In NASCAR’s typical season, minus the two road course races, only two events go 300 miles, with the majority of the remaining 32 going either 400 or 500 miles in distance. But, when the Charlotte Motor Speedway was built in 1960, the goal of creator Bruton Smith was to make an event unlike any other in stock car racing.
His challenge that he took on was to go head-to-head against a race that already had a 50-year head start in having recognition, the Indianapolis 500. So how exactly would he make a stock car race try to beat the marquee event in racing at the time?
First, make it the biggest payout ever for such an event. Second, make it longer…as in 100 miles longer. Thus, the World 600 it was.
The name may have changed to the Coca-Cola 600, but this race has become much more than the typical marathon race. It is a true test of attrition on a weekend that honors the men and women who themselves are tests of attrition in guarding and defending America’s colors. For many years, it was run in the daylight, and the heat alone would wear out drivers and crews. Back in the early days, there were no cool boxes to keep drivers from overheating, nor were there ways to keep food in the car so nutrients could come from just a simple grab of the hand.
It was about survival, and only the best could do it.
Now, it’s a challenge even more because of when the race starts, and the amount of changes that take place. On average, this race is a 6 p.m. start, which at the time means the sun is still out, and it’s relatively warm. The track is sticky, and won’t have much grip. But, as the day turns into sunset, and into twilight, the track changes. The cooling temperatures of the air and the racing surface increase the grip, and speeds pick up.
By the time the entire track is in darkness, teams that have adjusted the best to the changing conditions are usually out front.
The guy that figured out how to be strong both in the daylight, through sunset, into twilight and finally in full darkness was Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 team, who sat on the pole for the first time all year, then went out and led the most laps, and after many were wondering when this team would put together a full weekend of work that led to victory, the wait was over. Johnson showed that he was not going to miss on being in the Chase, securing his fourth Coca-Cola 600 victory, and first at Charlotte since 2005.
NASCAR makes sure that this weekend isn’t about the guys and gals on the track, but is about the military that protect the country to allow them the freedom to go out and race. But, that tradition is not as long as the tradition of this race being the hardest to run, the hardest on equipment, and possibly the hardest to win.
For over 50 years this race is NASCAR’s marathon event, and forever will be.
RESULTS: 1-Johnson 2-Harvick 3-Kenseth 4-Edwards 5-McMurray 6-Vickers 7-Gordon 8-Menard 9-Kyle Busch 10-Keselowski
NOTABLE FINISHES: 12-Logano 14-Stewart 14-Kahne 19-Earnhardt Jr. 22-Hamlin 40-Kurt Busch
CAUTIONS: 8 for 44 laps. Lap 109-113 (Debris-T3), 149-153 (Debris-BS), 165-169 (#38 accident-T2), 224-227 (Debris-BS), 236-241 (#9, 10, 33, 40, 98 accident-T4), 275-282 (Oil on Track), 287-293 (Oil on Track), 380-383 (#23 accident-T3).
LEAD CHANGES: 34 among 9 drivers. Johnson POLE, Keselowski 1, Johnson 2-47, Keselowski 48-49, Johnson 50-75, Harvick 76-95, Johnson 96-97, Harvick 98-108, Johnson 109, Harvick 110-149, Johnson 150-164, Keselowski 165-191, Harvick 192-212, Gordon 213, Earnhardt Jr. 214, McMurray 215, Harvick 216-223, Johnson 224, Earnhardt Jr. 225-236, McMurray 237-240, Kenseth 241, McMurray 242-270, Kenseth 271-276, Gordon 277, Johnson 278-293, Kenseth 294-311, Johnson 312-330, Keselowski 331-343, Almirola 344, Johnson 345-373, Gordon 374-375, Edwards 376-379, Gordon 380-383, Knseth 384-391, Johnson 392-400.
TIME OF RACE: 4 Hrs, 7 Mins, 27 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED: 145.484 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.272 Seconds
POINT STANDINGS: 1. Gordon, 432 points*; 2. Kenseth, -11; 3. Kyle Busch, -24*; 4. Edwards, -24*; 5. Earnhardt Jr, -38*; 6. Johnson, -44*; 7. Logano, -54*; 8. Vickers, -67; 9. Keselowski, -71*; 10. Newman, -71
*Race Winner, Chase Eligible