2023 Coca-Cola 600

The 2023 Coca-Cola 600 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on May 29, 2023, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina and the 64th running of the event. Contested over 400 laps on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) asphalt speedway, it was the 14th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, as well as the third of the four crown jewel races. The race was postponed from Sunday, May 28 to Monday, May 29, due to rain.

2023 Coca-Cola 600
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 14 of 36 in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series
DateMay 29, 2023 (2023-05-29)
LocationCharlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, U.S.
CoursePermanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Distance400 laps, 600 mi (965.6 km)
Average speed120.465 miles per hour (193.870 km/h)
Pole position
DriverHendrick Motorsports
Time2.550 (Pandemic Formula)
Most laps led
DriverRyan BlaneyTeam Penske
Laps163
Winner
No. 12Ryan BlaneyTeam Penske
Television in the United States
NetworkFox
AnnouncersMike Joy, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, and Danny McBride (Stage 2)
Radio in the United States
RadioPRN
Booth AnnouncersDoug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn AnnouncersRob Albright (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4)

Report

Background

Charlotte Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

The race was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in Concord, North Carolina. The speedway complex includes a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) quad-oval track that was utilized for the race, as well as a dragstrip and a dirt track. The speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams based in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) with Marcus G. Smith serving as track president.

Similar to the Daytona 500, which was a four-stage race (with the first stage being the qualifying heat race), the Coca-Cola 600 is a four-stage race, with this the only race where all four stages are in the main race itself. All four stages are scheduled to consist of 100 laps. The race is official after the second stage.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes the driver ineligible for series driver points.
No.DriverTeamManufacturer
1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
15J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
38Zane Smith (i)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet
43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Todd GillilandRick Ware RacingFord
54Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
77Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsChevrolet
84Jimmie JohnsonLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Practice was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Qualifying

Qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather. William Byron was awarded the pole for the race as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 2.550.[9]

Starting lineup

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturer
124William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
24Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
36Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
58Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
69Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
812Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
920Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
1047Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
1117Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
125Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
1321Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord
141Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
1545Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
1631Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet
1722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
1819Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
1954Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
2014Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
212Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
2241Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord
2310Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
2499Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
257Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
2643Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet
2716A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
2842Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet
2938Zane Smith (i)Front Row MotorsportsFord
3034Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
3148Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
3277Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
333Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
3478B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsChevrolet
3551Todd GillilandRick Ware RacingFord
3615J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
3784Jimmie JohnsonLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

Ryan Blaney won the race driving a Ford for Team Penske. It was Blaney's first Cup Series race win since the 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race, and his first points-paying win since the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400.[10][11] Chase Elliott was suspended from the following race after he intentionally right-hooked Denny Hamlin's car in the dog-leg of the frontstretch, causing a crash.[12][13] On Wednesday May 31, NASCAR levied an L3 penalty to the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing team of Chase Briscoe for counterfeiting a single-source part. The penalty is the largest single team penalty to occur in the Next Gen era, with Briscoe's team being docked 120 driver and owner points and 25 playoff points. In addition, Briscoe's crew chief, Johnny Klausmeier, was given a six race suspension and the team was fined $250,000.[14]

Race results

Stage results

Stage OneLaps: 100

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
124William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10
220Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota9
312Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord8
445Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota7
519Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota6
611Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota5
78Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4
86Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord3
95Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
1047Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet1
Official stage one results

Stage TwoLaps: 100

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
117Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord10
24Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord9
36Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord8
422Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord7
512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord6
620Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota5
754Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota4
824William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet3
91Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet2
1023Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota1
Official stage two results

Stage ThreeLaps: 100

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
112Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10
245Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota9
319Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota8
424William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet7
554Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota6
65Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
78Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet4
84Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord3
947Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet2
1048Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Official stage three results

Final Stage results

Stage FourLaps: 100

PosGridNoDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPoints
1812Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord40064
2124William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40055
31819Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota40048
4723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota40034
51545Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota40048
658Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40039
71047Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet40033
81117Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord40039
9333Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet40028
102938Zane Smith (i)Front Row MotorsportsFord4000
1124Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord40038
123148Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet40026
132241Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord40024
142716A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet40023
151631Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet40022
163615J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord4000
17257Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet40020
181321Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord40019
1936Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord40029
202014Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord400-103
211722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord40023
22141Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet40017
232499Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet40014
24920Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota40027
252310Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord40012
261954Ty Gibbs (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota39821
273277Ty DillonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet39710
283034Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord3969
293478B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsChevrolet3928
30125Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet37714
31212Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord3696
322643Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet3415
333551Todd GillilandRick Ware RacingFord2654
3469Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1853
35411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1857
362842Noah Gragson (R)Legacy Motor ClubChevrolet1171
373784Jimmie JohnsonLegacy Motor ClubChevrolet1151
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 31 among 13 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 16 for 83 laps
  • Red flags: 1 for 30 minutes and 48 seconds
  • Time of race: 4 hours, 58 minutes, and 50 seconds
  • Average speed: 120.465 miles per hour (193.870 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports televised the race in the United States for the 23rd consecutive year. Mike Joy was the lap-by-lap announcer, while 2012 Fall Charlotte winner Clint Bowyer, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart, and actor Danny McBride in Stage 2 were the color commentators. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims reported from pit lane during the race. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

Fox
Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Tony Stewart
Color commentator: Danny McBride (Stage 2)
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Josh Sims
Larry McReynolds

Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by the Performance Racing Network (PRN), and was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race in the booth when the field raced through the quad-oval. Rob Albright called the race from a billboard in turn 2 when the field was racing through turns 1 and 2 and halfway down the backstretch. Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through the other half of the backstretch and through turns 3 and 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Wendy Venturini, and Alan Cavanna were the pit reporters during the broadcast.

PRN Radio
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright
Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Wendy Venturini
Alan Cavanna

Standings after the race

Manufacturers' Championship standings
PosManufacturerPoints
1Chevrolet527
2Toyota488 (–39)
3Ford478 (–49)
  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
  • . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

References


Previous race:
2023 Goodyear 400
NASCAR Cup Series
2023 season
Next race:
2023 Enjoy Illinois 300