Back to Back winners of the Coca-Cola 600:
Jimmie Johnson (3 in a row), 2003-2005
Jeff Gordon, 1997-1998
Dale Earnhardt, 1992-1993
Darrell Waltrip, 1988-1989
Neil Bonnett, 1982-1983
Darrell Waltrip, 1978-1979
Buddy Baker, 1972-1973

Winners of the Coca-Cola 600 and All-Star Race in same season:
1985-Darrell Waltrip
1991-Davey Allison
1993-Dale Earnhardt
1997-Jeff Gordon
2003-Jimmie Johnson
2008-Kasey Kahne
2010-Kurt Busch

Winners of the Coca-Cola 600, All-Star Race and Fall Race in same season:
no driver

Drivers who lead at 500-mile mark, and won the Coca-Cola 600:
1996-Dale Jarrett
2006-Jimmie Johnson
2008-Kasey Kahne
2010-Kurt Busch

Most laps led in 600-mile race win at Charlotte (modern era)
• Jimmie Johnson, 2004 -- 334
• Richard Petty, 1977 -- 311
• Rusty Wallace, 1990 -- 306
• Davey Allison, 1991 -- 263
• Kurt Busch, 2010 -- 252

Track Qualifying Record: #38-Elliott Sadler, Oct 2005, 193.216mph

Coke 600 Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, May 2005, 192.988mph

Youngest Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 22 years, 2 months, 6 days, 10/10/1993

Oldest Pole Winner: Bobby Allison, 49 years, 10 months, 8 days, 10/11/1987

2011 May Race Winner: #29-Kevin Harvick, 132.414mph, started 28th

2011 October Race Winner: #17-Matt Kenseth, 146.194mph, started 2nd

Track Race Record 500 miles: Jeff Gordon, Oct 1999, 160.306mph

Track Race Record 600 miles: Bobby Labonte, May 1995, 151.952mph

Slowest Race Record: Junior Johnson, 107.752mph, 1960

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Jimmie Johnson, May 2003, started 37th

Oldest Winner: Cale Yarborough, 46 years, 6 months, 9 days, 10/6/1985

Youngest Winner: Jeff Gordon, 22 years, 9 months, 25 days, 5/29/1994

Most Wins: 6 - Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Jimmie Johnson; 5, Jeff Gordon

Most Poles: 14 - David Pearson; Current driver: 9, Ryan Newman; 8, Jeff Gordon

Most Top 5s: 23 - Bobby Allison, Richard Petty

Most Top 10s: 31 - Richard Petty

Most Laps Led [500 mile race]: 328, Ernie Irvan, 10/10/1993

Most Laps Led [600 mile race]: 335, Jim Paschal, 5/28/1967

Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 335, Jim Paschal, 5/28/1967

Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 2, Kevin Harvick, 5/29/2011

Most Leaders: 21, 5/29/2005

Most Lead Changes: 59 - 5/27/1979

Fewest Leaders: 3, 5/21/1961

Fewest Lead Changes: 2 - 5/21/1961

Most Cautions: 22, 5/29/2005

Most Caution Laps: 113, 5/25/1980

Fewest Cautions: 0 - 5/21/1961

Fewest Caution Laps: 0, 5/21/1961

Most Finishers on a lead lap: 25, 10/15/2005

Most Finishers on a lead lap: 26, 5/25/2009 [227 of 400 laps completed]

Most Running at the Finish: 39, 10/11/2003 & 10/17/2009

Most Running at the Finish: 42 [of 43], 5/25/2009 [227 of 400 laps completed]

Fewest Running at the Finish: 10 - 5/21/1961

Most Wins by Manufacturer: 39 - Chevy

Races won from starting pos 1: 14

Blake Shelton to Perform Pre-Race Concert at All-Star Race: Blake Shelton, three-time Grammy nominee, CMA’s reigning Male Vocalist of the Year and a coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform a pre-race concert for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, May 19, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Presented by Target, the concert will take place in the infield between Turns 1 and 2. Admission to the show is free with the purchase of a ticket to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Fans can purchase a special Golden Ticket upgrade for just $20 to secure a prime location with special access to a reserved area directly in front of the stage. Charlotte Motor Speedway Season Ticket holders will have first opportunity to purchase the upgrade before it opens to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at noon. Approximately 2,000 Golden Tickets are available and can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). In February, Shelton will perform a duet of “America the Beautiful” with his wife, Grammy award-winning artist, Miranda Lambert, at Super Bowl XLVI.(CMS)(1-25-2012)

NASCAR Sprint Media Tour this week: More than 230 motorsports journalists from around the globe will descend upon the heart of NASCAR country on Monday for the 30th annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. What started as a 1983 "experiment" with a handful of media that struggled to fill one charter bus, the four-day Tour has evolved into the nation's premier preseason media event in professional sports. "The NASCAR Sprint Media Tour is four days of non-stop news and a great way for fans to hear the latest about their favorite teams just a few weeks before the start of the season," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. "It's the Tour's 30th year and it's stronger than ever, with a record number of media coming to this year's event that features more than 20 stops throughout the four days. We're excited to host to such a fantastic and meaningful event." More than 20 stops will keep the participating media busy over the four-day tour including visits to Hendrick Motorsports, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Stewart-Haas Racing, plus Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush-Fenway Racing are among the many teams that will also be making announcements.(CMS)(1-23-2012)

Army Veteran to Star in Sprint All-Star Race Commercial: For former drill sergeant and United States Army all-star, Derek Heavener, of Huntington, W. Va., the dream of being a NASCAR All-Star has come true thanks to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Heavener, who wrote an essay detailing why he should be considered for the "Be an All-Star" Facebook contest, was selected as the grand prize winner from more than 500 entries. "I've served my country honorably in the United States Army for 19 years. I've been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo and have stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest all-stars of our time; the American soldier," wrote Heavener. Heavener won two tickets to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 19, pre-race pit passes, VIP parking for the race and a role in Charlotte Motor Speedway's 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race commercial. He will join NASCAR stars Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Junior Johnson and the 2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star race winner Carl Edwards on the set for a behind-the-scenes look at one of NASCAR's most creative commercials, shot in a replica Wild West town. 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, SPEED TV personality Jeff Hammond and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip also will star in the commercial.(CMS)(1-21-2012)

Charlotte Season Ticket Package Offers Fans Unmatched Value: Charlotte Motor Speedway is launching its new NASCAR season ticket package for 2012 and fans who attend the NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 21, will have the first opportunity to purchase the new package and learn more about the speedway's 2012 fan amenities. The Charlotte Motor Speedway Season Ticket saves fans 15 percent on their favorite reserved seat to three spectacular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at the speedway: the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America 500. Each season ticket also includes a trial membership to The Speedway Club and one free pit pass per account to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 19. New for 2012, with each season ticket purchase fans will be automatically eligible for a chance to compete to win a 2012 Toyota Tundra, Highlander, Camry or Sienna minivan. The competition will take place on the infield grass during pre-race ceremonies for the May 27 Coca-Cola 600. For each dollar spent on season tickets, fans will receive one entry into the contest, which runs Jan. 21 through April 27. Also new for 2012, fans will receive a 1:24 scale collector diecast car of their favorite driver with the purchase of two Charlotte Motor Speedway Season Tickets, while supplies last. Season ticket holders receive access to exclusive events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including press conferences and meet and greets with NASCAR personalities. The Charlotte Motor Speedway Season Ticket package offers more than $1,500 in benefits and includes:
• One free pit pass to the May 19 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
• One free ticket to the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 18, the May 24 LiftMaster Pole Night qualifying session for the Coca-Cola 600 and the Oct. 12 Dollar General 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
• A six month Speedway Club trial social membership.
• Savings of 15% on tickets to all three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races when seats for all three races are purchased.
• A 35% savings on additional pit passes and driver intro passes.
• A 10% discount on souvenirs at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Gift Shop on the second floor of Smith Tower.
• A 10% discount on NASCAR Hall of Fame entry and souvenirs and a 40 percent discount on NASCAR Hall of Fame simulator rides.
• VIP parking in a reserved lot for race weekends.
• A personalized seat plaque when the same seat is purchased for all three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.
• A limited edition lanyard and personalized identification hard card.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267).(CMS)(1-18-2012)

Bruton Smith Honored at 2012 North Carolina Motorsports Industry Awards: Bruton Smith, founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., was honored Monday evening with the 2012 Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award from the North Carolina Motorsports Association. The honor was given to Smith before a large crowd of motorsports industry professionals at the 6th Annual North Carolina Motorsports Industry Awards presented by Senn Dunn Insurance at the Embassy Suites and Convention Center in Concord. Smith joins previous Tribute Award recipients Bill France Jr., Benny Parsons, Richard Petty, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Junior Johnson.
David Poole, longtime Charlotte Observer motorsports writer, was honored (posthumously) with the Media Recognition Award. The award was accepted by Poole's widow Katy [Poole] and Mike Persinger, Executive Sports Editor for the Charlotte Observer.
In addition, seven industry companies were awarded for their 2011 accomplishments and positive impacts to the Motorsports Industry:
• Bruton Smith, Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award
• David Poole, Media Recognition Award
• G-Force Racing Gear
• Industrial Hard Carbon
• JRi Shocks
• Lake Norman Elementary School Pit Crew
• NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
• Racing Electronics
• Richmond County Tourism Authority
(NCMA))(1-18-2012)

Charlotte Motor Speedway to get 500-kw solar project: A Banner Elk solar developer plans to build a 500-kilowatt installation at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Eagle Electron Power Partners filed notice Wednesday [Dec 27th] with the N.C. Utilities Commission for a $2.9 million project that is expected to be operational in August. The power will be sold to Duke Energy . The renewable energy credits for the energy produced will also be sold, but the filing does not specify a buyer. The project will not be the first solar installation the speedway’s parent, Speedway Motorsports Inc. In June, Panasonic Corp. of North America completed a 350-kilowatt project at Speedway’s Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. In Charlotte, Speedway has worked out a 20-year agreement with Eagle Electron for the installation, operation and maintenance of the solar project. There are options for renewals after that. The project will be ground-mounted and consist of more than 2,000 solar panels, each rated at 240 watts. It is expected to produce about 813,240 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Eagle Electron has yet to get a building permit for the project, according to the filing. The Banner Elk company has created a separate limited liability company, Charlotte Motor Speedway Solar Plant, to own and operate the project.(Charlotte Business Journal)(1-3-2012)

Belk Bowl players lap Charlotte Motor Speedway: Football players from N.C. State and Louisville got a taste of the difference on Friday as members of both teams took turns taking mock qualifying runs around Charlotte Motor Speedway in cars provided by the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Friday's laps, pit stop practice and racing video games were the first of several activities for N.C. State and Louisville, which meet in the Belk Bowl on Tuesday night at Bank of America Stadium [in Charlotte NC]. Both teams practiced Friday at Charlotte area high schools. Head coaches and some players from each team will visit Levin Children's Hospital on Saturday morning to meet with sick children and spread some holiday cheer. For many players, the visit to CMS was their first up-close experience with NASCAR. Belk Bowl officials said as of Friday afternoon approximately 58,000 tickets had been sold for Tuesday night's game. The game is on track to be the highest attended non-sellout (the game sold out in 2002, 2004 and 2008). N.C. State has sold approximately 24,000 tickets to the game through the school.(Charlotte Observer)(12-24-2011)

Charlotte Motor Speedway Ticket Office Salesperson of the Year: Concord, N.C., resident, Jenni Bowden was named 2011 Salesperson of the Year in an awards ceremony that recognized sales representatives for their achievements in the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office. Bowden, a San Jose, Calif., native, has served in numerous positions at the speedway since getting her start in the ticket office in 1993. In her current position as Speedway Club sales account executive, Bowden sells Speedway Club memberships, as well as servicing current Speedway Club members with their ticket requests. As 2011 Salesperson of the Year, Bowden has earned a monetary prize, a trophy and a vacation package for two. The winner of the Salesperson of the Year Award was determined by a points system that awards employees for their ticket sales each month. At the end of the year, the points are added up and the individual with the highest total in each category wins the award.
Six other ticket office sales representatives received awards for their efforts in 2011. Amy Drake was named the Ticket Operations Employee of the Year. The Concord, N.C., native, has worked in the ticket office for 13 years and is currently the director of ticket operations.
The award for the Most Speedway Club Membership Sales went to Tabitha Bowden. A West Brookfield, Mass., native, Bowden got her start at the speedway in 2004 working in the Speedway Club.
The award for Most Up-Sells went to Kannapolis, N.C., resident, Jamie Johnson, who has been working at the speedway since 2008. The award recognizes the individual responsible for selling the most race day experience upgrades including pit passes, hospitality packages, driver introduction passes and more.
Charlotte, N.C., native, Angela Crisco was awarded the trophy for Most Outbound Call Dollars, which awards the individual who brought in the most money from outbound call sales. Crisco started working for the speedway in 1992 in the guest services and logistics department and has been working for the ticket services department for the past 13 years.
Ashley Helms, of Monroe, N.C., took home the award for Most Outbound Calls, which involves calling customers on behalf of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Helms has been with the speedway since 2007.
The Most Part-Time Outbound Call Dollars award went to Clarksville, Md., native, Bradley Carpenter. Carpenter started working part-time at the speedway in 2010 while he attends Belmont Abbey College as a motorsports management major.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for 2012 events at Charlotte Motor Speedway can visit the award winners or any of the ticket office sales representatives located on the second floor of Smith Tower. Tickets are also available by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or by going online to charlottemotorspeedway.com.(CMS)(12-24-2011)

CMS and USO of NC to Host Inaugural Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration: More than 216,000 North Carolina residents served in Vietnam, and some 1,600 made the ultimate sacrifice in that war. Now, the USO of North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway, with support from the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, will honor their service with an incredible Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration for the military members and their friends and families at the Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, December 15, at 11 am. Vietnam veterans never received the type of homecoming celebration that today’s troops receive as they return from service. To honor those who served and the military members who returned from combat, the USO of North Carolina is holding a long, overdue homecoming celebration. Hosted by the USO of North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration 2012 is set to be an unforgettable experience featuring live entertainment, displays and demonstrations, military salutes, and much more!
Mr. David Kennerly, Pulitzer Prize Winning Vietnam Combat Photographer
Lt. Gen. Tom Waskow, Air Force, (Retired), Forward Air Controller, Republic of Vietnam
Col. Quincy Collins, Air Force, (Retired), Vietnam POW
Col. Charles Williams, U.S. Army, (Retired), Artillery Battery Commander and
Battalion Operations officer, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of Vietnam
Lt. Col. John Falkenbury, U.S. Army (Retired), President, USO of North Carolina
Danny Highsmith, President, North Carolina Association of Broadcasters
(VMG PR)(12-15-2011)

Charlotte Motor Speedway Looking for 2012 Fan Council Members: Are you passionate about Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte? Let your voice be heard! The speedway is now accepting applications for the Charlotte Motor Speedway Fan Council. The Fan Council is used to gather feedback from a cross-section of fans to determine changes that need to be implemented to improve the fan experience at the speedway, drag strip and dirt track. Throughout the year, members of the Fan Council join speedway management for conference calls, participate in surveys after events, attend meetings at the speedway during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NHRA event weekends and participate in online fan forums. Those interested can download the application at charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/fancouncil/. Applications are due Dec. 31.(CMS)(11-30-2011)

In the Charlotte, NC for the races? some cool places to check out that Jayski has been to an enjoyed since moving to the Charlotte area in January 2004:
Memory Lane Museum on Hwy 150 W in Mooresville, NC,
North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame Lakeside Park, Mooresville
And a must is the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, checked it out in July 2010 and it is really cool
In October, For somerthing different: the Carolina Renaissance Festival is a blast, fun stuff and lots of good eats, I go every year, hmm...pumpkin beer...and the Tortuga Twins are a hoot!
SOME EATs: Lancaster's Bar-B=Que is a large place with a lot of NASCAR stuff all over the walls, also I enjoyed: Jeffrey's. In Huntersville check out Mickey & Mooches for great steaks and the huge chocolate cake
TEAM SHOPS: and to check out some team shops, see my Team Address page, on that page there are a few links for Race Shop Tours [click here].
Or drive up I-85 and head to [Richard] Childress Vineyards.
in Concord, check out the racing stuff at Quaker Steak and Lube for some great wings and food
and check out the Sam Bass Gallery, right near Charlotte Motor Speedway.
(this is not an ad and not looking for suggestions, just some things to helps folks in town)
ALSO: see my Racing Charities page and Driver Appearances page for driver appearances and more thing going on in the area.