings on Sunday night. Who will prevail? 

3. Do you know how many different names Sunday’s race had previously?

Interesting enough, there have been four different names for NASCAR’s longest race of the year. Here is a snapshot of the different name changes: World 600 (1960 – 1984); Coca-Cola World 600 (1985); Coca-Cola 600 (1986 -2001); Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 (2002); and back to Coca-Cola 600 (2003 – present). 

4. Can Kevin “The Closer” Harvick earn a third Coca-Cola 600 victory? 

Kevin Harvick, 2014 Cup Series champion, grabbed the checkered flag for the longest race on the NASCAR circuit in 2011 and 2013. He is currently sitting eleventh in the points standings with two top five and six top ten finishes. There are fourteen drivers with multiple wins for the Coca-Cola 600 and he is the only active driver on that list. Racing legends such as Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, Buddy Baker, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Kasey Kahne have earned three or more wins. 

5. Which Cup Series manufacturer will be celebrating in the Coca-Cola 600 Victory Lane? 

Chevrolet is currently leading in the manufacturer points standings with seven wins. However, they are only sitting thirty-five ahead of Toyota and forty-nine ahead of Ford who each have earned three wins. Historically, Chevrolet does have the most wins for this event with twenty-five and notably five of their race cars are sitting in the top ten of the 2022 Cup Series points standings.