Daniel Suarez wins emotional, rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600: At the drivers’ meeting before Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer had some parting words for the NASCAR Cup Series drivers. “Let’s put on a race Kyle would be proud of,” Sawyer said, referring to two-time series champion and certain NASCAR Hall of Famer Kyle Busch, who passed away Thursday after a sudden, brief illness.[Read More]
#7-Daniel Suarez won the rain shortened Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The win is his first win of the year, first at Charlotte and third career win.
#20-Christopher Bell finished 2nd followed by #11-Denny Hamlin, pole sitter #45-Tyler Reddick, #5-Kyle Larson, #54-Ty Gibbs, #12-Ryan Blaney, #22-Joey Logano, #24-William Byron, and #38-Zane Smith.
The race was called with 373 of the 400 scheduled laps complete. The end of the race was marred by a caution for lightning and a couple other cautions for light rain. Suarez took only two tires during the final pit stops to get out front and held the lead the rest of the way. During the final caution, rain picked up heavily. Due the the late hour and the fact it would take at least 90 minutes to dry the track, the remainder of the race was cancelled.
Stage 1 was won by #5-Kyle Larson. Stage 2 was won by #11-Denny Hamlin. #20-Christopher Bell won stage 3.
The fastest lap bonus a earned by #54-Ty Gibbs.
There were 32 lead changes among 13 drivers and 12 cautions for 75 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 119.921mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.
Race Fast Facts – Charlotte:
Daniel Suarez won the Coca-Cola 600, his third victory in 336 Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2026.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 12 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Christopher Bell (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2026.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 22nd top-10 finish in 35 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Connor Zilisch (39th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Tyler Reddick leads the point standings by 122 points over Denny Hamlin.
Driver Points /Chase Standings after Charlotte:
Race 13 of 26 in the regular season:
1) #45-Tyler Reddick, 620, +332
2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 498, +210
3) #12-Ryan Blaney, 446, +158
4) #54-Ty Gibbs, 425, +137
5) #9-Chase Elliott, 423, +135
6) #5-Kyle Larson, 386, +98
7) #17-Chris Buescher, 385, +97
8) #20-Christopher Bell, 361, +73
9) #77-Carson Hocevar, 356, +68
10) #7-Daniel Suarez, 350, +62
11) #6-Brad Keselowski, 343, +55
12) #24-William Byron, 337, +49
13) #23-Bubba Wallace, 328, +40
14) #97-Shane Van Gisbergen, 316, +28
15) #19-Chase Briscoe, 304, +16
16) #60-Ryan Preece, 303, +15
Outside the top 16:
15) #2-Austin Cindric, 288, -15
18) #22-Joey Logano, 274, -29
19) #16-A.J. Allmendinger, 254, -49
19) #71-Michael McDowell, 248, -55
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Race updates:
11:27pm/et – The race is official. Due to the time needed to try the track, it will not continue. Suarez is the winner.
Lap 374 – Red flag for rain. Suarez leads Bell Hamlin Reddick Larson Gibbs Blaney Logan Byron Smith. With the track lost, it could take at least 90 minutes to dry the track and restart the race with only 27 laps to go. NASCAR will allow drivers out of the cars.
Lap 374 – Raining heavy now. Track is going to be lost.
Lap 373 – CAUTION back out for rain in turn 2. Suarez still leads.
Lap 372 – Bell back to second.
Lap 371 – Suarez retains the lead on the restart. Hamlin to second. Bell back to third. Reddick fourth.
Lap 370 – Green with 31 to go. Suarez leads Bell Hamlin Larson and Smith.
11:21pm/et – Officials say track is ready. Coming to the green.
11:20pm/et – Restart waved off.
11:19pm/et – Very light rain in turn 2.
11:18pm/et – Cars are rolling again. Coming directly back to the green flag.
11:17pm/et – NASCAR officials say the track is ready. There are a few drops off turn 4. Engines will be refired.
Lap 367 – Red flag for rain at 11:10pm/et.
Lap 366 – Restart waved off. More rain drops in turn 1. The race is going to have to be red flagged.
Lap 365 – Teams reporting that rain has pretty much stopped.
Lap 364 – Under caution: Suarez Bell Hamlin Larson Reddick Gibbs Smith Logano Byron SVG the top 10.
Lap 363 – NASCAR reporting light rain on the backstretch. For now, cars will stay on track to keep heat in the track.
Lap 361 – CAUTION out for rain in turn 1 and 2.
Lap 360 – Green with 41 laps remaining.
Lap 357 – NASCAR now says that there is no lightning hold. The lightning was moving away from the track. Pit road opens and drivers come in. Off pit road: Suarez Bell Hamlin Larson Reddick Smith Gibbs Logano Byron SVG. Suarez only took two tires.
Lap 353 – CAUTION for lightning six miles out. Bell leads Hamlin Reddick Larson SVG Smith Logano Gibbs Keselowski and Blaney.
Lap 351 – Fifty laps remaining. Bell ahead of Hamlin by .6 second. Reddick is 1.6 second out of the lead. Then SVG and Larson. ADillon is done for the night.
Lap 344 – ADillon to pit road with right front damage. He goes behind the wall. No caution. Reddick moves around SVG for third.
Lap 342 – Hamlin to second.
Lap 340 – Briscoe and Chastain officially done for the night.
Lap 339 – Bell to the lead over SVG. Then Hamlin Larson Reddick.
Lap 338 – Green with 63 to go. SVG leads Bell Larson Hamlin Reddick Logano Jones Byron Smith and Blaney. Rain still staying just a few miles west of the track.
Lap 333 – Pit road is open. Gibbs pits along with a few drivers further back. Most leaders stay out.
Lap 329 – CAUTION for an accident on the backstretch. Briscoe got into the back of Buescher. Buescher collected Preece and Berry got collected.
Lap 328 – SVG to the lead with Bell second. Then Larson and Hamlin. Gibbs falls to fifth.
Lap 327 – Back to green with 74 laps remaining. Gibbs SVG Larson Bell Hamlin Briscoe Jones Logano Smith Reddick the top 10. Reddick is the first on 4 fresh tires.
Lap 322 – Pit road is open. Gibbs and SVG stay out. The rest of the leaders come in. Larson is off first, followed by Bell Hamlin Briscoe Jones Logano Smith and Reddick. Everyone ahead of Reddick took only two tires.
Lap 320 – Rain still west of the track but there is some lightning developing 15-20 miles away in heavy storms.
Lap 318 – CAUTION out for an accident by Chastain on the backstretch. The front end is destroyed. Stenhouse got into the rear of Chastain after Chastain slid up in front of him.
Lap 315 – Larson to third.
Lap 314 – Gibbs to the lead over Reddick and Bell
Lap 313 – Green flag for the start of the final stage. 88 laps remaining. 20 drivers on the lead lap.
Lap 309 – With pit road clear, it’s now open and leader come in for service. Off pit road: Bell Gibbs Hamlin Reddick Larson SVG Briscoe Blaney Keselowski Jones.
Lap 304 – Pit road stays closed as Hill came onto pit road earlier with the right front on fire. NASCAR is cleaning up before opening pit road.
Lap 301 – CAUTION is out for the end of stage 2. Bell wins it over Hamlin Gibbs Briscoe Larson Reddick SVG Keselowski Blaney Stenhouse.
Lap 297 – Bell takes the lead from Hamlin.
Lap 296 – Five to go in the stage. Hamlin leads Bell by .13 second. Gibbs now third, then Briscoe and Larson.
Lap 292 – Bell moves to second after Briscoe made some contact with the wall.
Lap 288 – Hamlin now leads Briscoe and Bell with Reddick back to fourth.
Lap 286 – With 15 to go in the stage, Reddick leads Briscoe by .2 second, the Hamlin Gibbs and Bell.
Lap 278 – 23 laps left in the stage. Reddick leads Briscoe by .8 second. Rain is staying west of the track.
Lap 270 – Briscoe around Hamlin for second, 1.3 seconds behind Reddick.
Lap 269 – Reddick has now pulled out to a 1 second lead over Hamlin.
Lap 259 – Bell pits and Reddick is back in the lead, .58 second ahead of Hamlin.
Lap 256 – Bell leads Keselowski and Smith. They have not pitted. Behind them it’s Reddick Hamlin Briscoe and Gibbs.
Lap 252 – Hamlin pits from the lead. Bell now out front.
Lap 250 – Some green flag pit stops beginning. Showers are west of the track but there’s other cells building southwest.
Lap 241 – Sixty to go in stage 3. Reddick Hamlin Briscoe Larson Gibbs Bell SVG Stenhouse Logano Blaney the top 10.
Lap 234 – Light rain reported within two miles of the track. Currently light and it may go west.
Lap 231 – Reddick’s lead is .3 second over Hamlin. Then Larson Briscoe and Gibbs.
Lap 224 – Reddick takes the lead back.
Lap 222 – Hamlin to the lead
Lap 219 – Hamlin to second.
Lap 218 – Reddick to the lead over Briscoe Hamlin Larson and Gibbs.
Lap 217 – Briscoe leads Hamlin at the line. Reddick just behind.
Lap 216 – Back to green. Hamlin still leads Briscoe.
Lap 213 – Pit road is open. A few drivers further back in the pack pit.
Lap 210 – CAUTION is out. Legge slowed on track and then lost the a right front wheel.
Lap 208 – Green flag for the start of the third stage. Rain possibly approaching but an uncertain timeline.
Lap 205 – Prime is discussing the weather and possible incoming rain. Rain is nearing the track and building behind it. Should the race go red, they may not be able to restart.
Lap 203 – Pit road is open. Leaders are in. Off pit road: Hamlin Briscoe Gibbs Larson Reddick Buescher SVG Blaney Stenhouse Preece. Four tires and fuel all around.
Lap 202 – NASCAR brings the cars to pit road during the break for a moment of silence, as has become tradition during the Coca-Cola 600.
Lap 201 – CAUTION for the end of stage 2. Hamlin wins it over Gibbs Briscoe Reddick Larson Bell Blaney Buescher SVG Stenhouse. Free pass is 19th place Allmendinger.
Lap 197 – Four to go in stage 2. Hamlin still in control.
Lap 191 – Ten laps remaining in the second stage. Hamlin’s lead over Gibbs is 4.1 seconds. Now just 20 drivers on the lead lap as Hamlin laps Byron.
8:35pm/et – 185 laps have been completed in two hours since the green flag.
Lap 182 – Kaulig Racing reporting, “Some weather in Rock Hill right now, about an hour away”.
Lap 181 – Twenty to go in stage 2 (and an official race). Hamlin leads Gibbs Briscoe Larson Reddick Bell Blaney Buescher SVG and Stenhouse. There are now 23 drivers on the lead lap.
Lap 164 – Hamlin’s lead over Briscoe is 3.9 seconds.
Lap 156 – Pit stops complete. Hamlin back to the lead over Briscoe Gibbs Larson Reddick Blaney Bell SVG Stenhouse and Preece
Lap 154 – Hocevar pits.
Lap 154 – Hocevar continues to lead. He has not pitted yet. Then Hamlin Briscoe Larson and Gibbs.
Lap 151 – Bell pits and Hocevar takes the lead.
Lap 149 – Bell now the leader as Gibbs pits.
Lap 148 – Hamlin pits from the lead. Gibbs now out front.
Lap 147 – Briscoe is pitting.
Lap 143 – Hamlin takes the lead. Some green flag pit stops are beginning.
Lap 140 – Hamlin is closing on Briscoe for the lead, now .3 second back.
Lap 129 – Briscoe leads Hamlin by .8 second. Then Reddick Gibbs Larson Blaney SVG Stenhouse Keselowski Berry
Lap 114 – Hamlin now second.
Lap 112 – Briscoe takes the lead from Larson.
Lap 109 – Green for the start of the second stage. Larson leads Briscoe Reddick Hamlin and Blaney. Preece’s team tells him “We are showing rain about an hour (away)”
Lap 103 – Elliott is officially done for the night. Pit road open. Most leaders stay out. Those pitting: Jones Buescher Gragson TDillon Custer McDowell Nemechek Ware Chastain
Lap 101 – CAUTION for the end of stage 1. Larson wins it over Briscoe Reddick Hamlin Jones Blaney Gibbs Preece Stenhouse and SVG. Hocevar is the free pass. The first stage was completed in 1 hour and 8 minutes. No rain in the immediate area.
Lap 99 – Briscoe to second.
Lap 98 – Larson now the leader.
Lap 97 – Hamlin to the lead over Larson Briscoe Jones Reddick.
Lap 96 – Five laps remaining in the stage. McDowell Nemechek Jones Hamlin Reddick Gibbs Larson Briscoe SVG Preece the top 10.
Lap 92 – Pit road is open. Again, most leaders come in. McDowell and Nemechek stay out. Off pit road: Jones (two tires) Smith Hamlin Reddick Gibbs Larson Bell. Bell penalized for equipment interference. Smith was speeding.
Lap 91 – CAUTION for an accident by Elliott on the backstretch. He got loose off turn 2 and slid down into the inside wall. Free pass is Wallace.
Have added several photos from pre-race ceremonies to the image gallery page for this weekend.
Lap 86 – Fifteen laps remaining in the first stage. Smith leads Reddick Hamlin Larson Gibbs Preece Briscoe Bell SVG and Buescher.
Lap 75 – Reddick back to second, .9 second behind Smith. Cindric and Zilisch are officially done for the day.
Lap 71 – Smith still leads. Larson now second, the Reddick Preece and Buescher.
Lap 65 – Hocevar pits with a flat tire. Smith now the leader, Reddick up to second.
Lap 61 – Preece to the lead. Smith to second and Reddick to third. Wallace pits.
Lap 60 – Back to green. Chastain Preece Buescher Smith Reddick the top 5. Wallace gets pushed into the wall and slows.
Lap 58 – After staying out under caution, Chastain is now the leader.
Lap 57 – Pit road open. Most leaders back in. Off pit road: Preece Buescher Smith Reddick Briscoe Hamlin Gibbs. Preece Buescher and Smith just take two tires.
Lap 56 – Zilisch is now behind the wall. Cindric is out of his car and likely done for the night.
Lap 53 – CAUTION for a wreck involving Zilisch and Cindric in turn 2. Suarez is the free pass.
Lap 47 – Suarez with an unscheduled pit stop.
Lap 42 – Reddick back out front.
Lap 41 – Briscoe leads at the line.
Lap 40 – Green flag back out.
Lap 36 – Pit road is open. Leaders are in. Off pit road: Reddick Briscoe Gibbs Preece Hamlin SVG Cindric Larson Buescher ADillon. Pit trouble for Blaney. He comes out 20th.
Lap 35 – CAUTION is out. A spin by Berry in turn two. He continues on. Hill gets the free pass.
Lap 31 – Reddick’s lead over Gibbs holding steady, Briscoe now up to third, but 7.1 seconds back.
Lap 29 – Hill and Legge are now off the lead lap. Ware next up for leader Reddick to put a lap down.
Lap 22 – Reddick’s lead is .7 second over Gibbs. Blaney McDowell and Briscoe round out the top 5. Hill and Legge and at the back of the field and will soon lose a lap.
Lap 11 – Reddick has a .6 second lead over Gibbs. Blaney is now third, 2.7 seconds back.
Lap 8 – Silent lap for Busch.
Lap 2 – Reddick leads the first lap
• 6:35pm/et – Green flag for the race. First stage is 100 laps. The race is official after 200 laps. Rain chances increase as the evening goes on.
• 6:30pm/et – Drivers form the missing man formation on the pace laps to honor Kyle Busch. Reddick drops back to leave the pole position open.
• 6:20pm/et – Engines fired for the Coca-Cola 600.
• 6:09pm/et – National Anthem by Chief Warrant Officer Craig Morgan Green
• 6:08pm/et – 21 gun salute and playing of Taps for Memorial Day.
• 6:04pm/et – Moment of silence and the playing of Amazing Grace for Busch.
• NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell speaks in tribute to Kyle Busch.
• 6:02pm/et – Pre-race ceremonies are underway.
• 6:00pm/et – Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix Busch, Kurt Busch, and Kyle’s parents Tom and Gaye are in attendance for pre-race ceremonies.
• 5:58pm/et – Bowman is the only driver dropping to the rear, for unapproved adjustments.
• 5:44pm/et – Denny Hamlin now on Prime to talk.
• 5:41pm/et – NASCAR’s Mike Helton is now interviewed.
• 5:40pm/et – Adam Stevens is interviewed by Prime.
• 5:30pm/et – Joe Gibbs now talking to Prime about Kyle Busch.
• 5:13pm/et – Prime interviews Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, and Daniel Suarez about Kyle Busch.
• 5:00pm/et – Amazon Prime is now live with race coverage.
• 4:40pm/et – With less than two hours until the green flag, the forecast is looking better to at least get the race started on time. Rain chances have diminished and it looks like there could be at least a couple of hours of clear weather at the start….everything subject to change of course.
• Felix Rosenqvist has won the Indianapolis 500 in a one lap shootout. It’s the closest Indy 500 finish ever, .0233 second. Rosenquist passed Malukas coming to the checkered flag.
• Layne Riggs won the Truck Series race this morning in a race that was cut short due to time limits.
• Weekend image gallery
• Paint Schemes
• The forecast in short: We are going to need help to get the race in. It’s certainly possible to get a window, but totally uncertain at this point. NASCAR is going to wait it out for at least a while tonight because of Monday’s forecast.
• The Monday forecast is no better: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 2pm. High near 80. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Weather is going to continue to be an issue at the track. The Sunday National Weather Service forecast as of 6:30am/et: A slight chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Race Details:
Broadcast: NASCAR on Prime, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
istance: 400 laps / 600 miles
Stages: 100 / 200 / 300 / 400
Average time of race: 4:41:59
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 55 mph
Fuel Window: 68 laps
Timing (all times local & subject to change)
Command: 6:19:00 p.m.
Green Flag: 6:30:00 p.m.
Paint Schemes
Image Gallery
Cars to the rear: #48-Alex Bowman (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 sitter #45-Tyler Reddick chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #54-Ty Gibbs took the 15th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Charlotte Pit Stall page.
Pre-race inspection in the NASCAR Cup Series garage is complete. No multiple failures.
Practice for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over. The results:
#47-Ricky Stenhouse Jr 185.764
#77-Carson Hocevar 185.089
#71-Michael McDowell 184.931
#12-Ryan Blaney 184.678
#67-Corey Heim 184.451
Slowest: #66-Timmy Hill 172.029mph
Most laps run: #17-Chris Buescher, 42 laps.
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 33 drivers): #71-Michael McDowell, 181.725mph
Notes: Practice was a single 45 minute session with all teams participating. It was briefly halted once for rain.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Coca-Cola 600 Practice speeds page.
#45-Tyler Reddick will start on the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway after qualifying was rained out Saturday afternoon. The lineup was set by the rulebook. The starting order was determined by NASCAR’s qualifying metric, which is based 70% on the previous race finish by owner and 30% on current owner points position.
#54-Ty Gibbs will start second followed by #97-Shane van Gisbergen, #71-Michael McDowell, #19-Chase Briscoe, #12-Ryan Blaney, #17-Chris Buescher, #2-Austin Cindric, #3-Austin Dillon, and #16-A.J. Allmendinger.
Austin Hill will start 13th in the No. 33.
See the complete Coca-Cola 600 Starting Lineup.
Qualifying Order
Crew Rosters
The entry list for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
#8-Austin Hill will drive the #33 (renumbered from #8).
Open teams entered: #66-Timmy Hill, #67-Corey Heim, #78-Katherine Legge.
See the full entry list on the Coca-Cola 600 Entry List page.
Goodyear Fast Facts — Charlotte: The Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setup selected for Memorial Day Weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is a familiar combination for teams, having already been raced this year at four other high-speed ovals: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Kansas Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.
The left-side tire debuted at Charlotte last May, while the right-side tire underwent a construction change aimed at increasing strategy options and was first raced at Kansas last fall.
Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Coca-Cola 600: A look at the top statistical performers at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, going into the Coca-Cola 600
Race rules and information:
