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 25 (6 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Charlotte Motor Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK & RACE SPECIFICS
Season Race No. 13 of 36 (May 25, 2025)
Race Name: Coca-Cola 600
Race Purse: $13,651,450
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Paved Oval
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,980 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,500 feet
Race Length: 400 laps / 600 miles
Stage Lengths (all 4): 100 laps each

TRACK QUALIFYING / RACE RECORDS

Track Qualifying Record: Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 198.771 mph, 27.167 secs. October 9, 2014

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

2024 Charlotte Pole Winner: Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 183.955 mph, 29.355 secs., May 25, 2024

2024 Charlotte Race Winner: Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 123.053 mph, (03:02:07), May 26, 2024

TRACK HISTORY

• With the success of the inaugural season at Daytona International Speedway many plans were developed around the country to build new tracks. In Charlotte track promoter Bruton Smith and driver/businessmen Curtis Turner each announced plans to build a speedway. They partnered within days of realizing neither plan would succeed if both were built. They settled on the location and length that Turner had selected (Smith’s site was in Pineville, the location of a 1920s board track). Turner was President, Smith General Manager. I
• n April 1959 they took the unusual step of announcing that the first race would be a 600-mile race on May 29, 1960. Initial financing was secured by selling 300,000 shares at $1 each which was only accomplished after Smith bought radio and newspaper ads to promote the track.
• Soon after construction started and throughout the process the project was plagued by financial difficulties, winter storms, a faulty drill report that added $500,000 to the cost, problems with the Securities and Exchange Commission and slow ticket sales. Work continued but at a slow pace. By mid-April 1960, no grandstands or track construction had taken place. They were forced to delay the race for three weeks. The June 19 date was only made possible by two bizarre events: 1. Light poles were erected so crews could work two 12-hour shifts and 2. As the paving was nearing completion the contractor ordered work halted until they received overdue payments. They covered the unpaved portion with heavy equipment. Turner got legal advice and had the workers marched away at gunpoint. Then Turner’s brother and driver Bob Welborn jump started a tractor and pushed the equipment out of the way so the paving could be completed. The impossible was accomplished. Despite the many difficulties a new speedway was built in 11 months.
• The first race was held at a barely completed facility and a freshly paved track that began breaking up as soon as cars started to practice. All cars installed screens to protect grilles and windshields.
• 35,462 witnessed the 60 car field line up three abreast on the 11th anniversary of the first NASCAR Strictly Stock race held on a ¾ mile dirt Charlotte Fairgrounds. The track soon started to claim many cars. Pole sitter Fireball Roberts, Ned Jarrett, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly, Tom Pistone, Fred Lorenzen, Marvin Panch, Speedy Thompson and others fell victim to brutal track conditions. With less than 50 laps to go Jack Smith had a lead of over five laps when a piece of metal cut a hole in his fuel tank. Tennessee driver, 1959 Convertible Division champion Joe Lee Johnson then cruised to the win by four laps over second place Johnny Beauchamp.
• The purse was the sport’s first six-figure payout ($107,000) but the track lost money. In 1961 Smith and Turner resigned and by the end of 1961 the track was placed in Federal receivership. Richard Howard a local businessman and track investor managed the track for the next 15 years until Bruton Smith returned after accumulating enough shares to eventually take control of the track. Bruton soon started an ambitious program of upgrading the track with many innovations including the first-ever condominiums overlooking the track, an office tower, additional suites, additional seating and the latest, a 16,000 square foot video screen.
• 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).
• 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 126 NASCAR Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval), two races per year from when the track opened in 1960 until 2017.
• Starting in 2018, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted just one Cup race on the oval configuration per season, with the exclusion of the 2020 season due to the pandemic reschedule the series competed in two races on the oval.

STARTS

• A total of 572 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• A total of 418 drivers have made more than one NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 64.
• The top five in Cup Series starts (all-time) at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Richard Petty (64), Bill Elliott (62), Ricky Rudd (61), Mark Martin (58), Buddy Baker (57) and Terry Labonte (57).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 39.
• The top five in Cup Series starts (active) at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (39), Kyle Busch (36), Denny Hamlin (33), Joey Logano (26), and Brad Keselowski (25).
• A total of 65 different drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have made their first Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• The October 16, 1960 Charlotte race had six drivers making their first start in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• 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:

Average Finish

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a 5.2 in 10 starts.
• William Byron leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a 5.325 in eight starts.

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

POLES

• A total of 49 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• 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).
• Of the 49 NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway pole winners, seven will be active this weekend.

• 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).
• Nine drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

• In total 38 different car owners/organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• 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).
• Five of the 38 total organizations with a NASCAR Cup Series pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway are active this weekend:

• The Wood Brothers Racing team holds the track record for the most consecutive Cup Series poles at Charlotte with 13 straight from 1973–1979.
• 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 (10), Buick (6) and Plymouth (4).
• Mercury holds the record for the most consecutive poles by an OEM at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Cup Series at 13 straight from 1973-1979.

WINS

• A total of 56 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• A total of 30 different drivers have won more than once in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• 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.
• 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).
• A total of 10 of the 55 NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway winners are active this weekend.

• A total of 10 drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

• 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 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 15.1%; the most recent was Denny Hamlin in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600.
• The second starting position is the second-most proficient starting position in the field, producing the second-most winners (17) at Charlotte Motor Speedway – with a winning percentage of 13.49%.
• A top-five starting position has accounted for 55.56% of the Cup Series wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• A top-10 starting position has accounted for 74.6% of the Cup Series wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Charlotte Motor Speedway

• A total of 12 drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway from the pole or first starting position.

• 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 (7.94%).
• Michael McDowell leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 25; followed by AJ Allmendinger (22) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (20).
• 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 Cup Series drivers in Coca-Cola 600 wins with four (2003, 2004, 2005, 2014).

• A total of 38 different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway with 21 wins 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).
• A total of seven of 38 winning organizations at Charlotte Motor Speedway are entered this weekend.

• Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 47 victories; followed by Ford (32), Dodge (15), Toyota (9), Pontiac (8), Mercury (7), Buick (4) and Plymouth (4).
• The most consecutive wins by a Manufacturer in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway is six straight by Chevrolet from 2003 – 2005.

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 58 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished runner-up at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 26 of 58 have finished runner-up at Charlotte multiple times.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway with nine second-place finishes.
• Kyle Busch (2010, 2011, 2017, 2022) leads all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with four.

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

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 126 different drivers have finished in the top-five in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 83 of the 126 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)

Top-10 Finishes

• A total of 218 different drivers have finished in the top-10 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; 139 of the 218 have posted multiple top 10s.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31; followed by Darrell Waltrip with 29.
• Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 22 each.

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

Average Finish

• Johnny Beauchamp (two starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 7.0.
• Tyler Reddick (six starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 7.667.

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

LAP LEADERS & LEAD CHANGES

• A total of 192 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 Cup 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 39 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) and 2011 (Kevin Harvick).
• 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)

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

• The most different leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is 21 and it occurred on May 29, 2005.
• The fewest different leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is three and it has occurred twice: During the qualifying races of 1961.
• The fewest different leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race (not the qualifying races) at Charlotte Motor Speedway is four leaders and it has occurred seven times: Oct. 1962, Oct. 1964, May 1972, Oct. 1991, Oct. 1993, May 2016, May 2018.
• The most lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is 54 and it occurred on May 27, 1979.
• The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is two and it occurred during the qualifying races of 1961.
• The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race (that is not a qualifying race) at Charlotte Motor Speedway is eight lead changes and it occurred once on October 16, 1960.
• In the last 30 Cup races (2007-2024) held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, only two have resulted in a last lap pass for the win: 2022 and 2011.
• In the last 30 Cup races (2007-2024) held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, seven have resulted in the last pass for the win occurring within five laps to go: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.

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

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

• Five NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in NASCAR Overtime at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

• Six NASCAR Cup Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway; five of the six were the Coca-Cola 600s: 1968, 1971 (Oct.), 1997, 2003, 2009, 2024.

• Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway three times – the October race of 2002, the October race of 2008 and the May race of 2023.
• Qualifying was also cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020 for the May race.
• The largest number of Cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is 22 Cautions, set in the May 29, 2005 race – won by Jimmie Johnson. The race had 103 caution laps in the event.
• The largest number of Caution Laps in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is 113 Caution Laps set in the May 25, 1980 race – won by Benny Parsons. The race had 14 Cautions in the event.
• The top three largest fields to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway were:
  • June 19, 1960 – 60 cars (Winner: Joe Lee Johnson)
  • May 28, 1961 – 55 cars (Winner: David Pearson)
  • October 16, 1960 – 50 cars (Winner: Speedy Thompson)
• Five NASCAR Cup Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway have exceeded five hours in length:
  • June 19, 1960 – 5 hours, 34 minutes, 06 seconds – (Winner: Joe Lee Johnson)
  • May 28, 1961 – 5 hours, 22 minutes, 29 seconds – (Winner: David Pearson)
  • May 29, 2005 – 5 hours, 13 minutes, 52 seconds (Winner: Jimmie Johnson)
  • May 29, 2022 – 5 hours, 13 minutes, 08 seconds (Winner: Denny Hamlin)
  • May 25, 1980 – 5 hours, 01 minutes, 51 seconds (Winner: Benny Parsons)

NASCAR IN NORTH CAROLINA

• There have been 777 NASCAR national series races among 32 tracks in the state of North Carolina.
• Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted the most NASCAR national series races in the state of North Carolina at 227.
• 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 a 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 478 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as North Carolina. 60 of the 478 have won in a NASCAR national series race.

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