After a little bit of a weather delay, the Coke 600 took place and didn’t disappoint. The track was able to handle three wide racing early and often. However, some controversy that happened on track has seemed to take hold of the headlines following the checkered flag. So, let’s talk about the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 including the controversy and A+ racing.
Short & Sweet Race Review
Each of the four stages in Monday’s race had one hundred total laps, and all of them seemed extremely race filled. The first stage had two total cautions, one of those being the competition caution. Up to that point, it seemed like Coach Gibbs brought a slew of fast race cars having three of his four cars making up three of the top five running cars when the yellow flag was flown. No major controversy yet, but that first pit road stall was making an impact for the twenty-four car putting him back up on the front row beside Ryan Blaney. Ryan and William battled it out but ultimately after late-stage caution, the twenty-four car would take the stage one victory.
The second stage is what the drama-seeking fans were waiting on. It saw a battle between young Toyota drivers, some green flag pit stops again, and unfortunately, mother nature rear her ugly head all within the first sixty-ish laps of the stage. After the red flag was lifted and the race was resumed it didn’t take long for the controversy to begin. The twenty-team was caught cutting pieces of the vinyl wrap off of the car under the red flag break and were penalized. That heat of the battle was really starting to rise now.
Controversy Begins
A big hit for Denny Hamlin. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Ss1FEqGYiJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 29, 2023
Around lap 189 Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott were involved in the above accident. Honestly, even as an Elliott fan, my first reaction was shock. Why with almost two hundred full laps left in this race, Chase turned into Denny after the contact he did make with the wall.
I wanted to think maybe something broke but there was a moment of recovery before that turn right? Then Denny being Denny posting on Twitter the SMT Data, showing a huge left turn in Chase’s steering sealed the case for me even. NASCAR suspended Chase for this weekend’s race, and unfortunately, I have to say rightfully so. It was a mistake in the heat of battle by Chase. Hopefully, as his fan, he learns a ton and moves on it was dumb but we are all human and do make those dumb mistakes.
Wrapping Up The Coke 600
Now let’s finish talking about this race. Stage number two wrapped up with some awesome racing and a surprise winner in Chris Buescher. Now stages three and four are where the action started. The first thirty laps of stage three were led by a few drivers but ultimately after battling all the way back up, Ryan Blaney grabbed the stage three win. The differentiating pit strategies by teams made for some amazing racing all over the track. Once everyone was back on the same tire cycle at least mostly it was clear though who was the best.
Ryan went into stage four showing he seemingly had the car to beat. While he didn’t lead all of the final stages laps due to some green flag pit stops, and oh like five cautions. I told you that dang first pit stall was super beneficial. I saw William Byron start on the front row almost following every caution stop. Blaney broke a fifty-nine-race winless streak Monday and he earned it. He led a race-high one hundred and sixty-three laps. The Charlotte Oval is back and I’m here for it damn it!
I overall thought this race was amazing, these next-gen cars while still needing safety upgrades are putting on some amazing races on the mile-and-half race tracks. Heading to WWT Raceway this weekend and they’ve definitely got their work cut out for them to put on a good show after that race.
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