Ryan Newman takes the poll and former teammate, Kurt Busch holds the outside pole for the Coca Cola 600, NASCAR’s grueling 600 mile marathon race from daylight to darkness.
The top twenty qualifiers show some interesting results including the Joe Gibbs field taking three consecutive positions. Kasey Kahne’s start in 4th position is an encouraging sign for Ford which has been beset with a miserable qualifying draught this season which perhaps has also contributed into lackluster race results.
1, Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
2. Kurt Busch, Dodge
3. Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
4. Kasey Kahne, Ford
5. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
6. David Reutimann, Toyota
7. Denny Hamlin, Toyota
8. Joey Logano, Toyota
9. Kyle Busch, Toyota
10. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
11. Mark Martin, Chevrolet
12. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet
13. Casey Mears, Toyota
14. Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge
15. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
16. Matt Kenseth, Ford
17. Dave Blaney, Toyota
18. A.J. Allmendinger, Ford
19. Joe Nemechek, Toyota
20. Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet
Note the absence of Fords. Four Fords had to make the field based on owner’s points, from 39th to 42nd below the “start and park” drivers who qualified above them: Elliot Sadler, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil, and Kevin Conway. Carl Edwards, Paul Menard, and David Ragan all qualified below 30th. Even more ironic, only one potential “start and park” team qualified lower than 30th, J.J. Yeley in the Whitney Motorsports Dodge. Somehow, for the massive long-term effort the Coca-Cola 600 represents, the whole “start and park” concept seems even that much more obscene. This is a fan, not a journalist speaking, there seems to be a certain kind of cruel but necessary justice when these field flockers wreck before they can quietly exit the action. They are truly an embarrassment to NASCAR and the spirit of competition. Why don’t they seek sponsorship from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Lions?
It’s hard to read the qualifying tea leaves to get an indication of who might survive the long race ahead other than it perhaps confirms some of the traditionally strong Charlotte drivers are on their mark and whose hot right now. Surely, there can be no surprise Joe Gibbs racing has all three cars in the top ten. Aside from some “hissy fits” between drivers Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, this team is poised for great things if they maintain their momentum through the summer. Jimmie Johnson surely is starting off in good shape to add some momentum for what has been a rather stagnant drive for his 5th consecutive title given his finishing positions recently. It’s little wonder Kasey Kahne would be the top Ford driver. He has always been a strong Charlotte driver. While not as good of a spot, Matt Kenseth in 16th as the only other Ford effort worth any notice has also been a strong Charlotte driver. David Reutimann in 6th is in a good starting spot to repeat his victory of last season while his teammate, Martin Truex Jr. who had figured out something about Charlotte having finished 2nd in the All Star race and making the cut from the shootout field to get into the race in the first place, starts 3rd.
Weather for Sunday night’s race calls for mostly clear starting in the mid 80’s as the green flag drops with temperatures falling into the upper 60’s as the race progresses into darkness. With the Dover race moved before the Charlotte action this year, The Coca Cola 600 will be the last race of the season on Fox, no more boogity-boogity from ol’ DW until the Daytona 500. Fans can look forward to six races on TNT then ESPN, with only a select few night races on ABC, carrying the schedule down the home stretch. Having seen some classic NASCAR races from ESPN in the 1990’s on cable recently, how much we wish NASCAR coverage would eschew the gimmicks and kick up the substance of their coverage. The technology gimmicks are more distraction than purposeful in today’s coverage. Does it sound corny to say Fox has run Digger into the ground? How we get TNT’s “Racin’ Buddy” speaking of bad stereotypes. ESPN’s coverage is bombastic and overwhelming. Thankfully, Chris Berman doesn’t do NASCAR.
The top twenty qualifiers show some interesting results including the Joe Gibbs field taking three consecutive positions. Kasey Kahne’s start in 4th position is an encouraging sign for Ford which has been beset with a miserable qualifying draught this season which perhaps has also contributed into lackluster race results.
1, Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
2. Kurt Busch, Dodge
3. Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
4. Kasey Kahne, Ford
5. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
6. David Reutimann, Toyota
7. Denny Hamlin, Toyota
8. Joey Logano, Toyota
9. Kyle Busch, Toyota
10. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
11. Mark Martin, Chevrolet
12. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet
13. Casey Mears, Toyota
14. Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge
15. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
16. Matt Kenseth, Ford
17. Dave Blaney, Toyota
18. A.J. Allmendinger, Ford
19. Joe Nemechek, Toyota
20. Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet
Note the absence of Fords. Four Fords had to make the field based on owner’s points, from 39th to 42nd below the “start and park” drivers who qualified above them: Elliot Sadler, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil, and Kevin Conway. Carl Edwards, Paul Menard, and David Ragan all qualified below 30th. Even more ironic, only one potential “start and park” team qualified lower than 30th, J.J. Yeley in the Whitney Motorsports Dodge. Somehow, for the massive long-term effort the Coca-Cola 600 represents, the whole “start and park” concept seems even that much more obscene. This is a fan, not a journalist speaking, there seems to be a certain kind of cruel but necessary justice when these field flockers wreck before they can quietly exit the action. They are truly an embarrassment to NASCAR and the spirit of competition. Why don’t they seek sponsorship from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Lions?
It’s hard to read the qualifying tea leaves to get an indication of who might survive the long race ahead other than it perhaps confirms some of the traditionally strong Charlotte drivers are on their mark and whose hot right now. Surely, there can be no surprise Joe Gibbs racing has all three cars in the top ten. Aside from some “hissy fits” between drivers Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, this team is poised for great things if they maintain their momentum through the summer. Jimmie Johnson surely is starting off in good shape to add some momentum for what has been a rather stagnant drive for his 5th consecutive title given his finishing positions recently. It’s little wonder Kasey Kahne would be the top Ford driver. He has always been a strong Charlotte driver. While not as good of a spot, Matt Kenseth in 16th as the only other Ford effort worth any notice has also been a strong Charlotte driver. David Reutimann in 6th is in a good starting spot to repeat his victory of last season while his teammate, Martin Truex Jr. who had figured out something about Charlotte having finished 2nd in the All Star race and making the cut from the shootout field to get into the race in the first place, starts 3rd.
Weather for Sunday night’s race calls for mostly clear starting in the mid 80’s as the green flag drops with temperatures falling into the upper 60’s as the race progresses into darkness. With the Dover race moved before the Charlotte action this year, The Coca Cola 600 will be the last race of the season on Fox, no more boogity-boogity from ol’ DW until the Daytona 500. Fans can look forward to six races on TNT then ESPN, with only a select few night races on ABC, carrying the schedule down the home stretch. Having seen some classic NASCAR races from ESPN in the 1990’s on cable recently, how much we wish NASCAR coverage would eschew the gimmicks and kick up the substance of their coverage. The technology gimmicks are more distraction than purposeful in today’s coverage. Does it sound corny to say Fox has run Digger into the ground? How we get TNT’s “Racin’ Buddy” speaking of bad stereotypes. ESPN’s coverage is bombastic and overwhelming. Thankfully, Chris Berman doesn’t do NASCAR.
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