Coca-Cola 600

Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
Cokecola.png
Venue Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sponsor Coca-Cola
First race 1959
Distance 600 miles (965.606 km)
Laps 400
Previous names World 600 (1960–1984)
Coca-Cola World 600 (1985)
Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 (2002)

The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend. Run since 1960, it is the longest race sanctioned by NASCAR at 600 miles (956.606 km).

Contents

History

The event was started as an attempt by NASCAR to stage a Memorial Day weekend event that would rival the open-wheel Indianapolis 500. It was not until 1974, however, that both races competed head-to-head on the same day.[1] Before 1974, the two races were held on different days of the week, and on a few occasions, some drivers drove in both; this continued even after the 600 was moved to the same day, albeit to a smaller degree. In fact, the first World 600 was not held on the Memorial Day weekend; it was held on June 16 due to snowstorms that delayed the completion of Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2009 race, because the race was postponed from its original May 24 date, was the first race to have run on Memorial Day itself.

With the installation of lights in 1992, fans complained to circuit management to have the race start later in the day because of the notorious North Carolina heat and humidity. They wanted to follow The Winston's popularity the previous week and switch the race to a nighttime finish to create cooler temperatures for spectators. The start time was moved back several times throughout the 1990s, and finally settled at 5:30 pm in 2001, to attempt to have the race finished by 10 p.m. ET, in time for local news on Fox affiliates.

With the new starting time came new challenges. Not only do race teams have to deal with the blistering Carolina heat, but the considerable temperature change at night make track conditions completely different.

The nighttime portion of the race is lit with a system that uses parabolic reflectors so that dangerous glare that would otherwise be in the drivers' eyes is minimized. The move of the race to the early evening made it possible for drivers to participate in both the 600 and the Indianapolis 500 by flying from Indianapolis to Charlotte as soon as the Indianapolis race was over. Experts disagree over whether, for health and safety reasons, anyone should be allowed to race 1100 miles in one day, but no regulation has been passed yet by any governing body to prevent it. From 2005-2010, the issue became moot as the state of Indiana finally decided to go to daylight saving time. This resulted in only about a one hour span between the end of the Indianapolis race and the start of the Charlotte race. The Indianapolis 500 start time was moved back to 11:00 AM Eastern in 2011, but no driver will make the attempt this year. Over twenty million dollars has been offered to the first driver who wins both.

Until the Ferko lawsuit settlement took effect, the race was considered the third leg of the grand slam, and was once part of the Winston Million. It is considered one of the top five annual NASCAR races.[2]

Past races

The 1974 running, shortened to 540 miles because of the nation's short-lived fuel crisis, was won by David Pearson over Richard Petty. The lead changed 37 times between Pearson, Petty, Cale Yarborough, Buddy Baker, and Donnie Allison, the most lead changes in the event's history to that point.

In 1976 Bruton Smith reassumed full control of the speedway with the resignation of former track president Richard Howard. In a move to boost promotion of the race, Janet Guthrie was entered in a car wrenched by Ralph Moody. Pearson edged Petty again after a cut tire dropped Yarborough off the lead lap.

1979 saw the most lead changes (59) in the race's history. Darrell Waltrip took the win over Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

1980's running lasted seven hours due to 14 caution flags and two lengthy red flags for rain. Multiple tire failures helped lead to an epidemic of wrecks; at Lap 275 Dale Earnhardt blew a tire and his spin caught up Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, and David Pearson. Waltrip had the lead but in the final 20 laps was challenged by Benny Parsons; the two battled with the lead changing some seven times before Parsons edged Waltrip by a car length.

1988 came a week after multiple tire failures marred the All-Star Race; the failures involved Goodyear tires but in the 600 Hoosier tires began blowing. Darrell Waltrip survived and edged Rusty Wallace for the win.

1992 saw a controversial finish. Dale Earnhardt emerged from late green-flag pitstops with the lead after trailing by some three seconds entering the pits; there were complaints from several teams, notably Morgan-McClure whose driver Ernie Irvan finished second, that Earnhardt had broken NASCAR's mandated pit road speed limit.

1995 was a dramatic affair as the lead changed 32 times, the most since 1988, and the battle for the lead became a spirited multilap affair between Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, and Sterling Marlin. Labonte punted Earnhardt out of the lead late in the race and sweated out late green-flag stops for fuel to take the win, his first in Winston Cup.

On Sunday, May 29, 2005, a new record for the most cautions of any NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was set at 22 cautions. In addition, there was one red flag. During that race Jimmie Johnson slid past Bobby Labonte in turn four on the final lap, claiming the checkered flag. In doing so he became the first driver to win three consecutive Coca-Cola 600 races. He would finish a distant second to Kasey Kahne the following year.

Monday, May 25, 2009, although nicknamed by many as the 24 Hours of Charlotte, saw the shortest run of the race in its history. The race was delayed from Sunday to Monday due to a rainstorm, and the following day, more rain forced the race to go only 227 laps, although it took a 6 and a half hour marathon to reach that point, due to frequent interruptions by competition cautions and three red flags, including a two hour period under the red flag which ended the race and declared David Reutimann the winner, one of few drivers who opted not to pit under the final caution. Reutimann was the second surprise first-time winner in 2009 after Brad Keselowski at Talladega.

2011, at 402 laps and 603 miles, was the longest race in NASCAR history.[3]

Name changes

From 1960 to 1984 the race was known as the World 600. In 1985, the race's name was changed to the Coca-Cola World 600. In 1986 the name was shortened to the Coca-Cola 600, or Coke 600 which it was referred to at the time. The name changed again in 2002 to the Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 referring to the Coca-Cola family of drivers who are sponsored by Coca-Cola. After 2002, the name returned to the Coca-Cola 600.

Future

Bruton Smith, owner of Charlotte Motor Speedway, has indicated that he's working on setting up a $20 million bonus for winning both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, starting in 2011. To make this possible the Coca-Cola 600 could potentially be moved to Saturday night on Memorial Day weekend.

In early 2011 Fox Sports president David Hill voiced his displeasure with the race's 600-mile length and stated his desire to see the race shortened. Charlotte Motor Speedway has not been receptive to the idea.[4]

First time winners

The Coca-Cola 600 has been the site of many drivers' first wins, including future champions David Pearson (1961), Jeff Gordon (1994), Bobby Labonte (1995), and Matt Kenseth (2000). The most recent driver to have the 600 as his first win was David Reutimann, who won a rain-shortened event in 2009. That was the second time in three years that a driver won their first race at the Coca-Cola 600; Casey Mears won his only race to date in the 2007 running.

Past winners

Year Date Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
1960 June 19 Joe Lee Johnson Paul McDuffie Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 5:34:06 107.735
1961* May 28 David Pearson John Masoni Pontiac 400 600 (965.606) 5:22:29 111.633
1962 May 27 Nelson Stacy Holman-Moody Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:46:44 125.552
1963 June 2 Fred Lorenzen Holman-Moody Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:31:52 132.417
1964* May 24 Jim Paschal Petty Enterprises Plymouth 400 600 (965.606) 4:46:14 125.772
1965 May 23 Fred Lorenzen Holman-Moody Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:55:38 121.722
1966 May 22 Marvin Panch Petty Enterprises Plymouth 400 600 (965.606) 4:26:35 135.042
1967 May 28 Jim Paschal Frieden Enterprises Plymouth 400 600 (965.606) 4:25:02 135.832
1968 May 26 Buddy Baker Ray Fox Dodge 255* 382.5 (615.574) 3:04:14 104.207
1969 May 25 LeeRoy Yarbrough Junior Johnson Mercury 400 600 (965.606) 4:27:56 134.361
1970 May 24 Donnie Allison Banjo Matthews Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:37:36 129.68
1971 May 30 Bobby Allison Holman-Moody Mercury 400 600 (965.606) 4:16:20 140.422
1972 May 28 Buddy Baker Petty Enterprises Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:13:04 142.255
1973 May 27 Buddy Baker Nord Krauskopf Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:26:53 134.89
1974* May 26 David Pearson Wood Brothers Racing Mercury 360* 540 (869.045) 3:58:21 135.72
1975 May 25 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:07:42 145.327
1976 May 30 David Pearson Wood Brothers Racing Mercury 400 600 (965.606) 4:22:06 137.352
1977 May 29 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:21:29 137.676
1978 May 28 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:20:12 138.355
1979* May 27 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:23:24 136.674
1980 May 25 Benny Parsons M C Anderson Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 5:01:51 119.265
1981 May 24 Bobby Allison Harry Rainer Buick 400 600 (965.606) 4:38:22 129.326
1982 May 30 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:36:48 130.058
1983 May 29 Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:15:51 140.707
1984 May 27 Bobby Allison DiGard Motorsports Buick 400 600 (965.606) 4:38:34 129.233
1985 May 26 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:13:52 141.807
1986* May 25 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:16:24 140.406
1987 May 24 Kyle Petty Wood Brothers Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:33:48 131.483
1988 May 29 Darrell Waltrip Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:49:15 124.46
1989 May 28 Darrell Waltrip* Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:09:52 144.077
1990 May 27 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac 400 600 (965.606) 4:21:32 137.65
1991 May 26 Davey Allison Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:19:05 138.951
1992* May 24 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:30:43 132.98
1993* May 30 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:07:25 145.504
1994 May 29 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:18:10 139.445
1995 May 28 Bobby Labonte Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 3:56:55 151.952
1996 May 26 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:03:56 147.581
1997 May 25 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 333* 499.5 (803.867) 3:39:10 136.745
1998 May 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:23:53 136.424
1999 May 30 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 3:57:50 151.367
2000 May 28 Matt Kenseth Roush Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:12:23 142.64
2001 May 27 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:20:40 138.107
2002 May 26 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 400 600 (965.606) 4:21:23 137.729
2003 May 25 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 276* 414 (666.268) 3:16:50 126.198
2004 May 30 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:12:10 142.763
2005* May 29 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 5:13:52 114.698
2006 May 28 Kasey Kahne Evernham Motorsports Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:39:25 128.84
2007 May 27 Casey Mears Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 600 (965.606) 4:36:27 130.222
2008 May 25 Kasey Kahne Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:25:09 135.772
2009* May 25* David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 227* 340.5 (547.981) 2:48:59 120.899
2010 May 30 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 400 600 (965.606) 4:08:20 144.966
2011 May 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 402* 603 (970.434) 4:33:14 132.414
  • 1961: The race saw numerous crashes, including a very bad hit involving Reds Kagle, who lost a leg when his Ford smashed through the guardrail in Turn Three.
  • 1964: Edward Glenn Roberts suffers a hard crash in this race, resulting in an inferno. Roberts was severely burned, and would die of related complications on July 2 of that year.
  • 1968 & 2003: Race shortened due to rain.
  • 1974: Race scheduled for 360 laps / 540 miles due to energy crisis and the event was the first year it was scheduled for the same day as the Indianapolis 500.
  • 1979: The race set the track record for lead changes at 59.
  • 1986: Indy 500 was rained out; races were not held against each other.
  • 1989: Darrell Waltrip becomes the first and only driver to win the event for a record 5th time (1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1989).
  • 1992: Final time the race was scheduled at the same starting time as the Indy 500.
  • 1993: Race changed to an evening/night race.
  • 1997: Race shortened due to lateness caused by a rain delay and a 1 a.m. curfew.
  • 2005: The race set the series record for most cautions at 22.
  • 2009: 50th Running of the Coca-Cola 600. Race postponed from Sunday to Monday and was shortened due to rain.
  • 2011: Race extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.

See also

  • List of current NASCAR races
  • List of Coca-Cola 600 broadcasters

References


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