The Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway has long become the staple in the Cup Series since being introduced in the 1960s. The event’s grueling 600-lap race traditionally takes place on the occasion of Memorial Day and it pushes every driver and team to their maximum as it is the longest event that takes place within the NASCAR schedule.
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The event has become a platform for honoring and remembering the sacrifices of military service members, with various tributes and ceremonies taking place during the race weekend. Drivers and teams also dress their cars in paint schemes specifically honoring members of the military. This has further cemented the event’s status as a Memorial Day tradition and a symbol of patriotism within the NASCAR community.
The Coca-Cola 600 holds a special place in the NASCAR universe, not just because of its length and tradition but also because of the challenges it presents to drivers, teams, and equipment as a whole. The race’s unique combination of distance, speed, and the transition from daylight to night racing makes it the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and adaptability for everyone involved.
Additionally, the event has also been the stage for several intense driver feuds, dramatic finishes, and on-track battles, adding to its allure and significance within NASCAR. Incredibly, there have only been a handful of drivers who have accomplished the feat of winning this event along with sealing the championship in the same year.
Who are the only drivers to win the Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR championship in the same year?
Throughout the history of the sport, there have only been six drivers who have won at the Cola-Cola 600 and then gone on to win the Cup Series championship later that year. Interestingly, Ryan Blaney‘s championship victory this year adds him to the list as the sixth driver to achieve this feat.
Win @NASCAR’s longest race: ✅
Capture the title:H/T: NASCAR Digital pic.twitter.com/bTUdSCwRYm
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 15, 2023
The other drivers on the list include Richard Petty, who accomplished this feat during the 1975 season. Darell Walltrip did it in 1985, Dale Earnhardt Sr. did it twice during the 1986 and 1993 seasons. Similarly, Jeff Gordon also did it twice in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The fifth person on the list is Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson, who did it in 2021.
Overall, with Blaney’s accomplishment, he has cemented himself in the NASCAR history books and will be remembered for this achievement for a long time. Hopefully, looking into the future if he can retain his form, perhaps we could see him become a repeat winner of this race and the championship, like Gordon and the Intimidator.
