CHARLOTTE NC - Usually fuel mileage races and excitement in NASCAR don’t go together. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 changed all that.
It’s NASCAR’s longest race of the year and in years past 600 miles have become a long drawn affair. What fans and NASCAR got Sunday night was not your typical Coca-Cola 600. The race featured changing scenarios and changing story lines and an event that was literally as different as night and day.
Starting in the bright sunshine, the Roush-Fenway Racing drivers Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards dominated the race. However as the sun set over the speedway it seemed like an entirely new cast of characters stepped onto the stage.
Just after the halfway point, Kyle Busch appeared at the front being chased by Greg Biffle. Biffle had nearly gotten out of the car early in the race after the system used to keep drivers cool failed. The team was able to fix it however and as the track cooled Biffle charged to the front.
Jimmie Johnson who was once the dominate force at Charlotte struggled the entire race and ended his night with less than four laps to go with a blown engine. Crew chief Chad Knaus was able to get in a few F-bombs on national TV after it was over.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. overcame a pit road miscue and late in the race found himself in position to win only to run out of gas on the final turn of the final lap.
Kyle Busch spun twice, the first time coming out of turn four and across the infield grass. His Toyota suffered no damage though and he was able to continue. As he started to make his way back towards the front he spun again this time however he wasn’t so lucky and hit the inside wall ending his night.
Biffle’s time at the front of the pack ended when he was forced in for fuel under the final caution of the race. Under the green white checkered flag finish that followed, Earnhardt took the lead as Kasey Kahne ran out of fuel. Earnhardt was denied when he too ran out coming out of turn four; Kevin Harvick who never led a lap and has voiced his disdain for Charlotte in years past was able to race past for the win.
What NASCAR and fans got Sunday night was a race that will make highlight reels for months to come and be remembered for years.
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