NASCAR Cup Series News & Notes – Charlotte Motor Speedway

As it has each year for nearly a decade, the NASCAR community will come together to formally honor and recognize the United States Armed Forces during Military Appreciation Month through the annual NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola program.

This marks the ninth season of NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola celebrating the service and sacrifice of U.S. military members and their families through a multitude of at track integrations, original content features and fan engagement opportunities.

“The NASCAR industry and our fans relish the opportunity to rally around NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola to recognize the immeasurable sacrifice United States service members and their families make to protect our freedom,” said Michelle Byron, Senior Vice President of Partnership Marketing, NASCAR. “Especially as we continue celebrating NASCAR’s 75th anniversary and recalling so many memories made along the way, it’s important to reflect on the bravery and selflessness of countless individuals who provide us this great privilege.”

Tributes began at Dover Motor Speedway (May 1), where the U.S. Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps performed prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race.

New to the celebration this year, inside the NASCAR Experience fan zone footprint at Kansas and Darlington was a No. 75 show car draped in a NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola livery that featured white space for fans to write thank-you messages to military members.

To conclude NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola, NASCAR and Coca-Cola will again host Gold Star Families during Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the show car with fan messages will be on display. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will continue the tradition of all 40 NASCAR Cup Series cars featuring the name of a fallen service member on the windshield.

“In partnership with NASCAR, Speedway Motorsports and the racing community, Coca-Cola North America is proud to honor our country’s service members and their families at the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend,” said Chris Bigda, Director of Sports Marketing at Coca-Cola North America. “During this year’s Coca-Cola 600, we are honored to recognize recipients of The Gold Star – paying tribute to the military members and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.”

In addition to those mentioned above, other NASCAR Salutes activities across the industry include:

• NASCAR social and digital platforms will feature a bevy of dedicated stories and content features, including the story of Lyndon Amick – a former NASCAR Xfinity Series driver who enlisted in the National Guard and served in Afghanistan, a tribute to NASCAR’s history of honoring the Armed Forces throughout its 75 years, Xfinity Series driver and Navy Officer Jesse Iwuji visiting with fellow Navy members, and more. Fans can view it all at nascar.com/salutes and engage on social media using #NASCARSalutes.
• Discounted grandstand tickets are available to military members throughout NASCAR Salutes and all season long with NASCAR MILTIX Presented by GEICO. Active military and veterans can verify their status through SheerID and purchase tickets by visiting NASCAR.com/miltix.
• At NASCAR events during the month of May, service members from local bases will have access to complimentary grandstand tickets and unique VIP experiences made possible by Vet Tix and the NASCAR Troops to the Track Program.
• For a sixth season, Mack Trucks, the “Official Hauler of NASCAR,” will wrap one of its NASCAR haulers in support of NASCAR Salutes leading into Memorial Day weekend. Fans can vote for one of several different paint schemes now through May 2 at contests.macktrucks.com/nascar-salutes. Mack will reveal the winning scheme on its social media channels leading into the Coca-Cola 600 weekend.
• Charlotte Motor Speedway continues its annual Mission 600, pairing the Coca-Cola Racing Family and other drivers with military bases to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve.
• Xfinity, a Proud Premier Partner, will display red, white and blue Xfinity windshield headers on their race cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to showcase their company’s commitment to hiring veterans, National Guard and reserve service members, and military spouses who bring unique skills and experiences to Comcast NBCUniversal.
• The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will also display red, white and blue windshield decals on all trucks racing in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• AMR, the “Official Emergency Medical Services Partner of NASCAR,” will feature the NASCAR Salutes branding on its NASCAR safety trucks and safety team helmets throughout the program.
• Continuing its tradition, Goodyear will replace its iconic “Eagle” sidewall design with “Honor and Remember” during the Coca-Cola 600 in recognition of the organization working closely with the industry to honor Gold Star Families who have lost family members as a result of serving.
• During the Coca-Cola 600 broadcast, FOX will display the name of every U.S. Armed Forces member who lost his or her life since last year’s Memorial Day weekend race as part of a special tribute titled “FOX Sports Remembers,” an initiative begun in 2009.
• The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, with the help of JDV Productions, will feature roof decals on all race cars honoring fallen service members during the Granite State Derby at Lee USA Speedway on May 27. Whelen Modified Tour cars will also carry separate NASCAR Salutes decals for the May 6 race at Monadnock Speedway and the May 20 race at Riverhead Raceway.
• The ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East will feature NASCAR Salutes decals on cars racing at Dover Motor Speedway (April 28), Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (May 13), Flat Rock Speedway (May 20), Kansas Speedway (May 6) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 26).

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Coca-Cola 600

The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, May 28

The Time: 6 p.m. ET

The Purse: $9,421,275

TV: FOX, 5:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 600 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 100),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 200), Stage 3 (Ends on Lap 300), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)

Charlotte Motor Speedway is all set for Memorial Day Weekend racing

Charlotte Motor Speedway will host the NASCAR Cup Series for the 64th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 28 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, in a weekend filled with remembrance of the brave men and women who are serving or have served in our military. The annual event takes pride in honoring our service members and their families and this weekend is expected to be another memorable experience for all.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of the most historic venues on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The famous facility is a 1.5-mile, paved oval with 24 degrees of banking in the turns and is located just outside Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval) has hosted 124 NASCAR Cup Series races all-time – tied with Darlington Raceway for the fourth-most in series history; behind Daytona (152), Martinsville (149) and Richmond (133). The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was on June 19, 1960 and the inaugural event was won by driver Joe Lee Johnson driving a Chevrolet for car owner Paul McDuffie.

Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 124 Cup races have produced 48 different pole winners, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with 14 poles (1961, 1972, 1973, 1974 sweep, 1975 sweep, 1976 sweep, 1977 sweep, 1978 sweep, 1982) – the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most poles by a driver at a single track.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in NASCAR Cup Series poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway with four (2002, 2004, 2009, 2014). Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the most recent pole winner at Charlotte, winning the pole for last season’s Coca-Cola 600 with a speed of 183.680 MPH.

Nine of the 48 NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.

Charlotte Motor Speedway has also produced 54 different NASCAR Cup Series race winners in the 124 races, led by Jimmie Johnson with eight victories (2003 summer, 2004 sweep, 2005 sweep, 2009 Playoffs, 2014 summer, 2016 Playoffs).

A total of 10 of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway race winners are entered this weekend, with five of the 10 still looking for their first victory of the 2023 season – Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the defending winner of the 2022 Coca-Cola 600 and will look to become the seventh different driver to win back-to-back Coke 600s; joining Buddy Baker (1972-‘73), Darrell Waltrip (twice: 1978-’79 and 1988-’89), Neil Bonnett (1982-’83), Dale Earnhardt (1992-’93), Jeff Gordon (1997-‘98) and Jimmie Johnson (2003, ’04, ’05) – Johnson leads the series in consecutive Coca-Cola 600 wins with three straight.

All of the on-track action for the NASCAR Cup Series will begin with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET, and both events can be viewed on FS1.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a great place for first-time winners

When it comes to getting your first win in the NASCAR Cup Series, nowhere beats Daytona International Speedway with 22 first-time winners. But when it comes to 1.5-mile tracks, none have produced more first-time winners than Charlotte Motor Speedway with 10 – fourth-most all-time behind Daytona (22), Talladega (13), and Martinsville (12)

The most recent driver to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon, who collected his first checkered flag back in 2017. Seven times the Coca-Cola 600 has been the first race a driver has won in the NASCAR Cup Series – 1961, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2017.

The 2023 season has yet to see a first-time winner this year, but that could change this weekend. In the Modern Era (1972-Present), the most first-time winners the NASCAR Cup Series has produced in a single season is five and it has occurred three times (2001, 2011 and 2022).

Playoff picture could shift this weekend in Charlotte

Through 13 races this season, 10 drivers currently occupy positions in the postseason leaving just six spots open in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Now the series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway with Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (16th) and Hendrick Motorsport’s Alex Bowman (17th) teetering the Playoff cutline.

Nine different drivers have earned their spot in the 2023 Playoffs by virtue of their wins – William Byron, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. A postseason spot is reserved for the points leader, if winless, which is currently Ross Chastain this season.

With hefty point cushions over the Playoff cutoff, Kevin Harvick (+130), Ryan Blaney (+111), Brad Keselowski (+95) and Chris Buescher (+59) sit comfortably heading into this weekend. On the other hand, Bubba Wallace (+23) in 15th and Chase Briscoe (+5) in 16th the final transfer spot on points will have their work cut out for them if they want to hold on to their positions.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman is in 17th – the first spot outside the Playoff cutoff – just five points back from Briscoe and 28 back from Wallace. Prior to being sidelined Bowman had the best average finish in the series this season. Not far behind Bowman is Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez, who sits just 13 points back from the postseason cutoff.

Heading into this weekend at Charlotte, five drivers that made the Playoffs last season are currently below the postseason cutline in the driver standings outlook – Bowman (17th), Suarez (18th), Austin Cindric (20th), Chase Elliott (28th) and Austin Dillon (31st).

Of the drivers looking for their first win this season, nine of them have previously won a NASCAR national series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Jimmie Johnson (NCS eight wins), Kevin Harvick (NCS three wins), Brad Keselowski (NCS two wins, NXS four wins), Austin Dillon (NCS one win, NXS two wins), Chase Elliott (NCS one win, NCTS one win), Alex Bowman (NXS one win), Ryan Blaney (NXS one win), Ty Gibbs (NXS one win) and Ross Chastain (NCTS one win).

NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Kyle Larson looks to become first driver to win All-Star and Coke 600 in same season multiple times – Hendrick Motorsport’s Kyle Larson dominated the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race last weekend at the revitalized North Wilkesboro Speedway and this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway he will attempt to become the first driver to win the NASCAR All-Star Race and the Coc-Cola 600 in the same season multiple times. Nine drivers total have won the All-Star Race and Coke 600 in the same season – Kyle Larson (2021), Kurt Busch (2010), Kasey Kahne (2008), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Jeff Gordon (1997), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Davey Allison (1991) and Darrell Waltrip (1985).

Hendrick Motorsports announces Alex Bowman’s return to racing – Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, will return to NASCAR Cup Series competition this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway after recovering from a fractured vertebra.

Bowman, 30, suffered the compression fracture April 25 while competing in a sprint car at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. On Tuesday, he drove a Cup Series car 170 laps during a NASCAR-approved medical evaluation test at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

“It’s a boost for all of us to have Alex return to the No. 48 car this weekend at our home track,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He’s still 17th in points, which says a lot about how well the team performed at the start of the year. Alex has worked hard to rehab the injury and come back strong, and I look for him to continue having a championship-caliber season.”

Bowman remains eligible for the 2023 Playoffs after NASCAR granted a medical waiver.

Netflix documentary ‘Race: Bubba Wallace’ wins Sports Emmy Award – The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced this week the winners of the 44th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards which were live streamed at Watch.TheEmmys.TV and available on the various Emmy® apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, and Roku (full list at apps.theemmys.tv/).

The Netflix documentary, Race: Bubba Wallace, has won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Series.

Coca-Cola 600 sells out for second consecutive year – Charlotte Motor Speedway has announced the 64th running of the Coca-Cola 600, this year’s Memorial Day Weekend is sold out of reserved grandstand seats for the second consecutive year. Only a limited number of standing-room-only and premium terrace box tickets remain for the May 28 NASCAR Cup Series showdown at America’s Home for Racing. Infield camping and Camping World Racing Resort is also sold out.

“With so much great on-track excitement and a rousing pre-race show, last year’s Coca-Cola 600 was pure spectacle, and fans took notice,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We saw strong renewals and have been pacing ahead of our year-over-year sales since the checkered flag fell last season. Our team can’t wait to welcome another packed house as we prepare to write the next memorable chapter in the history of this crown jewel event.”

Fans from across the nation and 18 foreign countries – as far away as Australia, Tanzania and the Czech Republic – have secured tickets to the iconic Memorial Day Weekend showcase of speed this year.

Jake Owen to headline rockin’ weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway – GRAMMY-nominated and Academy of Country Music Award-winning artist Jake Owen is set to headline an action-packed weekend of music and motorsports at Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 26-28.

Jake Owen will rock the Circle K Speed Street stage on Saturday, May 27, after the ALSCO Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Coca-Cola 600 Busch Light Pole Qualifying. And the AC/DC cover band Dirty Deeds is set to kick the weekend off with a Friday night show after the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on May 26.

“Memorial Day Weekend is the official kickoff to summer, and what better way to get the party started than with three days of music, entertainment and racing here in the heart of NASCAR country,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Circle K Speed Street always delivers the fun, and we can’t wait to bring the energy back to America’s Home for Racing and set the stage for a can’t-miss weekend.”

Celebrities and dignitaries to watch-for at Charlotte Motor Speedway – A star-studded lineup of celebrities, dignitaries will attend the highly-anticipated 64th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. No stranger to cutting loose and going fast, Danny McBride, the creator and star of HBO’s popular series “The Righteous Gemstones,” will get behind the wheel as the honorary pace car driver and lead the field to the green flag to start the Coca-Cola 600.

“Fast cars and all the Coca-Cola a man can drink? How could I say no,” McBride said. “I’m so honored and excited to be a part of the action.”

The Sunday fun kicks off with the legendary Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald performing a pre-race concert before the patriotic salute to the U.S. Armed Services and the green flag for the Coca-Cola 600.

Dignitaries for Friday’s N.C. Education Lottery 200:

• Honorary Starter: Thomas Martin, Luck E Rewards winner
• Grand Marshal: Mike Beach, Luck E Rewards winner
• Pace Car Passenger: Stephen Francis, Luck E Rewards winner
• Honorary Race Official: Terri Rose, Deputy Executive Director of Brand Management & Communications

Dignitaries for Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300:

• Honorary Starter: Ben Fox, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Alsco
• Grand Marshal: Samantha Busch
• Presentation of Colors: Concord Police Department Honor Guard
• Invocation: Master Sgt. Monty Self, US Air Force Retired
• National Anthem: Cash Crawford

Dignitaries for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 include:

• Honorary Race Director: Cameron Sexton, Tennessee Speaker of the House
• Honorary Pace Car Driver: Danny McBride, “The Righteous Gemstones”
• Honorary Starter: Nancy Mace, South Carolina Congresswoman
• Grand Marshals: Legendary Coca-Cola Racing Family Drivers Jeff Burton, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Kyle Petty, alongside Lisa Marie Higgins, Regional Southeast President, and Executive Director, National Capital District

Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue to deliver the State of Freedom Address during patriotic pre-race salute – Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, a highly decorated United States Army officer, is set to deliver the State of Freedom Address prior to Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

With more than 30 years of service, Donahue has held numerous leadership positions. He is currently the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps out of Fort Bragg. Outside of military circles, he may be best known as the last international military personnel to leave Afghanistan during America’s military withdrawal from the country in August of 2021.

In a show of unity among the nation’s military branches Donahue will be joined on stage during the address by Capt. Andrew C. Hertel (U.S. Navy), Maj. Gen. Michael G. Koscheski (U.S. Air Force) and Capt. Richard E. Batson (U.S. Coast Guard).

Other military elements scheduled as part of the pre-race salute include:

• 82nd Airborne Band: perform God Bless America, America the Beautiful, Carolina on my Mind
• U.S. Army, Fort Bragg: Aerial Blackhawk demonstration, Howitzer demonstration
• Armed Forces Color Guard and drummers from the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”: Presentation of Colors
• U.S. Army Chaplain Stephen F. Townsend: Invocation
• U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard: Small Arms Volley
• U.S. Coast Guard Band; Musician Petty Officer First Class (MU1) Joel W. Baroody: Taps
• U.S. Marine Corps, 2^nd Aircraft MC Band: National Anthem

In addition, a service member will be paired with each driver in the starting lineup for driver introductions on the pre-race stage.

Team/Driver Charity Events & Fan Days to attend while in Charlotte this week – Each year the teams open up their doors and invite fans to visit their shops to see the inner workings of what it takes to compete at the highest level in stockcar racing – NASCAR. Here is a list of charity events and Fan Days the teams are having this week:

Charity Events:

May 25: Ryan Blaney Family Foundation “Driving Fore Good” event at Top Golf Charlotte-University. The event will include a two-round Top Golf tournament, a $10,000 hole-in-one contest, a silent auction, dinner and a meet and greet.

May 25: Bundle of Joy Fund hosts Fast Cars & Guitars at BoatYard Lake Norman featuring live music from Nashville recording artist, Matt Stell and special guest Dee Jay Silver. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. ET and the event starts at 7:00 p.m. ET.

May 25: Joey Logano’s Concert for Charity featuring Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Mitchell Tenpenny, Mitch Russel and more. The event will be held at Coyote Joes in Charlotte starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. The proceeds will go to the Joey Logano Foundation which supports children and young adults during times of crisis, focused around the foster care system.

May 27: RFK Racing 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. ET and last until 12:00 p.m. ET at Frank Liske Park in Concord. Fans can take photos with the No. 17 Nexetol Ford Mustang and proceeds will benefit Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation.

Fan Days:

May 22-25: Alex Bowman Racing Fan Days will take place from 9:00 a.m. ET until 5:00 p.m. ET in Mooresville, NC.

May 22-27: Spire Motorsports Fan Days will take place Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET. The shop will be open to the public for viewing and there will be an autograph session on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET.

May 22-27: Team Penske Fan Walk will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET Monday-Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET Thursday-Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Fans will get to enjoy the Team Penske Fan Store including some exclusive opportunities for merch and raffles.

May 23: AM Racing Fan Fest will include an autograph session, team merchandise sales, partner displays, music, food truck, race vehicle displays and more. It will begin at 5:00 p.m. ET and run until 7:00 p.m. ET.

May 25: JR Motorsports Fan Day will include three autograph sessions, Dale Jr.’s No. 88 car unveil for NXS race in Bristol, a JRM Match Game Show and prizes. The fan day will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and conclude at 3:00 p.m. ET.

May 25: Front Row Motorsports’ Boot Barn Fan Day will take place at its race shop from 10:00 a.m. ET until 4:00 p.m. ET. The fan day will include a tour of Front Row Motorsports as well as autographs from drivers.

May 25: Stewart-Haas Racing Autograph Session will take place Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET at their shop. Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, and Ryan Preece will be in attendance.

May 26: RFK Fan Day will take place at their shop from 10:00 a.m. ET until 2:00 p.m. ET. For the first time in the team’s history, there will be guided tours of the RFK shop. Additionally, there will be live music, food trucks, racing simulators, prizes, giveaways and more.

May 26 & 27: Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest will take place Friday and Saturday and will include driver appearances, food trucks, activities for kids, photo opportunities, engine building demonstrations, pit stop exhibitions, guided tours and more. The event will run on Friday from 11:00 ET until 6:00 p.m. ET and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. ET until 3:00 p.m. ET.

Milestones to watch for this weekend – Two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series will be making career milestones starts this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon will be attempting to make his 350th NASCAR Cup Series career start this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dillon is currently 31st in the driver standings and could use a win this season to help his Playoff hopes. If Dillon were to win this weekend, he would become the fourth different driver all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series to win on their 350th start; joining Lee Petty (Martinsville, 1959), Bill Elliott (Rockingham, 1992) and Tony Stewart (Talladega, 2008)

Todd Gilliland will also be attempting to make his 50th career NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.