clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Coca-Cola 600: Power Rankings

Jimmie Johnson rules at Charlotte.

By Mark Abell
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race - Qualifying Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Race Information

Race: Coca-Cola 600
Laps: 400
Date: May 26th
Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway
2018 Winner: Kyle Busch (4:23:22)
Broadcast: Fox

Course

Charlotte Motor Speedway. Opened in 1960 by Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner, this 1.5 mile quad oval asphalt track is home to two races each year. The turns are at 24 degrees and the straights bank at 5 degrees. This track was the first modern superspeedway to host night racing.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400 Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Power Rankings

The Favorites

Kevin Harvick (4th selection this year) — Take away his 40th place finish here last year and you see four consecutive years of top ten finishes. His recent races have netted a top four finish every other race over the last few weekends, and he’s due for one. I’m expecting 4th or better from Kevin.

Brad Keselowski (2nd selection this year) — He only has two finishes inside the top ten in his last five races but he’s fared well at Charlotte with three top seven finishes in his last four years here.

High Risk / High Reward

Chase Elliott (3rd selection this year) — This is risky because his track record here consists of two finishes outside the top ten in his last four years. His strong recent record (four consecutive top five finishes) is what I’m relying on.

Jimmie Johnson (5th selection this year) — With four wins here, he owns the most wins among active drivers (2nd most behind Darrell Waltrip). He comes into Coca-Cola 600 with top 15 finishes in each of the last two races and he is sitting 16th in Monster Energy Cup standings right now.

The Dark Horse

Paul Menard (3rd selection this year) — He won’t be a top ten finisher, but for someone who is currently 20th in Monster Energy Cup standings, he is a good bet for a top 15 finish with three top 15 finishes in the last four years at Charlotte. For context, he has not finished in the top 15 in any of the last three races.

2019 Results

Favorite: Avg Finish 13th (34th Percent)
High Risk/High Reward: Avg Finish 13th (34th Percent)
Dark Horse: Avg Finish 22nd (58th Percent)