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The 'Coca-Cola 600' (formerly the 'World 600') is a six hundred mile (966 km) stock car race held annually at Lowe's Motor Speedway (formerly ''Charlotte Motor Speedway'') in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend. It is the longest NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race and in fact is the longest regularly-scheduled automobile race conducted on an oval track anywhere in the world.

Contents

History

Past races

Past winners

References

History

The event was started as an attempt by NASCAR to stage a Memorial Day weekend event that would rival the open-wheel Indianapolis 500 in fan interest and it has succeeded, gaining larger TV ratings than the Indianapolis race from 2002-2004. It was not until 1974, however, that both races competed head-to-head on the same day^[1]. Prior to 1974, the two races were held on different days of the week, and on a few occasions, some drivers drove in both; this continued even after the 600 was moved to the same day, albeit to a smaller degree.
With the installation of lights in 1992, fans complained to circuit management to have the race start later in the day because of the notorious North Carolina heat and humidity. They wanted to follow The Winston's popularity the previous week and switch the race to a nighttime finish to create cooler temperatures for spectators. The start time was moved back several times throughout the 1990s, and finally settled at 5:30PM in 2001, to attempt to have the race finished by 10 p.m. ET, in time for local news on Fox affiliates.
With the new starting time came new challenges. Not only do race teams have to deal with the blistering Carolina heat, but the considerable temperature change at night make track conditions completely different.
The nighttime portion of the race is lit with a system that uses parabolic reflectors so that dangerous glare that would otherwise be in the drivers' eyes is minimized. The move of the race to the early evening made it possible for drivers to participate in both the 600 and the Indianapolis 500 by flying from Indianapolis to Charlotte as soon as the Indianapolis race was over. Experts disagree over whether, for health and safety reasons, anyone should be allowed to race 1100 miles in one day, but no regulation has been passed yet by any governing body to prevent it. Beginning with the 2005 races, the issue became moot as the state of Indiana finally decided to go to daylight saving time. This resulted in only about a one hour span between the end of the Indianapolis race and the start of the Charlotte race.
Until the Ferko lawsuit settlement took effect, the race was considered the third leg of the grand slam, and was once part of the Winston Million. It is considered one of the top five annual NASCAR races^[2].
''See also:'' List of current NASCAR races

Past races

On Sunday, May 29, 2005, a new record for the most cautions of any NASCAR race was set at 22 cautions. In addition, there was one red flag. During that race Jimmie Johnson slid past Bobby Labonte in turn four on the final lap, claiming the checkered flag. In doing so he became the first driver to win 3 consecutive Coca-Cola 600 races. He would finish a distant second to Kasey Kahne the following year.

Past winners

★ 2007: Casey Mears

★ 2006: Kasey Kahne

★ 2005: Jimmie Johnson

★ 2004: Jimmie Johnson

★ 2003: Jimmie Johnson (race shortened to 276 laps/414 miles due to rain)

★ 2002: Mark Martin

★ 2001: Jeff Burton

★ 2000: Matt Kenseth

★ 1999: Jeff Burton

★ 1998: Jeff Gordon

★ 1997: Jeff Gordon (race shortened to 333 laps/499.5 miles due to lateness caused by a rain delay and a 1 a.m. curfew)

★ 1996: Dale Jarrett

★ 1995: Bobby Labonte

★ 1994: Jeff Gordon

★ 1993: Dale Earnhardt (race changed to an evening/night race)

★ 1992: Dale Earnhardt

★ 1991: Davey Allison

★ 1990: Rusty Wallace

★ 1989: Darrell Waltrip

★ 1988: Darrell Waltrip

★ 1987: Kyle Petty

★ 1986: Dale Earnhardt

★ 1985: Darrell Waltrip

★ 1984: Bobby Allison

★ 1983: Neil Bonnett

★ 1982: Neil Bonnett

★ 1981: Bobby Allison

★ 1980: Benny Parsons

★ 1979: Darrell Waltrip

★ 1978: Darrell Waltrip

★ 1977: Richard Petty

★ 1976: David Pearson

★ 1975: Richard Petty

★ 1974: David Pearson (race scheduled for 360 laps/540 miles due to energy crisis)

★ 1973: Buddy Baker

★ 1972: Buddy Baker

★ 1971: Bobby Allison

★ 1970: Donnie Allison

★ 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough

★ 1968: Buddy Baker (race shortened to 255 laps/382.5 miles due to rain)

★ 1967: Jim Paschal

★ 1966: Marvin Panch

★ 1965: Fred Lorenzen

★ 1964: Jim Paschal

★ 1963: Fred Lorenzen

★ 1962: Nelson Stacy

★ 1961: David Pearson

★ 1960: Joe Lee Johnson

References

1. Back in the Day with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - SpeedTV - Coca Cola 600 episode
2. NASCAR's Best Races