NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Could Claim Coca-Cola 600 Crown Jewel Win?
Sunday marks one of NASCAR’s premier events and the sport’s longest night. The Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway is up next as the 14th race of 2022. After racing the past two weeks on similar 1.5-mile tracks, a few drivers have separated themselves as 600 favorites. Who could end Memorial Day weekend with one of the biggest wins on the NASCAR calendar? Let’s take a look at a few top contenders for this stock car racing major.
Ryan Blaney
After winning big at the All-Star Race, Ryan Blaney could go back-to-back in the Coca-Cola 600. The 12 was lights-out the class of the field in Texas. Should the Penske crew bring a similar car to Charlotte, they could join a very exclusive list. Blaney will try and become only the ninth driver to win both the All-Star Race and the 600 in the same year.
“Anytime you can get some momentum it is good,” Blaney said. “I think the biggest thing that helps us with momentum is that our whole group, all of Penske, we kind of tried a little something new with our cars at Texas. We have been lacking a little bit of speed. That is something we have been really working hard on trying to find and we came to Texas with a little different idea of how to do things. It seemed to work. I think all our cars were pretty fast. You hope it carries over to other races and tracks and for the 600 this weekend. That was the biggest thing for me, looking back on that race, I thought our cars were really fast and you hope that carries forward.”
If the speed Penske showed at the All-Star Race translates to Charlotte at all, the 12 could be a serious factor again. With a best Coke 600 result of third, Blaney will try and get two spots better on Sunday.
Martin Truex Jr.
Two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner Martin Truex Jr. could make it a three-peat this weekend. MTJ is still winless on the 2022 season, but has been close on a few 1.5-mile tracks. Two weeks ago in Kansas Truex was sixth, and he was also a late contender in Las Vegas. With recent speed from all Toyotas on intermediates, Truex could be the 12th different winner this year at Charlotte.
“I’m optimistic about this weekend,” Truex said. “The racing has been pretty good on the mile-and-a-half tracks this year. I feel like we have had good speed with our team and all the Toyotas in general. It would mean a lot to run good though. The 600 is such a special race and a special weekend to be able to honor our military and thank them for all that they do for us to even be able to go out and race. We’ve been fortunate to win this race a couple times, but it would be great to be able to do it again.”
Not only does Truex have a pair of Coke 600 wins, he also has 100 or more laps led in four of the last seven Charlotte races. Out of all drivers winless in 2022, MTJ tops the list of those who could win big at the 600.
Chase Elliott
The past two years have seen Chase Elliott finish second twice at the Coca-Cola 600. While the 9 had the same result both times, it truly was a tale of two different races. 2020 saw Elliott pit from the lead prior to an overtime finish, only to lose out to Brad Keselowski. Last year meanwhile, Elliott closely pursued Kyle Larson’s tire tracks all night long, eventually following the 5 across the stripe. With two runner-up results leading into this year’s Coca-Cola 600, Elliott hopes to be one position better Sunday.
“Racing on Memorial Day weekend has always been something that’s meant a lot to me,” Elliott said. “While I didn’t know Noah (Harris) firsthand, after reading his story and his commitment to his country, obviously it speaks for itself, but he was just a standup individual. He was devoted to his country from a very young age, and I think for that we’re always grateful. He was a standup young man who gave his life serving our country and protecting us here at home. It’s an honor to be carrying his name on my NAPA Chevy this weekend.”
Elliott has been sneakily good at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While he’s more known for his Roval success, Elliott did win the second leg of 2020’s May Charlotte doubleheader. Aside from that, driver 9 also has a top-five in five of his last six oval starts. The Coca-Cola 600 was a devastating loss for Elliott in 2020, he hopes to earn a retribution win this weekend.
Kyle Busch
Over the past five years, Kyle Busch has one Coca-Cola 600 win (2017) and five top-fives. This consistency in NASCAR’s longest night, plus recent speed on 1.5-mile tracks puts Busch atop many odds sheets heading into Sunday.
“I mean, the mile-and-a-half stuff has kind of been our bread and butter a little bit this year, I guess you’d say,” Busch said. “You know, at California we were OK. I thought we were quick, but we got behind early, but then Vegas and Kansas were really good. We were fast there. So being another mile-and-a-half here, hopefully that bodes well.”
“It depends on what kind of car you have. I’ve been in races in the 600-mile race where it’s felt really easy and short, and I’ve been in races where it’s been a long, drawn-out, knock ’em, sock ’em kind of day. Hopefully, Ben Beshore (crew chief) and the guys can bring a really good M&M’S Red, White & Blue Camry for me this weekend and it will be a smooth race for us. I like running the 600 miles. I think it brings a different aspect to our sport – its longevity. People will say, ‘It’s too long. It’s boring. Whatever.’ Well, you know, it’s a part of the product and the history that we’ve had on Memorial Day weekend for a long time that you run that extra hundred miles. And car preparation goes into that. Will your car make it? Will your engine last? Are the drivers able to be competitive throughout the whole race? You’ll have fatigue, sometimes, even at a 500-mile race. So, if you don’t show signs of weakness, you should be pretty good.”
While all four Hendrick cars placed in the top five last year, Kyle Busch’s third-place was the one spoiler. With his recent Charlotte stats and 2022 speed in mind, Busch enters the Coca-Cola 600 as co-favorites alongside Kyle Larson. Both Kyles are listed at 11-2 winning odds.
Kyle Larson
Last year saw Kyle Larson go lights-out at the Coca-Cola 600, as the 5 left the field in the dust. From the pole, Larson led 327 laps en route to his first win at Charlotte. A year removed, Larson is in a very similar position to last year. The California native for Hendrick Motorsports came into last year’s 600 with only one win on the season, and many close losses. That’s the case again for the 5 team this year, as they’ve been snakebitten since Fontana. While he may not be quite as dominant again, Larson does still enter the Charlotte major race as an odds-on favorite.
“That was so cool to get Mr. (Rick) Hendrick that historic win,” Larson said. “It wasn’t spoken about, but I think every team wanted to deliver that win for him and we were fortunate enough to be the ones who did. Hopefully, we can have the same type of performance this weekend. Track position will be important, so a good qualifying session on Saturday helps a lot for Sunday.”
Last year’s Coca-Cola 600 was an all around special night for Larson and all of Team Hendrick. They became NASCAR’s all-time winningest organization with Larson’s 600 triumph. With this race marking win #2 on the year for Larson in 2021, the same situation could easily repeat itself again in 2022.
William Byron
2021 saw William Byron’s best result yet in the 600, with a fourth-place finish. In the midst of his best season yet, Byron could earn a third win on the year at the 600. With Charlotte being Byron’s home track, a win in this crown jewel event would be perhaps his biggest victory ever.
“Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway is always special for me,” Byron explained. “I grew up watching races here as a fan, I raced Legend cars on the quarter-mile and have raced there in every series of NASCAR for the most part. It’s a hometown race for Mr. (Rick) Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports as well. You always want to run good when the shop is literally across the street. Winning the 600 would already mean so much given the history of this race, but it would carry even more meaning for myself. We ran well in last year’s 600, the biggest difference will be with the Next Gen car. I think we have some good notes on mile-and-a-half tracks so far this year, and with how long the race is, it gives us time to adjust throughout the race if we need to.”
Still a relatively-young star at just 24 years old, Byron hopes to return the 24 car to Coca-Cola 600 victory lane. Winning at Charlotte would be a milestone moment for Byron’s career, as well as a great throwback for HMS. All the way back in 1994, Jeff Gordon’s maiden Cup Series win came with the 24 at the 600. This is a feat Byron is in great position to replicate on Sunday.
Capping off the greatest day in motorsports, the Coca-Cola 600 will follow the Monaco Grand Prix and 106th Indianapolis 500. Coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, switching to FOX at 5. The green flag on NASCAR’s longest race will wave just after 6. Can one of the above drivers win this crown jewel event? Tune in Sunday to see who will make history on Memorial Day weekend.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for NASCAR
