Charlotte NASCAR Viewer’s Guide: Everything you need to know for the Coca-Cola 600

After Denny Hamlin’s big win in the Dover All-Star Race, NASCAR heads home to Charlotte, North Carolina, for one of its most prestigious races on the calendar — the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600.

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In this guide, you can find all the information you need to be ready for 600 miles of racing in the heart of NASCAR:

Charlotte Motor Speedway Track Specs and Origins

Track Length: 1.5 miles
Banking in the corners: 24 degrees
Banking on the frontstretch/backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch length: 1,980 feet
Backstretch length: 1,500 feet

Charlotte Motor Speedway was constructed in 1959 and officially opened on June 15, 1960. Legendary track promoter Bruton Smith partnered with pioneer stock car racer Curtis Turner to build the speedway (after some back-and-forth). You see, Smith and Turner were working on rival projects at the time, but when Smith’s partner John William Propst Jr. pulled back due to health concerns, he sought an alliance with Turner. Well, Turner refused. But as Turner ultimately struggled to find the necessary funds, a partnership with Smith finally came to fruition and Charlotte Motor Speedway was born. Bruton’s son Marcus now owns the track through Speedway Motorsports Inc.

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Why Charlotte Motor Speedway is special to the NASCAR world

General view

The Coca-Cola 600 is a special event for several reasons. Of course, it is NASCAR’s longest race, and it takes place on Memorial Day Weekend, with the 600 embracing that fact and honoring the fallen in countless ways throughout during the weekend. Every car will carry the name of a fallen soldier on their windshield banner, putting aside their own name for the race.

But what makes the 600 truly special to NASCAR is the track itself — Charlotte Motor Speedway. It resides in the heart of NASCAR country. Most race shops are just a few miles away, and the majority of drivers and team members live there. It’s a true homecoming for a sport that has one of the most grueling schedules imaginable with 38 weeks of racing and minimal off-weekends. The track will be packed with not just fans, but the family and friends of all those who make a living working in NASCAR all year long. Some drivers even put the Coke 600 above the Daytona 500 when asked which race they want to win the most.

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Full 2026 Coke 600 Weekend Schedule

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

All three national divisions will be racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway during Memorial Day Weekend

Friday, May 22

3:30pm EST — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice — FOX SPORTS 2

4:35pm EST — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying — FOX SPORTS 2

7:30pm EST — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race — FOX SPORTS 1

Saturday, May 23

11:00am EST — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice — CW APP

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12:05pm EST — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice — CW APP

1:30pm EST — NASCAR Cup Series practice — PRIME VIDEO

2:40pm EST — NASCAR Cup Series qualifying — PRIME VIDEO

Sunday, May 24

6pm EST — NASCAR Cup Series race (400 laps / 600 miles) — PRIME VIDEO

Important Story Lines to Follow and Drivers to Watch

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

The biggest points haul of the year: With the new Chase format, points are more important than they’ve been in well over a decade. Points racing is truly back and because the Coke 600 is 100 miles longer than any other race, NASCAR added an extra stage. So, there will be four stages, which means even more points to collect. It is possible to score up to 86 points in this weekend’s 600 (Win=55; Three stage wins=30; Fastest lap=1). The only race that can match that is the Daytona 500, and that’s only if you can count the Duels in with the big show. Drivers will be doing everything they can to stack those points this weekend, and expect big shakeups in the standings because of it.

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Halfway through the regular season: Speaking of the points, the Coke 600 officially marks the halfway point of the regular season, as it is the 13th of 26 races before the Chase begins. The battle around the cut-line is fierce, and Shane van Gisbergen now sits on the bubble after a big win at Watkins Glen launched him up the standings. But he has some formidable names right behind him, including Logano, Briscoe, and Chastain.

Katherine Legge takes on the Double: Legge is hoping to make some history of her own this weekend as she takes on the rare Indy 500-Coke 600 Double. She will start 26th in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, and after hopefully completing all 200 laps, she will fly to Charlotte to make her first appearance in the Coca-Cola 600. If she does so, Legge will become just the sixth driver in history to run both races on the same day. The others are Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, and John Andretti. She will also be the first non-American and first woman to attempt the Double, as well as being the oldest by about a decade.

Who has the long-run speed: Pay close attention to the speed charts in practice, and we don’t mean single-lap speeds. NASCAR’s longest race often has long runs, and the drivers with the best pace after the tires have had time to wear are likely your favorites on Sunday night. The key categories to keep an eye on will be 20, 25, and 30-lap runs.

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The first race back on Prime Video: The NASCAR on FOX leg of the 2026 Cup season is over, and the top level of NASCAR heads back to streaming and Prime Video for five weeks. The booth will again feature Adam Alexander as the play-by-play announcer, with both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte joining him in the booth as race analysts.

Will Ross Chastain be able to go back-to-back: Last year, Chastain pulled off an unprecedented drive. Starting last (40th), and in a backup car, he ripped through the pack, and was the first driver to ever win the Coke 600 from that deep in the field by passing William Byron with just a few laps to go. However, Chastain has not been to Victory Lane since that night. His teammate just won the most recent points-paying race at the Glen, so maybe Trackhouse can keep the momentum rolling. No driver has won back-to-back Coke 600s since Jimmie Johnson did so in 2005. But before Chastain can think about smashing another watermelon, the team will have to step up as Trackhouse has struggled for pace in most races early in the 2026 season. Whether they win or not, Charlotte will be a true measuring stick for where the team is at right now.

Can Tyler Reddick secure another crown jewel win: 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has been in Victory Lane five times already this year, as Reddick has dominated the Cup Series. The driver of the No. 45 Toyota has a truly absurd lead in the points, but what he doesn’t have is a Coke 600 ring. After winning the season-opening Daytona 500, he could become the first driver to win both in the same season since Jeff Gordon did it in 1997.

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Denny Hamlin riding a wave of momentum: After a dominant win in the All-Star Race, Hamlin’s only annoyance was that the victory didn’t count towards his official win tally. It’s a stat is acutely aware of, and with how strong Toyotas have been so far this year, Charlotte is a perfect place for him to earn his 62nd career win. He’s already a proven winner in the Coke 600 as well, taking the checkered flag there in 2022.

Charlotte Motor Speedway Stat Leaders Among Active Drivers

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Most wins: Brad Keselowski (2)

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Most poles: Denny Hamlin & Kyle Busch (3)

Most starts: Kyle Busch (37)

Most top fives: Kyle Busch (16)

Most top tens: Kyle Busch (22)

Most laps led: Kyle Busch (1487)

Best average finish: Tyler Reddick (10.3)

Best average start: William Byron (5.3)

Most lead lap finishes: Denny Hamlin (27 of 34 starts)

Notable Coca-Cola 600 Records (All-Time)

Darrell Waltrip at the NASCAR Hall of Fame

Most Coke 600 wins all-time: Darrell Waltrip – 5 (1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1989)

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The lowest starting position by a Coke 600 winner: Ross Chastain – 40th (2025)

Youngest Coke 600 pole-sitter: William Byron – 21yrs old (2019)

Youngest Coke 600 race starter: Connor Zilisch — 18yrs old (2025)

Youngest Coke 600 race winner: Jeff Gordon — 22yrs old (1994)

Inaugural Coke 600 race winner: Joe Lee Johnson (1960)

Most Coke 600 wins in succession: Jimmie Johnson – 3 (2003, 2004, 2005)

Coke 600 race time record: Martin Truex Jr. — 3hrs:44min:5s / 160.655 mph (2016)

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Most laps led by Coke 600 race winner: Martin Truex Jr. — 392 of 400 laps (2016)

How many first-time winners: Seven (Most recently with Austin Dillon in 2017)

Most wins by team: Hendrick Motorsports — 12 (Most recently with Kyle Larson, 2021)

Most wins by manufacturer: Chevrolet — 36 (Most recently with Ross Chastain in 2025)

Closest Coke 600 finish ever: 0.027s (Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte in 2005)

Every driver to earn first Cup win in the Coca-Cola 600

Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports in victory lane

NASCAR’s longest race has a way of serving as a platform for future stars, and four NASCAR Hall of Famers earned their first Cup win in this prestigious event

2017: Austin Dillon — Went on to also win Daytona 500, currently holds six career wins

2009:

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