The NASCAR schedule takes us to the longest race of the season, The Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Many drivers consider this the third most important race of the season, behind the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400. With speeds hitting in the high 190s and the bottom, middle, and top grooves all being in use, it’s sure to be fireworks from start to finish. Which driver is going to be able to fend off their competitors for 400 laps at the mile and a half speedway? Let’s find out.
Joey Logano
After winning the All Star Race last week, Joey Logano is looking to put his Shell Penzoil Ford in Victory lane for the first time this year in a points event. Since the All Star Race began in 1985, only seven drivers have completed the sweep, the last being Kurt Busch in 2010. Logano has his work cut out for him if he wants to outlast the other 39 drivers for 600 miles, but with a starting spot on the front row, “Sliced Bread” will be hard to beat.
Jimmie Johnson
Mr. Six Time hasn’t had great success in recent years at the Coca Cola 600. Take out a first place finish in 2014, and Johnson has an average finish of 25th in his last four May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Did you read his nickname though in the first sentence? Johnson is a six time champion and a four time Coca Cola 600 winner. You can never count him out. Watch for this team to be consistent all night on pit road and the track.
Carl Edwards
His first year with Joe Gibbs racing was shaky, but Edwards has turned it around in 2016. With two wins already in the bag, Cousin Carl is setting his sights on a second career and straight Coca Cola 600 win. Over the past five May races at CMS, no one has had better success, besides my race winner (Wait for it), than Edwards. That dominance looks something like this: one win, two top 5s, and three top 10s with an average finish of 8th. The number 19 Arris Toyota will be a top three car Sunday night.
WildCard
Kasey Kahne
A three time winner of this prestigious race, Kasey Kahne will be looking to jumpstart his 2016 year in the right direction. While he has not been talked about a lot over the past few years, this race track, let alone this race, is one of the best in Kahnes career. With two top three finishes in the last four years here, watch for Kasey to battle up front all night long.
Winner
Kevin Harvick
It’s no disputing that almost every track on the NASCAR Circuit could be won by Kevin Harvick each and every weekend. If he wants to add a third Coke 600 win to his resume, Harvick will have to pep talk his pit crew so no mistakes happen like they have been the past two seasons. With a top 10 starting spot for Sunday’s race, and an average finish of 4th in his last five races at CMS, be prepared to see Kevin Harvick and his number 4 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet in Victory Lane.
Draft Kings NASCAR Lineup
1. Kevin Harvick ($10,500)
2. Carl Edwards ($10,300)
3. Kyle Larson ($8,400)
4. Jamie McMurray ($7,300)
5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr ($6,900)
6. Paul Menard ($6,500)
Total: $49,900
