Coca-Cola 600 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Coca-Cola 600

NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Charlotte Motor Speedway
Location	Concord, North Carolina, United States
Corporate sponsor	Coca-Cola
First race	1960
Distance	600 mi (965.606 km)
Laps	400 All 4 stages: 100 each
Previous names	World 600 (1960–1984) Coca-Cola World 600 (1985) Coca-Cola 600 (1986–2001, 2003–present) Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 (2002)
Most wins (driver)	Darrell Waltrip (5)
Most wins (team)	Hendrick Motorsports (12)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Chevrolet (26)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Turns	4

The Coca-Cola 600, which started as the World 600, is a famous NASCAR Cup Series race. It happens every year at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina during Memorial Day weekend. The first race took place in 1960, the same year the speedway opened.

This race is special because it's the longest one on the NASCAR schedule, at 600 miles. It's also known for its changing conditions. The race starts in the late afternoon sun, goes through dusk, and finishes at night under bright lights. This change from day to night makes the track slippery in different ways, which is a big challenge for the drivers.

The Coca-Cola 600 is part of a huge weekend for car racing fans. It takes place on the same Sunday as two other major races: the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula One and the Indianapolis 500 in IndyCar Series. Some drivers have even tried to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a challenge known as Double Duty.

How the Racetrack Was Built

In 1959, a race car driver named Curtis Turner got the idea to build a huge speedway near Charlotte. He had just seen the new Daytona International Speedway and wanted something similar in his home state. At the same time, a businessman named Bruton Smith had the same idea.

Turner and Smith decided to work together. They signed a deal with NASCAR to hold a 600-mile race on Memorial Day weekend. But building the track was harder than they thought. When they started digging, they hit a thick layer of hard rock called granite. They had to use a lot of dynamite just to clear the area for the first turn, which made the project much more expensive.

Things got so difficult that in the spring of 1960, the project was behind schedule. The man in charge of paving the track threatened to quit because he hadn't been paid. To make sure the track was finished, Turner and a friend used a shotgun and a revolver to convince him to complete the job. Thanks to their efforts, the first race at the new Charlotte Motor Speedway was held on June 19, 1960.

History of the Race

The World 600 was created to be a NASCAR rival to the famous Indianapolis 500. For many years, the two races were held on different days, and some drivers competed in both. Since 1974, both races have been held on the same Sunday.

In 1992, lights were installed at the track. Fans loved this because it meant the race could start later in the day, avoiding the worst of the North Carolina heat. The start time was moved to the evening, which created a new challenge for drivers: the track temperature drops as the sun goes down, changing how the cars handle.

The race is also a time to honor the U.S. military. Before the race begins, "Amazing Grace" and "Taps" are played to remember service members who gave their lives for their country.

A Race of Four Stages

In 2017, NASCAR introduced a new format called stage racing, where races are broken into parts. Most races have three stages, but the Coca-Cola 600 is unique. It is the only race with four stages, each one lasting 100 laps. This means drivers have more chances to earn points, making it one of the most important races for the championship. A driver who wins the race and all four stages can earn a maximum of 70 points.

The 2024 Coca-Cola 600, won by Christopher Bell

Memorable Race Moments

• 1961: David Pearson was leading by several laps when a tire blew on his final lap. He still managed to cross the finish line and get his very first NASCAR victory.
• 1975: Dale Earnhardt, who would become a seven-time champion, made his first-ever Cup Series start in this race.
• 1985: Darrell Waltrip won the race, which was a key victory on his way to winning the season championship. It was his third win in the 600.
• 1989: Waltrip won the race for a record fifth time, a record that still stands today.
• 1994: A young driver named Jeff Gordon won his very first Cup Series race. His team made a risky call on the final pit stop, changing only two tires to get him back on the track faster.
• 2000: Matt Kenseth became the first rookie to win the Coca-Cola 600, holding off veteran driver Bobby Labonte.
• 2005: Jimmie Johnson won his third Coca-Cola 600 in a row after a thrilling last-lap pass on Bobby Labonte. The race set a record for the most caution flags with 22.
• 2007: In a huge upset, Casey Mears won after the leaders all ran out of fuel in the final laps. It was his only career victory.
• 2011: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was leading on the last lap and about to end a long winless streak, but he ran out of gas just before the finish line. Kevin Harvick sped past to take the win.
• 2016: Martin Truex Jr. completely dominated the race. He led for 392 of the 400 laps, the most ever in this event.
• 2017: Austin Dillon won his first career Cup race, saving just enough fuel to make it to the end. It was the first time the famous No. 3 car had won since Dale Earnhardt's final victory in 2000.
• 2018: Kyle Busch dominated the race, winning all four stages. With this victory, he had officially won a race at every single track on the NASCAR schedule.
• 2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was held without fans. Chase Elliott was leading with two laps to go, but a late caution changed everything. Brad Keselowski stayed on the track while others pitted and held on to win.
• 2022: The race went into double overtime and became the longest race in NASCAR history, covering 619.5 miles.

First-Time Winners

The Coca-Cola 600 is a tough race to win, but for some drivers, it was the place where they got their very first victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. Some famous drivers who got their first win here include:

• David Pearson (1961)
• Jeff Gordon (1994)
• Bobby Labonte (1995)
• Matt Kenseth (2000)
• Casey Mears (2007)
• David Reutimann (2009)
• Austin Dillon (2017)

Past winners

Notes

• *: An asterisk notes a race that was changed for a special reason.
• 1960: Race was delayed for three weeks because the track was not finished being built.
• 1963, 2009, 2023: Races were moved from Sunday to Monday because of rain.
• 1968, 1997, 2003, 2009, 2024: Races were stopped early and made shorter because of rain.
• 1974: Race was shortened because of a national energy crisis.
• 2011, 2020, 2022: Races were made longer because of NASCAR overtime rules.

Multiple winners (drivers)

Multiple winners (teams)

Manufacturer wins

See also

In Spanish: 600 Millas de Charlotte para niños

• Double Duty