Coca-Cola 600
Charlotte Motor Speedway
By Richard Tix
NASCAR returns to racing for real wins and real points this weekend at the very same track that gave us a mixed bag last weekend in the All Star Race. Sure, the final stage in the "open" was tons of fun with Chase Elliott, Danial Suarez, and Erik Jones, but past that the memories of the weekend have already faded. Why is that? Well, because the ASR once again gave us more memories for the changes (softer tire option that didn't have much effect) than the actual on track racing.
People tend to remember changes that didn't go as planned and good quality racing over most thing's in this sport and unfortunately lately they changes have outweighed the racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Some changes once again are needed for the ASR, but maybe CMS shouldn't be included in them? One thing we know is that in 2018 we will still be at CMS for the "All Star" event.
But, onto the 600 this holiday weekend. This is one of those races I either catch 50% of, or almost none. Every Memorial and Labor Day weekend my immediate family, about three sets of Aunts and Uncles, about four/five sets of cousins plus kids, and a handful of friends go camping together (typically around 25-30 close family and friends). Now, I am talking more about "glamping," which is otherwise known as camping in a nice camper (fifth-wheel), at a place with water, electric, and a pool. However, we spend most of our time around the fire, playing cards or yard games, taking the kids fishing, golfing, or taking the kids to play mini golf (all including cold refreshments).
Which brings us to actually catching the race at CMS. Most years we get a large group of us on a bike ride into the small nearby town and we find a local "refreshment" establishment. The years we do make it there on race day we find the time to enjoy a few extra refreshments while watching the race. However, anyone who knows kids (I don't have any but plenty in this group do) knows that you aren't going to entertain them forever with quarters and popcorn. So, eventually we pack it in and leave.
As much as I love NASCAR, I wouldn't trade a single one of these moments with them to see any end of a 600 if I had to choose between the two.
So there you have it, I may or may not see the 600 but I should be around the ole twitter machine from time to time this weekend sharing my "whatcha drankin" or anything else we might be up to. Hopefully we get a better product for the 600 with an extra stage and hopefully everyone has a great holiday weekend. Remember to think about those who have lost their lives serving this country to allow us to watch the race, go camping, or so anything this weekend in peace and thank a veteran whenever you find a chance.
People tend to remember changes that didn't go as planned and good quality racing over most thing's in this sport and unfortunately lately they changes have outweighed the racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Some changes once again are needed for the ASR, but maybe CMS shouldn't be included in them? One thing we know is that in 2018 we will still be at CMS for the "All Star" event.
But, onto the 600 this holiday weekend. This is one of those races I either catch 50% of, or almost none. Every Memorial and Labor Day weekend my immediate family, about three sets of Aunts and Uncles, about four/five sets of cousins plus kids, and a handful of friends go camping together (typically around 25-30 close family and friends). Now, I am talking more about "glamping," which is otherwise known as camping in a nice camper (fifth-wheel), at a place with water, electric, and a pool. However, we spend most of our time around the fire, playing cards or yard games, taking the kids fishing, golfing, or taking the kids to play mini golf (all including cold refreshments).
Which brings us to actually catching the race at CMS. Most years we get a large group of us on a bike ride into the small nearby town and we find a local "refreshment" establishment. The years we do make it there on race day we find the time to enjoy a few extra refreshments while watching the race. However, anyone who knows kids (I don't have any but plenty in this group do) knows that you aren't going to entertain them forever with quarters and popcorn. So, eventually we pack it in and leave.
As much as I love NASCAR, I wouldn't trade a single one of these moments with them to see any end of a 600 if I had to choose between the two.
So there you have it, I may or may not see the 600 but I should be around the ole twitter machine from time to time this weekend sharing my "whatcha drankin" or anything else we might be up to. Hopefully we get a better product for the 600 with an extra stage and hopefully everyone has a great holiday weekend. Remember to think about those who have lost their lives serving this country to allow us to watch the race, go camping, or so anything this weekend in peace and thank a veteran whenever you find a chance.
**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**
The Good
- Jimmie Johnson- Most of his career stats here were racked up between 2002 - 2005 (five wins), but JJ won last fall here and has back to back top fives.
- Brad Keselowski- Four straight top tens, a win and five top tens in his last six, and a fast start to the season are all reason's BK could run well here this weekend.
- Kevin Harvick- This wasn't always his track, but lately it has been. In the last thirteen races he has eleven top tens, six top fives, and three wins.
The Middle
- Matt Kenseth- Kenseth may have a car to beat (five top tens in his last seven) or a middle of the pack car (three 14th or 15th place finishes in the five races before that).
The Bad
- Paul Menard- One top ten since 2011, only two in his career, and worse yet only six top 15's in 20 races at CMS.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- Only three top 10's in his last ten starts at CMS which includes finishing in the top 15 only 50% of that time as well. Will his last 600 go any better?
- Clint Bowyer- Bowyer has seven straight starts here without a top ten. In the last 13 races he has only two top tens (but one was a win).
About the Track: Charlotte
Track Stats
- Martin Truex Jr was the first driver not named Jimmie Johnson to win from the pole early in 2016. The last time someone won a Charlotte race from the Pole not named Jimmie Johnson was 1998, Jeff Gordon. JJ has won 2 from the Pole since then (2004 and 2009)
- JJ won 4 straight from 2004 to 2005, sweeping both times. Four straight is also a track Cup record
- In that same stretch he (JJ) won 5 of 6 from 2003-2005 dropping the only race to Tony Stewart
- The most cautions was 22 during the 2005 May Charlotte race, which JJ ended up winning.
- In Jimmie Johnson's 8 wins, he (JJ) won 3 from the Pole, including this race in 2014.
- Those 8 wins are the most by any driver in a career.
- Bobby Allison has the second most wins with 6 total in 43 attempts
- Of current drivers Ryan Newman has the most poles (9).
- David Pearson has the most career poles at Charlotte with 14.
- Jimmie Johnson has led 1,895 of 10,689 career laps he has run at Charlotte. That is enough for second most behind Bobby Allison (2,338 total).
- Richard Petty has the most top 10's in a career with 31 in 64 attempts. He is also tied with Bobby Allison for the most top 5's (23 total).
Track Info
- Surface: Asphalt
- Length: 1.5 mile
- Banking
- Turns: 24 degrees
- Straights: 5 degrees
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