With 11 different winners in the first 13 races, this Cup season is shaping up to be among the most unpredictable.
As the series heads into Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, eight drivers who won last year remain winless this season in points races. That includes Ryan Blaney, who won last weekend’s non-points All-Star Race, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. Harvick and Truex each has two Coca-Cola 600 wins in their career, most among active drivers.
Details for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
(All times Eastern)
START: USO Advisory Board Member Vice Admiral (retired), U.S. Navy, Mary Jackson will give the command to start engines will be given at 6:10 p.m. … Green flag is scheduled to wave at 6:18 p.m.
PRERACE: Cup garage opens at 3 p.m. … Driver introductions are at 5:25 p.m. … The invocation will be given at 6 p.m. … Amazing Grace will be performed by the Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band at 6:01 p.m. ... Taps will be performed by the Ceremonial Bugler from “The Commandant’s Own” U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Staff Sergeant Benjamin Aird at 6:02 p.m. ... SPC Will McCarthy will perform the National Anthem at 6:03 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is 400 laps (600 miles) on the 1.5-mile speedway.
STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 100. Stage 2 ends at Lap 200. Stage 3 ends at Lap 300.
TO THE REAR: Corey LaJoie (backup car), Kyle Larson (unapproved adjustments), Aric Almirola (unapproved adjustments), Cole Custer (unapproved adjustments), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (unapproved adjustments) and Kaz Grala (unapproved adjustments).
STARTING LINEUP: Charlotte Cup starting lineup
TV/RADIO: Fox will broadcast the race at 6 p.m. Pre-race coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. on FS1 and moves to Fox at 5 p.m. … Performance Racing Network’s radio coverage begins at 5 p.m. and also will stream at goprn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the PRN broadcast.
STREAMING: Fox Sports
FORECAST: Weather Underground - Partly cloudy with a high of 83 degrees and a zero percent chance of rain at start of the race
LAST TIME: Kyle Larson led 327 of 400 laps to win last year’s Coca-Cola 600. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott finished second. Kyle Busch placed third.
CATCH UP ON NBC SPORTS COVERAGE:
Friday 5: Cup teams seek to keep crews fresh after “unprecedented” offseason
Ryan Blaney ready to refocus after All-Star win
Shell-Pennzoil signs extension with Team Penske
Kimi Raikkonen to make Cup debut with Trackhouse Racing at Watkins Glen
Dr. Diandra: Charlotte offers high probability for a first-time winner
Emotional Corey LaJoie speaks from the heart about parenthood
Drivers to watch in the Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR viewer’s guide: Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR Power Rankings: Ryan Blaney on the rise
NASCAR works to avoid repeat of caution call at end of All-Star Race
Long: Questions persist about All-Star Race but Clash could provide answers
