Polesitter Denny Hamlin overcomes chaos to win wild Coca-Cola 600: Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway started with Denny Hamlin out front and ended with Denny Hamlin out front. What happened in-between defied belief. And a driver who claims to thrive in chaos proved to be a man of his word. Hamlin won the longest race in NASCAR history—619.5 miles—in two overtimes, beating Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch to the finish line by .014 seconds.[Read More](5-29-2022)
#11-Denny Hamlin won the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The win is his 2nd win of the year, 1st at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 48th career win.
#18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #4-Harvick, #14-Briscoe, #20-Bell, #8-Reddick, #47-Stenhouse, Jr., #34-McDowell, #5-Larson, and #48-Bowman.
Hamlin started from the pole but only led 4 laps on the night. The race ended after the second overtime attempt.
The race was forced into overtime initially after a caution came out with 2 laps remaining. 2nd place #14-Briscoe spun while attempting to take the lead from Larson.
On the first overtime attempt, #3-Dillon made a move on #5-Larson for the lead coming to the white flag. He got loose and the field bunched up. Larson then got into Dillon sending him into the outside wall, collecting both drivers as well as several others.
Hamlin took the lead just before the final caution came out. #18-Busch took the lead at the white flag but Hamlin was able to get back around him for the checked flag.
The race was red flagged with 54 laps remaining after a wreck sent #17-Buscher flipping through the infield. His car came to rest upside down and it took several minutes to get it turned over and get him out.
Stage 1 was won by #9-Elliott. Stage 2 was won by #99-Suarez. Stage 3 was won by #1-Chastain.
There were 31 lead changes among 13 drivers and 18 cautions for 90 yellow flag laps.
The time of the race was 5 hours, 16 minutes, 16 seconds.
The average speed of the race was: 118.703mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.
Race Fast Facts – Charlotte Motor Speedway:
Denny Hamlin won the 63rd Annual COCA-COLA 600, his 48th victory in 592 Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and third top-10 finish in 2022.
This is his first victory and 20th top-10 finish in 31 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch (second) posted his 21st top-10 finish in 34 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 10th top-10 finish in 2022.
Kevin Harvick (third) posted his 21st top-10 finish in 40 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Harrison Burton (11th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Chase Elliott leads the point standings by 34 points over Ross Chastain.
(NASCAR)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Charlotte Motor Speedway:
Race 14 of 26 in the regular season
1) #1-Ross Chastain [2 wins], 455
2) #24-William Byron [2 wins], 420
3) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 309
4) #9-Chase Elliott [1 win], 489
5) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 452
6) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 423
7) #48-Alex Bowman [1 win], 415
8) #5-Kyle Larson [1 win], 412
9) #14-Chase Briscoe [1 win], 349
10) #2-Austin Cindric [1 win], 294
11) #45-Kurt Busch [1 win], 289
12) #12-Ryan Blaney, 436
13) #19-Martin Truex Jr., 430
14) #20-Christopher Bell, 400
15) #4-Kevin Harvick, 373
16) #8-Tyler Reddick, 350
Below the Playoff cutoff:
17) #10-Aric Almirola, 342
18) #3-Austin Dillon, 328
19) #43-Erik Jones, 321
20) #99-Daniel Suarez, 301
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: #47-Stenhouse, Jr. (unapproved adjustments), #10-Almirola (unapproved adjustments), #41-Custer (unapproved adjustments) , #5-Larson (unapproved adjustments), #7-LaJoie (backup car), #50-Grala (unapproved adjustments)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #11-Hamlin chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #45-Busch took the 5th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Pit Stall page.
#11-Denny Hamlin won the Busch pole for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with speed of 183.680mph for his 1st pole of the year, 3rd at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 34th of his career.
#45-Busch will start second followed by #20-Bell, #18-Busch , #24-Byron, #2-Cindric, #23-Wallace, #8-Reddick , #48-Bowman, and #34-McDowell.
37 teams were entered so everyone made the race.
See the complete qualifying results and the Coca-Cola 600 Starting Lineup.
Charlotte Motor Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Denny Hamlin won the Pole Award for the 63rd Annual COCA-COLA 600 with a lap of 29.399 seconds, 183.680 mph.
This is his 34th pole in 592 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and seventh top-10 start in 2022.
This is his third pole in 31 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kurt Busch (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2022 and his 11th in 41 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Christopher Bell (third) posted his first top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his 10th in 14 races this season.
Austin Cindric (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR)
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over. The top-five, slowest and notes:
#5-Larson 182.500
#48-Bowman 182.205
#1-Chastain 181.800
#2-Cindric 181.788
#19-Truex, Jr. 181.635
Slowest: #50-Grala, 169.838
Most laps run: 24 laps by #12-Blaney, #8-Reddick, #21-Burton
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 16 drivers): #19-Truex, Jr. 179.188
Notes: #7-LaJoie wrecked hard early in practice. He will have to go to a backup car. #5-Larson brought out the caution after contact with the wall, but the team will make repairs. #15-Preece spun but did not not hit anything.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Coca-Cola 600 Practice speeds page.
Crew Rosters
The Entry List for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 37 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Preece, #16-Gragson, #50-Grala.
Since 37 cars are entered, no one will miss the race.
See the full entry list on the Coca-Cola 600 Entry List page.
Goodyear Fast Facts — Charlotte Motor Speedway
Cup Series TandemDraft Stats-Charlotte
Cup Series TandemDraft Next Gen Form Stats-Charlotte