Kurt Busch has the pole to kick off 600 miles at Charlotte Motor Speedway! Jimmie Johnson completes the front row. The 2020 Coca-Cola 600 has begun!
Coca-Cola 600 – Stage One
On lap 20, the competition caution is out.
Kurt Busch continues to lead.
The caution is out again on lap 49. This time it’s for rain. They bring the cars down pit road, the drivers climb out, and NASCAR brings out the red flag.
Just over an hour after the rain began and the red flag was put out, the drivers pull off of pit road.
Drivers stop on pit road to refuel and to make some adjustments before the restart.
The green flag is in the air and we are back underway!
Alex Bowman leads.
"How did that car not spin!?" @CBellRacing | #CocaCola600 pic.twitter.com/gMJx429wb1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 25, 2020
Ryan Blaney attempts to make a pass on Christopher Bell but he barely clips the rear. Bell in the number 95 Toyota Camry gets sideways and almost spins but somehow he saves it. The race continues on.
Clint Bowyer is up in smoke and has stopped against the wall. He has hit the wall hard but carefully climbs out under his own power.
This is what Bowyer had to say after being released from the infield care center:
“It knocked the wind out of me there. It sucks to be 100 laps into a 400 lap race and be out already. Talk about a helpless feeling. I’m gonna go take this thing off (his mask) and go find somewhere to have me a cold beer.”
Clint Bowyer
With only three laps remaining when the caution flag came out, stage one will end under caution.
Alex Bowman wins stage one!
Stage Two
Bubba Wallace, in the number 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet, is in the garage for a mechanical issue after losing his brakes. The team is working hard to make repairs and get back in the race.
While they make repairs, out on the racetrack Jimmie Johnson is your new leader!
After a round of green flag pit stops, Alex Bowman returns to the lead.
In dominating style, Alex Bowman takes another stage win!
A moment of silence to remember the fallen. pic.twitter.com/kcySOhdNhj
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 25, 2020
At the end of stage two, everyone is brought down pit road in single file to pause for a moment of silence to honor the fallen. It is not possible to thank and honor the ones who put their lives on the line for our country too much.
Stage Three
Alex Bowman continues to hold the lead in stage three.
Martin Truex Jr. looks to the inside of Bowman in the number 88 and goes three-wide beside Bowman and a lapped car.
Truex takes the lead!
Ryan Newman drops to P29 and goes four laps down to go behind the wall for a battery change.
Matt Kenseth is sideways and slides down the wall into turn four. He has a flat right-front tire and the caution is out.
Joey Logano is one of three drivers who stayed out so he’s the new leader.
As Alex Bowman is moving in on Logano, he comes across a lapped car who is low on track below the white line. Bowman goes sideways to miss it and saves the car, but Logano has extended the lead out further.
Joey Logano wins stage three!
Final Stage
Logano slides up into Ryan Blaney and others swerve to miss what was almost a big one at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. is the leader.
The caution is back out as the number 51 goes around.
We’re now closing in on midnight!
At the green flag, Mr. Seven-Time Champion has the lead! If fans were in attendance I’m sure they would be on their feet right now!
Keselowski noses ahead and takes the lead from Johnson.
Chase Elliott drops below Keselowski and slides in front to take the top spot with 35 laps to go!
Now five laps to go!
There’s trouble!
William Byron has spun and the caution is out.
Overtime
We’re now in overtime!
Leader Chase Elliott makes a pit stop for new tires in hopes that there will be another caution before it’s all said and done.
Keselowski has the lead at the restart.
He holds the lead and takes the checkered flag to win his first Coca-Cola 600!
The 2020 Coca-Cola 600 has just become the longest race in NASCAR history at 607.5 miles and over six hours.
Coca-Cola 600 Results
Here’s your top ten:
- Brad Keselowski
- Jimmie Johnson
- Chase Elliott
- Ryan Blaney
- Kyle Busch
- Kevin Harvick
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kurt Busch
- Tyler Reddick
- Christopher Bell
Early on Monday morning, NASCAR disqualified Jimmie Johnson from second place for failing post-race inspection. Click here for more details on the situation.
To check out more awesome photo edits like the one pictured at the top of this article check out Vince Brent Edits on Facebook and Instagram!
Come back to Belly Up Sports later this week as NASCAR’s Xfinity Series and the Gander RV and Outdoor Truck Series races Monday and Tuesday night. The Cup Series is back on Wednesday night!
Happy Memorial Day from everyone at Wingman Sports and Belly Up Sports. Thank you to all the families of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
