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Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Coca-Cola 600

Below is a look at the top statistical performers at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, going into the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying / Race Data

Track qualifying record:
Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 198.771 mph, 27.167 secs. October 9, 2014

2022 Charlotte pole winner:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 183.680 mph, 29.399 secs. May 28, 2022

Track race record (600 miles):
Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 160.655 mph, (03:44:05), May 29, 2016

2022 Charlotte race winner:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 118.703 mph, (05:13:08), May 29, 2022

At Charlotte Motor Speedway:

HISTORY

  • Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 1959.
  • The track’s first NASCAR Cup Series race was held on June 19, 1960 and won by Joe Lee Johnson in a Chevrolet driving for car owner Paul McDuffie.
  • The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
  • The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1999. It changed back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2010 season.
  • The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
  • In 2018, Charlotte Motor Speedway introduced the road course configuration (ROVAL) and in the process relinquished the track’s second event on the oval configuration effectively creating a new road course track on the schedule – the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (ROVAL).
  • There have been 124 NASCAR Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, two races per year from when the track opened in 1960 until 2017. Starting in 2018, Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted just one race on the oval configuration, with the exclusion of the 2020 season due to the pandemic reschedule the series competed in two races on the oval.
  • In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).

STARTS

  • A total of 567 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 410 have competed in more than one.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 64.
  • Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Charlotte with 40; followed by Jimmie Johnson with 37 each.
  • A total of 65 different drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have made their first series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Three active series drivers have made their first career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Kyle Larson (10/12/13), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (05/29/11) and Jimmie Johnson (10/7/2001).
  • Of the 65 drivers that made their NASCAR Cup Series career debuts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bugs Stevens posted the best finish of sixth on May 24, 1970. Stevens had started the race from the 17th position.

Drivers that made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

Rank First-Time Driver Date Rank First-Time Driver Date Rank First-Time Driver Date
1 Blake Koch 10/12/2013 23 Donny Paul 10/7/1984 45 Butch Hartman 10/16/1966
2 Brian Scott 10/12/2013 24 Jim Sauter 10/5/1980 46 Donnie Allison 10/16/1966
3 Kyle Larson 10/12/2013 25 Mike Miller 10/5/1980 47 George England 10/16/1966
4 Ricky Stenhouse Jr 5/29/2011 26 Billie Harvey 5/25/1980 48 Jack Bowsher 10/16/1966
5 David Reutimann 10/15/2005 27 John Greenwood 5/25/1980 49 Bob Derrington 5/24/1964
6 Brian Vickers 10/11/2003 28 Butch Mock 10/8/1978 50 Doug Cooper 10/13/1963
7 Jason Hedlesky 10/13/2002 29 Glenn Jarrett 10/8/1978 51 Ronnie Bristow 10/13/1963
8 Jimmie Johnson 10/7/2001 30 Tom Sneva 10/9/1977 52 Bruce Brantley 10/14/1962
9 Stuart Kirby 10/7/2001 31 Al Holbert 10/10/1976 53 Red Foote 5/27/1962
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr 5/30/1999 32 Janet Guthrie 5/30/1976 54 Bobby Isaac 5/21/1961
11 Elliott Sadler 5/24/1998 33 Sam Sommers 5/30/1976 55 Buck Fulp 5/21/1961
12 Kevin Lepage 10/5/1997 34 Dale Earnhardt 5/25/1975 56 Gene Stokes 5/21/1961
13 Jeremy Mayfield 10/10/1993 35 Randy Bethea 5/25/1975 57 Bob Barron 10/16/1960
14 Randy Porter 5/24/1992 36 Harry Gant 10/7/1973 58 Charlie Glotzbach 10/16/1960
15 Kerry Teague 10/6/1991 37 Billy Scott 5/27/1973 59 Don O’Dell 10/16/1960
16 Rich Bickle 10/8/1989 38 Charlie Blanton 5/27/1973 60 Friday Hassler 10/16/1960
17 Terry Byers 5/28/1989 39 Peter Gregg 5/27/1973 61 Jerry Roedell 10/16/1960
18 Tracy Leslie 5/28/1989 40 Larry Smith 5/30/1971 62 Wes Morgan 10/16/1960
19 Rob Moroso 10/9/1988 41 Bugs Stevens 5/24/1970 63 Ed Markstellar 6/19/1960
20 Allan Grice 5/24/1987 42 Jim Lineberger 10/12/1969 64 George Tet 6/19/1960
21 Brett Bodine 5/25/1986 43 Don Schissler 10/15/1967 65 Johnny Wolford 6/19/1960
22 Michael Waltrip 5/26/1985 44 Dub Simpson 10/15/1967
  • Jack Sprague (two starts) leads the series in average starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a 5.0.
  • William Byron leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a 7.0 in six starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Charlotte Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Finish Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Finish Races
1 Jack Sprague 5.000 2 1 William Byron 7.000 6
2 Fireball Roberts 5.200 10 2 Jimmie Johnson 9.811 37
3 David Pearson 6.391 46 3 Tyler Reddick 10.250 4
4 Joe Weatherly 6.667 9 4 Denny Hamlin 11.290 31
5 William Byron 7.000 6 5 Chase Elliott 11.364 11
6 Fred Lorenzen 7.056 18 6 Kyle Busch 11.647 34
7 Pete Hamilton 7.167 6 7 Christopher Bell 11.750 4
8 Paul Goldsmith 7.889 9 8 Joey Logano 12.958 24
9 Curtis Turner 8.444 9 9 Austin Dillon 15.000 14
10 Cale Yarborough 9.520 50 10 Ryan Blaney 15.250 12

POLES

  • A total of 48 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Nine of the 48 NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.
Active Pole Winners Poles Seasons
Jimmie Johnson 4 2014, 2009, 2004, 2002
Denny Hamlin 3 2023, 2017, 2013
Kyle Busch 3 2018, 2014, 2008
Kevin Harvick 2 2017, 2016
Kyle Larson 1 2021
William Byron 1 2019
Martin Truex Jr 1 2016
Aric Almirola 1 2012
Brad Keselowski 1 2011
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 14 poles (1961, 1972, 1973, 1974 sweep, 1975 sweep, 1976 sweep, 1977 sweep, 1978 sweep, 1982).
  • Jimmie Johnson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway with four (2002, 2004, 2009, 2014); followed by Denny Hamlin (2013, 2017, 2023) and Kyle Busch (2008, 2014, 2018) with three each.
  • Fireball Roberts won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph in a Pontiac.
  • A total of 14 different drivers have won consecutive poles at Charlotte; Kevin Harvick is the most recent driver to post consecutive poles (2016 Playoffs, 2017 May race) at the 1.5-mile track.
  • David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11-straight from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
  • Youngest Charlotte Cup pole winner: William Byron (May 26, 2019 – 21 years, 4 months, 27 days)
  • Oldest Charlotte Cup pole winner: Bobby Allison (October 11, 1987 – 49 years, 10 months, 8 days).
  • Eight drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
First-Time Pole Winners at Charlotte Date
Aric Almirola Sunday, May 27, 2012
Brett Bodine Sunday, October 7, 1990
Dale Earnhardt Jr Sunday, May 28, 2000
Derrike Cope Sunday, October 4, 1998
Donnie Allison Sunday, May 26, 1968
Jeff Gordon Sunday, October 10, 1993
Ryan Newman Sunday, May 27, 2001
Ward Burton Sunday, October 9, 1994
  • Wood Brothers Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 20 poles among five drivers: Marvin Panch (1963), Cale Yarborough (1967 sweep, 1969), David Pearson (1972, 1973, 1974 sweep, 1975 sweep, 1976 sweep, 1977 sweep, 1978 sweep), Neil Bonnett (1979 sweep, 1981), and Buddy Baker (1983).
  • Eight different manufacturers have won at least one NASCAR Cup Series pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Chevrolet with 35 poles, followed by Ford (30), Mercury (14), Dodge (13), Pontiac (10), Toyota (9), Buick (6) and Plymouth (4).

WINS

  • A total of 54 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • A total of 10 of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway winners are active this weekend.
Active Race Winners Wins Seasons
Jimmie Johnson 8 2016, 2014, 2009, 2005 sweep, 2004 sweep, 2003
Martin Truex Jr 3 2019, 2017, 2016
Kevin Harvick 3 2014, 2013, 2011
Brad Keselowski 2 2020, 2013
Denny Hamlin 1 2022
Kyle Larson 1 2021
Chase Elliott 1 2020
Kyle Busch 1 2018
Austin Dillon 1 2017
Joey Logano 1 2015
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway with eight victories (2003 summer, 2004 sweep, 2005 sweep, 2009 Playoffs, 2014 summer, 2016 Playoffs).
  • Youngest Charlotte winner: Jeff Gordon (May 29, 1994 – 22 years, 9 months, 25 days).
  • Oldest Charlotte winner: Cale Yarborough (October 6, 1985 – 46 years, 6 months, 9 days).
  • 10 drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
First-Time Cup Winners at Charlotte Date
Austin Dillon Sunday, May 28, 2017
David Reutimann Monday, May 25, 2009
Casey Mears Sunday, May 27, 2007
Jamie McMurray Sunday, October 13, 2002
Matt Kenseth Sunday, May 28, 2000
Bobby Labonte Sunday, May 28, 1995
Jeff Gordon Sunday, May 29, 1994
Charlie Glotzbach Sunday, October 20, 1968
Buddy Baker Sunday, October 15, 1967
David Pearson Sunday, May 28, 1961
  • Nine drivers have posted consecutive wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including three consecutive by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four-straight by Jimmie Johnson (2004 and 2005 sweeps).
  • A total of 27 different starting positions on the grid have led to wins in the 124 NASCAR Cup Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (19) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway – a winning percentage of 15.32%.
  • A total of 19 of the 124 NASCAR Cup Series races at Charlotte (15.32%) have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most recent was Denny Hamlin in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning %
1 19 15.32% 10 2 1.61% 19 1 0.81%
2 17 13.71% 11 1 0.81% 20 2 1.61%
3 15 12.10% 12 2 1.61% 21 2 1.61%
4 10 8.06% 13 3 2.42% 22 3 2.42%
5 8 6.45% 14 2 1.61% 23 1 0.81%
6 5 4.03% 15 3 2.42% 25 1 0.81%
7 8 6.45% 16 3 2.42% 27 1 0.81%
8 2 1.61% 17 3 2.42% 28 1 0.81%
9 6 4.84% 18 2 1.61% 37 1 0.81%
Stats Winning % Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position: 15.32% 19
Winning from the Front Row: 29.03% 36
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position: 55.65% 69
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position: 74.19% 92
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10: 25.81% 32
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20: 8.06% 10
  • The deepest in the field that a NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at Charlotte is 37th, by Jimmie Johnson in the Coca-Cola 600 of 2003. A total of 10 races have been won from outside the top-20 (8.13%).
  • Denny Hamlin leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 30; followed by Michael McDowell with 22 starts without a win and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with 17.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the series in Coca-Cola 600 wins with five victories (1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1989).
  • Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in Coca-Cola 600 wins with four (2003, 2004, 2005, 2014); followed by Kevin Harvick (2011, 2013) and Martin Truex Jr. (2016, 2019) with two victories each.
  • A total of 38 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Eight of 38 winning organizations at Charlotte Motor Speedway are entered this weekend.
Rank Active Organizations Wins Seasons
1 Hendrick Motorsports 21 2021, ’20, ’16, ’14, ’12, ’09, ’07 sweep, ’05 sweep, ’04 sweep, ’03, ’99, ’98, ’97, ’96, ’94, ’89 sweep, ’88
2 Richard Childress Racing 8 2017, 2013, 2011, 2008, 1993, 1992, 1986 sweep
3 RFK Racing 8 2011, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1992
4 Joe Gibbs Racing 8 2022, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2003, 2000, 1995, 1994
5 Wood Brothers Racing 6 1987, 1982, 1974 sweep, 1976, 1960
6 Team Penske 4 2020, 2015, 2013, 2010
7 Stewart-Haas Racing 1 2014
  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 21 victories among nine drivers: Jimmie Johnson (eight), Jeff Gordon (five), Darrell Waltrip (two), Ken Schrader (one), Terry Labonte (one), Casey Mears (one), Kasey Kahne (one), Chase Elliott (one), and Kyle Larson (one).
  • Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 47 victories; followed by Ford (31), Dodge (15), Toyota (8), Pontiac (8), Mercury (7), Buick (4) and Plymouth (4).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

  • A total of 56 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished runner-up at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 26 of 56 have finished runner-up at Charlotte multiple times.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with nine second-place finishes.
  • Kevin Harvick (2001, 2014, 2015, 2016) and Kyle Busch (2010, 2011, 2017, 2022) lead all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with four each.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Runner-Ups Rank Active Drivers Runner-Ups
1 Richard Petty 9 1 Kevin Harvick 4
2 Bobby Allison 6 2 Kyle Busch 4
3 Bobby Labonte 6 3 Chase Elliott 3
4 Cale Yarborough 5 4 Denny Hamlin 3
5 Bill Elliott 4 5 Jimmie Johnson 2
Darrell Waltrip 4
David Pearson 4
Donnie Allison 4
Harry Gant 4
Kevin Harvick 4
Kyle Busch 4
Matt Kenseth 4
Rusty Wallace 4

Top-Five Finishes:

  • A total of 124 different drivers have finished in the top-five in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 82 of the 124 have finished in the top-five multiple times.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied for the series most top-five finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 23 each.
  • Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with 16 top-five finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway each.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top Fives Rank Active Drivers Top Fives
1 Bobby Allison 23 1 Jimmie Johnson 16
Richard Petty 23 Kyle Busch 16
3 Darrell Waltrip 19 3 Denny Hamlin 11
4 David Pearson 18 4 Kevin Harvick 10
Mark Martin 18 5 Martin Truex Jr 7

Top-10 Finishes

  • A total of 211 different drivers have finished in the top-10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31.
  • Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 19 each.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top 10s Rank Active Drivers Top 10s
1 Richard Petty 31 1 Jimmie Johnson 22
2 Darrell Waltrip 29 2 Kevin Harvick 21
3 Ricky Rudd 27 Kyle Busch 21
4 Bobby Allison 26 4 Denny Hamlin 20
David Pearson 26 5 Martin Truex Jr 13

Average Finish

  • Johnny Beauchamp (two starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 7.0.
  • Tyler Reddick (three starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 10.3.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Charlotte Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Finish Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Finish Races
1 Johnny Beauchamp 7.000 2 1 Tyler Reddick 9.250 4
2 Rex White 9.000 10 2 Denny Hamlin 11.935 31
3 Tyler Reddick 9.250 4 3 Joey Logano 12.750 24
4 Don White 10.333 3 4 Jimmie Johnson 12.919 37
5 Carl Edwards 10.917 24 5 Chase Briscoe 13.500 2
6 Dick Hutcherson 11.200 5 6 Chase Elliott 13.818 11
7 Denny Hamlin 11.935 31 7 Kyle Busch 13.971 34
8 Daniel Suarez 12.500 4 8 Martin Truex Jr 14.065 31
9 Earl Ross 12.667 3 9 Brad Keselowski 14.217 24
10 Joey Logano 12.750 24 10 Kevin Harvick 14.550 40

LAP LEADERS

  • A total of 187 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison leads the series in laps led at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 2,339 laps led in 43 starts.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 1,936 laps led 37 starts.
  • Martin Truex Jr. holds the record for the most laps led in in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway after he led 392 of the scheduled 400 laps (98%) in the 2016 Coca-Cola 600 – he started from the pole.
  • The fewest laps led by the NASCAR Cup Series race winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway was two laps led – it happened twice – 2017 Austin Dillion’s win, 2011 Kevin Harvick’s
  • The most laps led by a NASCAR Cup Series driver at Charlotte Motor Speedway that did not win was 289 of the scheduled 400 laps (72%) by NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson on June 2, 1963 – he finished second after starting from the pole.

Top 10 in Laps Led at Charlotte Motor Speedway (All-time)

Rank All-Time Drivers Races Led Completed % Led
1 Bobby Allison 43 2,339 12,493 18.7%
2 Jimmie Johnson 37 1,936 12,839 15.1%
3 Richard Petty 64 1,702 18,236 9.3%
4 David Pearson 46 1,662 12,753 13.0%
5 Cale Yarborough 50 1,633 13,030 12.5%
6 Dale Earnhardt 48 1,523 15,370 9.9%
7 Kyle Busch 34 1,486 11,727 12.7%
8 Bill Elliott 62 1,337 19,539 6.8%
9 Buddy Baker 57 1,202 14,017 8.6%
10 Mark Martin 58 1,185 18,429 6.4%

Top 10 in Laps Led at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Active)

Rank Active Drivers Races Led Completed % Led
1 Jimmie Johnson 37 1,936 12,839 15.1%
2 Kyle Busch 34 1,486 11,727 12.7%
3 Martin Truex Jr 31 1,059 11,121 9.5%
4 Kevin Harvick 40 605 13,689 4.4%
5 Kyle Larson 13 398 4,601 8.7%
6 Denny Hamlin 31 395 10,958 3.6%
7 Joey Logano 24 340 8,564 4.0%
8 Chase Elliott 11 332 3,413 9.7%
9 Brad Keselowski 23 322 7,747 4.2%
10 Ross Chastain 5 153 1,707 9.0%

TRACK / EVENT SPECIFIC STATS

  • Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the May 29, 2005, race won by Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte with a Margin of Victory of 0.027 second.

Top Five Closest NASCAR Cup Series Margin of Victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Margin of Victory Date Race Winner Runner-Up
0.027 Sunday, May 29, 2005 Jimmie Johnson Bobby Labonte
0.119 Sunday, May 29, 2022 Denny Hamlin Kyle Busch
0.293 Sunday, May 24, 2020 Brad Keselowski Chase Elliott
0.309 Saturday, October 15, 2005 Jimmie Johnson Kurt Busch
0.330 Sunday, May 26, 2019 Martin Truex Jr. Joey Logano

Top Five Largest NASCAR Cup Series Margin of Victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Margin of Victory Date Race Winner Runner-Up
11.982 Sunday, May 26, 1996 Dale Jarrett Dale Earnhardt
10.203 Sunday, May 25, 2008 Kasey Kahne Greg Biffle
10.051 Sunday, May 30, 2021 Kyle Larson Chase Elliott
9.561 Sunday, May 27, 2007 Casey Mears JJ Yeley
6.280 Sunday, May 28, 1995 Bobby Labonte Terry Labonte
  • Five NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in NASCAR Overtime at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Date Scheduled Laps Actual Laps Overtime Race Winners
Sunday, May 29, 2022 400 413 13 Denny Hamlin
Sunday, May 24, 2020 400 405 5 Brad Keselowski
Sunday, October 8, 2017 334 337 3 Martin Truex Jr
Sunday, May 29, 2011 400 402 2 Kevin Harvick
Saturday, October 13, 2007 334 337 3 Jeff Gordon
Saturday, October 15, 2005 334 336 2 Jimmie Johnson
  • Five NASCAR Cup Series races have been shortened due to weather conditions at Charlotte Motor Speedway; four of the five were the Coca-Cola 600s:
Date Scheduled Laps Actual Laps Fewer Laps Race Winners
Monday, May 25, 2009 400 227 173 David Reutimann
Sunday, May 25, 2003 400 276 124 Jimmie Johnson
Sunday, May 25, 1997 400 333 67 Jeff Gordon
Sunday, October 10, 1971 334 238 96 Bobby Allison
Sunday, May 26, 1968 400 255 145 Buddy Baker
  • Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway twice – the October race of 2002 and the October race of 2008.
  • Qualifying was cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020.

FEMALE COMPETITORS

  • Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
Driver Starting Position Finishing Position Date
Danica Patrick 12 38 10/8/2017
Danica Patrick 15 25 5/28/2017
Danica Patrick 13 10 10/9/2016
Danica Patrick 19 21 5/29/2016
Danica Patrick 24 19 10/11/2015
Danica Patrick 20 22 5/24/2015
Danica Patrick 14 26 10/11/2014
Danica Patrick 4 39 5/25/2014
Danica Patrick 35 20 10/12/2013
Danica Patrick 24 29 5/26/2013
Danica Patrick 40 30 5/27/2012
Averages 20.0 25.4  
Driver Starting Position Finishing Position Date
Janet Guthrie 31 35 10/8/1978
Janet Guthrie 27 9 10/9/1977
Janet Guthrie 26 22 10/10/1976
Janet Guthrie 27 15 5/30/1976
Averages 27.8 20.3  

NASCAR IN NORTH CAROLINA

  • There have been 763 NASCAR national series races among 32 tracks in the state of North Carolina.
Track Name City Cup Xfinity Truck Combined First Year
Charlotte Motor Speedway Concord 124 77 20 221 1960
Rockingham Speedway Rockingham 78 42 2 122 1965
North Wilkesboro Speedway North 93 4 3 100 1949
Hickory Speedway Hickory 35 42 0 77 1953
Asheville-Weaverville Speedway Weaverville 34 0 0 34 1951
Occoneechee Speedway Hillsboro 32 0 0 32 1949
Bowman Gray Stadium Winston-Salem 29 0 0 29 1958
Orange County Speedway Rougemont 0 27 0 27 1983
Southern States Fairgrounds Charlotte 17 0 0 17 1954
Charlotte Speedway Charlotte 12 0 0 12 1949
Concord Speedway Concord 12 0 0 12 1956
Wilson Speedway Wilson 12 0 0 12 1951
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course Concord 5 5 0 10 2018
New Asheville Speedway Asheville 8 0 0 8 1962
Dog Track Speedway Moyock 7 0 0 7 1962
Raleigh Speedway Raleigh 7 0 0 7 1953
Cleveland County Fairgrounds Shelby 6 0 0 6 1956
Champion Speedway Fayetteville 4 0 0 4 1958
Caraway Speedway Asheboro 0 3 0 3 1982
Greensboro Agriculture Fairgrounds Greensboro 3 0 0 3 1957
North Carolina State Fairgrounds Raleigh 3 0 0 3 1955
Tar Heel Speedway Randleman 3 0 0 3 1963
Forsyth County Fairgrounds Winston-Salem 2 0 0 2 1955
Harris Speedway Harris 2 0 0 2 1964
Jacksonville Speedway Jacksonville 2 0 0 2 1957
Tri-City Speedway High Point 2 0 0 2 1953
Asheville Speedway Asheville 0 1 0 1 1982
Gastonia Fairgrounds Gastonia 1 0 0 1 1958
Harnett Speedway Spring Lake 1 0 0 1 1953
McCormick Field Asheville 1 0 0 1 1958
Salisbury Super Speedway Salisbury 1 0 0 1 1958
Star Lite Speedway Monroe 1 0 0 1 1966
Totals 537 201 25 763
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted the most NASCAR national series races in the state of North Carolina at 221.
  • The very first race in what is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series, was held on June 19, 1949 at a dirt track in Charlotte, North Carolina named the Charlotte Speedway. The track is 0.75-mile dirt track, and the first event saw 32 entries compete, but it was Jim Roper who won the race – his only victory in his career.

NORTH CAROLINA DRIVERS IN NASCAR

  • A total of 472 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as North Carolina. 58 of the 472 have won in a NASCAR national series race.
Rank Drivers From North Carolina Cup Xfinity Truck Combined
1 Richard Petty 200 0 0 200
2 Dale Earnhardt 76 21 0 97
3 Lee Petty 54 0 0 54
4 Ned Jarrett 50 0 0 50
5 Junior Johnson 50 0 0 50
6 Herb Thomas 48 0 0 48
7 Buck Baker 46 0 0 46
8 Bobby Isaac 37 0 0 37
9 Dale Jarrett 32 11 0 43
10 Rex White 28 0 0 28
11 Dale Earnhardt Jr 26 24 0 50
12 Jim Paschal 25 0 0 25
13 Benny Parsons 21 0 0 21
14 Speedy Thompson 20 0 0 20
15 Buddy Baker 19 0 0 19
16 Harry Gant 18 21 0 39
17 Bob Welborn 9 0 0 9
18 Kyle Petty 8 0 0 8
19 Ryan Blaney 7 7 4 18
20 William Byron 7 4 8 19
21 Austin Dillon 4 9 7 20
22 Morgan Shepherd 4 15 0 19
23 Bill Blair 3 0 0 3
24 Gwyn Staley 3 0 0 3
25 Brian Vickers 3 3 0 6
26 Billy Myers 2 0 0 2
27 Jimmy Pardue 2 0 0 2
28 Richard Brickhouse 1 0 0 1
29 Austin Cindric 1 13 1 15
30 Phil Parsons 1 2 0 3
31 Leon Sales 1 0 0 1
32 Buddy Shuman 1 0 0 1
33 Donald Thomas 1 0 0 1
34 Jack Ingram 0 31 0 31
35 Tommy Houston 0 24 0 24
36 Sam Ard 0 22 0 22
37 Ty Gibbs 0 11 0 11
38 Robert Pressley 0 10 2 12
39 Harrison Burton 0 4 0 4
40 John H. Nemechek 0 4 13 17
41 Scott Riggs 0 4 5 9
42 Hank Parker Jr 0 2 0 2
43 Johnny Rumley 0 2 0 2
44 Dennis Setzer 0 2 18 20
45 Ronnie Silver 0 2 0 2
46 Ed Berrier 0 1 0 1
47 Ty Dillon 0 1 3 4
48 Daniel Hemric 0 1 0 1
49 Justin Labonte 0 1 0 1
50 Stephen Leicht 0 1 0 1
51 John Settlemyre 0 1 0 1
52 Myatt Snider 0 1 0 1
53 Timothy Peters 0 0 11 11
54 Todd Gilliland 0 0 3 3
55 Andy Houston 0 0 3 3
56 Tate Fogleman 0 0 1 1
57 Ricky Hendrick 0 0 1 1
58 Shane Hmiel 0 0 1 1
Totals 808 255 81 1,144

— NASCAR —