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 asphalt speedway, it was the 14th race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, as well as the second of the three crown jewel races. The race was postponed from Sunday, May 28 to Monday, May 29, due to rain.
Report
Background
The race was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in Concord, North Carolina. The speedway complex includes a 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.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 38 Zane Smith (i) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Todd Gilliland Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial 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.
Starting lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 7 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 8 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 9 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 11 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 12 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 13 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 14 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 15 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 16 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 18 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 21 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 22 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 23 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 24 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 25 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 26 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 27 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 28 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 29 38 Zane Smith (i) Front Row Motorsports Ford 30 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 31 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 32 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 33 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 34 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 35 51 Todd Gilliland Rick Ware Racing Ford 36 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 37 84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club ChevroletOfficial 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. 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. 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.
Race results
Stage results
Stage One Laps: 100
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 84 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 75 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 48 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 39 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 210 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 100
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 102 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 93 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 84 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 75 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 66 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 210 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 1Official stage two results
Stage Three Laps: 100
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 102 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 93 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 75 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 48 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 39 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 210 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage three results
Final Stage results
Stage Four Laps: 100
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 8 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 400 642 1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 553 18 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 484 7 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 400 345 15 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 400 486 5 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 397 10 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 400 338 11 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 400 399 33 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 400 2810 29 38 Zane Smith (i) Front Row Motorsports Ford 400 011 2 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 3812 31 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 400 2613 22 41 Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 2414 27 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 400 2315 16 31 Justin Haley Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 400 2216 36 15 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 400 017 25 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 400 2018 13 21 Harrison Burton Wood Brothers Racing Ford 400 1919 3 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 400 2920 20 14 Chase Briscoe Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 -10321 17 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 400 2322 14 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 400 1723 24 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 400 1424 9 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 400 2725 23 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 400 1226 19 54 Ty Gibbs (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 398 2127 32 77 Ty Dillon Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 397 1028 30 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 396 929 34 78 B. J. McLeod Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 392 830 12 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 377 1431 21 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 369 632 26 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 341 533 35 51 Todd Gilliland Rick Ware Racing Ford 265 434 6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 185 335 4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 185 736 28 42 Noah Gragson (R) Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 117 137 37 84 Jimmie Johnson Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet 115 1Official 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:
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.
FoxBooth announcersPit reportersIn-race analystLap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Clint BowyerColor-commentator: Tony StewartColor-commentator: Danny McBride (Stage 2) Jamie LittleRegan SmithJosh 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 RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Mark Garrow Turns 1 & 2: Rob AlbrightTurns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson Brad GillieBrett McMillanWendy VenturiniAlan Cavanna
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Ross Chastain 446 5 2 Ryan Blaney 445 (–1) 2 3 William Byron 442 (–4) 1 4 Kevin Harvick 438 (–8) 1 5 Martin Truex Jr. 433 (–13) 4 6 Christopher Bell 429 (–17) 1 7 Tyler Reddick 409 (–37) 4 8 Denny Hamlin 400 (–46) 9 Brad Keselowski 394 (–52) 1 10 Kyle Busch 392 (–54) 1 11 Kyle Larson 377 (–69) 1 12 Chris Buescher 368 (–78) 1 13 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 358 (–88) 2 14 Joey Logano 357 (–89) 15 Bubba Wallace 327 (–119) 1 16 Alex Bowman 296 (–150)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 527 2 Toyota 488 (–39) 3 Ford 478 (–49)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.