2008 Coca-Cola 600
Encyclopedia
The Coca-Cola 600
, the longest race on the NASCAR schedule in terms of distance, was the 12th race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season
, and was held at Lowe's Motor Speedway
in Concord, North Carolina
, outside of Charlotte
on Sunday, May 25. The USA telecast on Fox
started at 5 PM US EDT
with radio being handled by Sirius Satellite Radio
and the Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
-owned Performance Racing Network
on terrestrial radio stations.
. The current points leader will be on P-1 with Sprint All-Star Race XXIV
champion Kasey Kahne
next to him filling out the front row.
Failed to Qualify: Jeff Green
(#34), Stanton Barrett
(#50), Jon Wood
(#21), Joe Nemechek
(#78) and Tony Raines
(#08).
Before Saturday's first practice session, both Haas CNC Racing
cars - the #66 of Scott Riggs
and the #70 Johnny Sauter
- were impounded by NASCAR officials and taken to the research and development center for illeagal wing adjustments. As a result, they were forced to backup cars and will start at the rear of the starting lineup.
On May 28th, 2008, both cars were docked 150 owner and driver points, fined $100,000 and their crew chiefs were suspended for the next six races starting at Dover
and running through Daytona
.
got off to the early lead, although he faded and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead in the early going. In much the same style as last year's 600, Junior had a very strong showing in the first half of the race, only to fade in the second. In a manner indicative of his entire season, Brian Vickers
dominated the field halfway in, and appeared to be on the verge of ending his winless streak, when a cut tire sent him into the Turn 4 wall while leading the field by an entire backstretch. Vickers limped to the pits to repair the damage, never to contend for the lead again that night. Kasey Kahne
, Jimmie Johnson
, Tony Stewart
, and Kyle Busch
then traded the lead amongst themselves several times after Vickers fell out of contention. Jimmie Johnson
, who was leading late in the race, fell out of the race with an engine failure. In the final stages of the race, fuel mileage came into play, as the leaders were just shy of making it on fuel. After pit stops cycled through with 10 laps to go, Tony Stewart
led the second place car of Kasey Kahne
by a large margin, and it appeared that it would be a cakewalk to the checkers for Stewart. However, luck was not on his side as in the same manner as Vickers, and Stewart cut a tire while leading with 2 laps to go, putting the victory in the lap of Kasey Kahne
. With the win, Kahne completed the Lowes Motor Speedway sweep by following up his All Star race win with a win in the 600. Vickers came back to finish a surprising 5th place after staying out when the leaders pitted in the final laps.
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
, the longest race on the NASCAR schedule in terms of distance, was the 12th race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season began on February 9, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout, followed by pole qualifying on Sunday, February 10, 2008 for the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17...
, and was held at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
in Concord, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, outside of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
on Sunday, May 25. The USA telecast on Fox
NASCAR on Fox
NASCAR on Fox is the Emmy-winning branding used for Fox Sports's broadcasts of NASCAR races airing on the Fox network since 2001. The production has been in high-definition since 2005.-Background:...
started at 5 PM US EDT
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
with radio being handled by Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
and the Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or SMI is an American corporation that owns and manages racing facilities that host NASCAR, IZOD IndyCar Series, NHRA, WoO other racing series. The company's headquarters are located at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. SMI owns nine racing...
-owned Performance Racing Network
Performance Racing Network
The Performance Racing Network is a radio network controlled by Speedway Motorsports, Inc..Performance Racing Network broadcasts all NASCAR-sanctioned Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events held at Speedway Motorsports-controlled tracks which include Atlanta, Bristol, Infineon, Las Vegas,...
on terrestrial radio stations.
Pre-race news
- Brian Pattie has taken over as crew chief of the #42 Dodge driven by Juan Pablo MontoyaJuan Pablo MontoyaJuan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
. Jimmy Elledge left Chip Ganassi RacingChip Ganassi RacingChip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships...
on May 20, having only become the #42 crew chief after a swap with the #41 team and Donnie Wingo at the end of April. - President and general manager H. A. "Humpy" WheelerH. A. WheelerHoward Augustine "Humpy" Wheeler, Jr. is the former President and General Manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, one of the premier auto racing venues owned by Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports, Inc...
retired after this race, having served the speedway for 33 years.
Qualifying
Another race, another pole for Kyle BuschKyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
. The current points leader will be on P-1 with Sprint All-Star Race XXIV
2008 Sprint All-Star Race
The Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race XXIV were run on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, a suburb outside of Charlotte...
champion Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
next to him filling out the front row.
Failed to Qualify: Jeff Green
Jeff Green (NASCAR)
Jeffery Green is an American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives part time in the Nationwide Series for Tri-Star Motorsports in their #44 entry and the Sprint Cup Series for Front Row Motorsports in their #55 entry.Green's 1990 Nashville Speedway USA championship...
(#34), Stanton Barrett
Stanton Barrett
Stanton Thomas Barrett is a NASCAR driver and Hollywood stuntman. He has driven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series, as well in the IZOD IndyCar Series.-NASCAR:...
(#50), Jon Wood
Jon Wood
Jon Wood is a NASCAR driver. He is the grandson of Glen Wood, one of the famous Wood Brothers who founded what has become Sprint Cup's longest continuously active team. Wood is currently a free agent....
(#21), Joe Nemechek
Joe Nemechek
Joseph Frank Nemechek III is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and owner of NEMCO Motorsports. He won the 1992 Busch Series championship...
(#78) and Tony Raines
Tony Raines
Floyd Anthony Raines is an American race car driver. He is a former National Touring Series champion in the now defunct American Speed Association and 1999 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series...
(#08).
Before Saturday's first practice session, both Haas CNC Racing
Haas CNC Racing
Stewart-Haas Racing, formerly known as Haas CNC Racing, is a NASCAR racing team based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, which runs Chevrolet Impalas. The team is owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, and runs the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala driven by Stewart and the #39 United States...
cars - the #66 of Scott Riggs
Scott Riggs
Russell Scott Riggs is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #81 Dodge Charger for Whitney Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
and the #70 Johnny Sauter
Johnny Sauter
Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter...
- were impounded by NASCAR officials and taken to the research and development center for illeagal wing adjustments. As a result, they were forced to backup cars and will start at the rear of the starting lineup.
On May 28th, 2008, both cars were docked 150 owner and driver points, fined $100,000 and their crew chiefs were suspended for the next six races starting at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
and running through Daytona
Coke Zero 400
The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held annually, beginning in 1959, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida; the second major stock car event held at Daytona on the Sprint Cup circuit...
.
Race
The 2008 Coca Cola 600 proved to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. A record number of green flag passes was set, as the COT car platform proved that it could provide good racing at someplace besides a superspeedway. Kyle BuschKyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
got off to the early lead, although he faded and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead in the early going. In much the same style as last year's 600, Junior had a very strong showing in the first half of the race, only to fade in the second. In a manner indicative of his entire season, Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
dominated the field halfway in, and appeared to be on the verge of ending his winless streak, when a cut tire sent him into the Turn 4 wall while leading the field by an entire backstretch. Vickers limped to the pits to repair the damage, never to contend for the lead again that night. Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
, Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
, and Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
then traded the lead amongst themselves several times after Vickers fell out of contention. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
, who was leading late in the race, fell out of the race with an engine failure. In the final stages of the race, fuel mileage came into play, as the leaders were just shy of making it on fuel. After pit stops cycled through with 10 laps to go, Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
led the second place car of Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
by a large margin, and it appeared that it would be a cakewalk to the checkers for Stewart. However, luck was not on his side as in the same manner as Vickers, and Stewart cut a tire while leading with 2 laps to go, putting the victory in the lap of Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
. With the win, Kahne completed the Lowes Motor Speedway sweep by following up his All Star race win with a win in the 600. Vickers came back to finish a surprising 5th place after staying out when the leaders pitted in the final laps.