It could be a bit unusual to suppose that inexperienced drivers appear to shine on this grueling five-hour marathon, however it’s occurred sufficient for it to turn into notable. At 600 miles, no different race will get near the size of the Coca Cola 600.
And it’s no shock that a number of of these drivers who obtained their first win in NASCAR’s longest race went on to turn into a few of the sport’s most legendary names. Because the saying goes: “The strongest metal is cast within the hottest hearth.”
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, the 1.5-mile asphalt oval generally known as Charlotte Motor Speedway is now the heartbeat of the NASCAR neighborhood with a majority of groups and drivers residing inside a brief drive of the monitor.
The race was initially referred to as the World 600 and ran its inaugural occasion in 1960. Its first victor was Joe Lee Johnson within the No. 89 machine. It wasn’t his first win, however it was his final, successful the race by a margin of 4 laps.
However what in regards to the occasion’s first-time winners? Some grew to become Corridor of Famers whereas others have been not more than one-hit-wonders. However practically all of them needed to beat established titans of the game to get the job completed. So, let’s check out the whole record of first-time winners and the way all of them managed to overcome NASCAR’s longest race.
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1961 – David PearsonDavid Pearson 1979 NASCAR
David Pearson 1979 NASCAR
This three-time collection champion and NASCAR Corridor of Famer would go on to win three championships and 105 races in a profession that spanned practically 30 years, however his first win got here proper at Charlotte in 1961. After beginning third, he led over half the race in a dominant displaying, beating the legendary Fireball Roberts by two full laps. His 105 profession victories ranks second solely to Richard Petty.
Pearson’s triumph within the second-ever operating of the race gave the impression to be an anomaly at first. It will be 33 years till a first-time winner received the 600 once more, however it was identify that each single race fan now is aware of.
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1994 – Jeff Gordon leads Coke 600
Jeff Gordon leads Coke 600
At simply 22 years previous, ‘Surprise Boy’ was piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet that he would later make well-known. However on the time, he was nonetheless trying to find his first profession win. This race gave the impression to be Rusty Wallace’s to lose however with the good Ray Evernham on the field, he and Gordon proved to be a formidable duo. A name for a brief two-tire cease allowed them to leap forward of Wallace late within the operating. He led simply 16 laps however it was sufficient to say his first Cup win, defeating the 1989 Cup Collection champion.
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In fact, everyone knows Gordon did not cease there. The Corridor of Fame driver went on to win 93 Cup races and sits simply behind Pearson on the all-time wins record. He additionally received 4 Cup titles, eclipsing Pearson in that class. As of late, he helps run the Hendrick Motorsports empire because the vice chairman – second-in-command to Mr. H. himself.
1995 – Bobby Labonte
Bobby Labonte
We definitely did not have to attend one other 33 years for the subsequent first-time winner after Gordon’s massive win. The very subsequent 12 months, one other future Corridor of Fame would make their mark with a win in NASCAR’s longest race. Ken Schrader was in management, however blew an engine late within the operating.
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Bobby Labonte moved into the race lead and stretched the gas to take the checkered flag. It was additionally Labonte 1-2 together with his elder brother and two-time Cup Collection champion Terry ending second. Bobby went on to turn into the 2000 Cup champion, successful 21 races whole in his profession, and becoming a member of the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2020.
2000 – Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
The theme of first-time winners within the 600 occurring to turn into NASCAR legends continued as the game raced into the twenty first century. Matt Kenseth, operating fourth after the ultimate restart, shortly marched ahead with the crafty one would anticipate from a veteran driver. He handed Gordon, Earnhardt, and at last Labonte on Lap 373 of 400. He then held again Labonte as they navigated slower site visitors, successful the race by simply over half a second.
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Kenseth received 39 Cup races all through his profession and was the ultimate champion beneath the season-long factors format in 2003. He was inducted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2024, so the primary 4 drivers to get their maiden Cup win the 600 all went on to turn into Cup champions and members of the game’s Corridor of Fame. What an elite group, however that development all of a sudden shifted after Kenseth.
2007 – Victory lane: race winner Casey Mears celebrates
Victory lane: race winner Casey Mears celebrates
As we alluded to, that is the place the development began to alter a bit. Underdogs started to rise from the midfield and snatch this crown jewel victory for themselves. It grew to become a real wildcard occasion, and nobody may actually predict the result. After a number of years of battle at Chip Ganassi Racing, Casey Mears, nephew of four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears, joined Hendrick Motorsports for the 2007 season. It was nonetheless a battle for Mears and the No. 25 workforce, however the Coke 600 introduced him with a novel alternative.
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With everybody operating on fumes, Mears watched as pitted from the lead with simply eight laps to go. Then, pitted from the lead as properly, and the lap after him. With simply six laps to go, Mears inherited the highest spot. He peddled that automotive, hanging on to win the race with 9.5s benefit over J.J. Yeley. These remaining six laps have been the one laps he led throughout the complete 400-lap occasion.
Whereas it was Mears’ first journey to Victory Lane, in contrast to the earlier drivers on this record, it was additionally his solely triumph. He has nearly 500 Cup begins now, prone to hit that quantity by the top of the 2026 season as a part-time driver, however that 2007 Coke 600 was his solely shining second of glory.
2009 – David ReutimannVictory lane: David Reutimann celebrates
Victory lane: David Reutimann celebrates
The 2009 Coke 600 was affected by dangerous climate and was already postponed to Monday. Working a day late with climate nonetheless threatening, the rain returned on Lap 222 of 400. then on lap 222 of 400. David Reutimann was operating 14th on the time of the yellow with no hope of victory. Nonetheless, groups have been closing in on needing gas, so most the sector determined to pit throughout the warning. However Reutimann didn’t. He led 5 laps behind the tempo automotive earlier than the rain intensified and compelled NASCAR to pink flag the occasion.
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And it by no means resumed, giving us an upset win by each driver and workforce, as Racing had by no means received a race earlier than both. It was an underdog story for the ages, and certainly one of two Cup wins in Reutimann’s profession. It was additionally the primary Coke 600 win for Toyota, which was fairly the milestone for a producer that now has seven. As for Reutimann, he went on to win his second and remaining race the next 12 months at Chicagoland Speedway — no rain wanted.
2017 – Race winner Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Race winner Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
The grandson of Richard Childress, Dillon was the primary driver to pilot the No. 3 automotive within the Cup Collection for the reason that passing of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. And much like the race from a decade earlier the place Mears received, the 2017 Coke 600 grew to become an intense fuel-mileage race. . had completely dominated the occasion, however he didn’t have sufficient gas to make it to the top.
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A number of drivers tried and didn’t stretch it. was main with simply two laps to go, however he ran out exiting Flip 2 with about 2.25 miles left within the 600-mile race.
Dillon was now in management, however he had no room to breathe as each Truex and have been closing in quick. Even when he had sufficient gas, there was nonetheless an actual probability they may attain him anyway, however they didn’t get there in time. Busch crossed the road simply eight tenths again of the No. 3 automotive, which carried Austin Dillon to his first profession win after main solely the ultimate two laps. Had that been a 601 mile race, the end result would have regarded very completely different.
Dillon is the one driver on this record who continues to be competing full-time on the Cup degree. He went on to win the 2018 Daytona 500, amassing one other crown jewel. He additionally has victories at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022, the summer time Daytona race in 2023, and back-to-back wins at Richmond in 2024 and 2025. In doing so, he’s truly probably the most profitable driver on this record who hasn’t received a Cup Collection title.
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Who’s subsequent?
Since Dillon’s shock win in 2017, there have been no first-time winners within the Coke 600. In truth, the development has shifted again in the direction of the extra skilled drivers. Each Coke 600 victor after Dillon is now a NASCAR Cup Collection champion, or a driver who has ended the 12 months prime three in factors at one level of their profession.
Latest outcomes inform us that one other veteran will seemingly take the checkered flag this weekend, however possibly that is the 12 months one other rising star earns their first win in NASCAR’s longest race.
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Carson Hocevar and Ty Gibbs would have been main contenders to take action, if they’d not already secured their first profession wins earlier this 12 months. Hocevar pulled off a memorable win at Talladega, whereas Gibbs lastly broke via in a photograph end at Bristol.
So, who else is there? After ruling out the true shockers, there are some potential candidates.
Connor ZilischConnor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing
{The teenager} was labeled a phenom lengthy earlier than he made it to the Cup Collection, successful races hand-over-fist within the NASCAR O’Reilly Collection and turning heads in all places he went. Nonetheless, his rookie season has not gone as deliberate. The leap from the secondary division to the highest degree is gigantic, and he has been additional hindered by the truth that Trackhouse has misplaced a few of their edge and are struggling most weeks.
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However the flashes of pace have been there from this extremely proficient 19-year-old. Zilisch has but to attain a prime ten on the Cup degree, however he may have been a menace for the win in each street programs this 12 months with out some late-race misfortune. However what in regards to the ovals? Effectively, he simply completed fifth within the Dover All-Star Race, even driving via the sector on the Monster Mile after a late-race pit street penalty whereas operating second. Since arriving to the Cup Collection, that was his greatest drive on an oval.
He is additionally not a Coke 600 rookie. Final 12 months, he grew to become the youngest driver in historical past to begin NASCAR’s longest race, making his Cup Collection oval debut. Whereas his teammate Ross Chastain took the win, he managed to complete the race, finishing 398 of 400 laps (597 of 600 miles) and ending twenty third. If given a quick automotive this weekend, who is aware of what he may do only one 12 months after his first 600.
Corey HeimCorey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
What a narrative this may be, and it is not as far-fetched as some would possibly consider. Heim solely has ten earlier Cup begins, and he is by no means began the Coke 600 earlier than. A component-time driver in an open entry usually would not be thought-about a menace to win any race, however this driver and workforce are completely different. Together with being one of the promising younger stars in NASCAR, Heim is driving for 23XI Racing — a workforce that has dominated the early portion of 2026 with Tyler Reddick, and proven pace throughout the board.
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Heim’s most up-to-date begin got here at Texas, the place he led a whopping 69 laps. He additionally completed sixth at Bristol that 12 months, displaying that he’s already totally able to operating on the entrance of the Cup discipline. 23XI and Toyota are additionally main the pack in the meanwhile, and I am positive there a number of drivers who would fortunately drive a part-time open entry for 23XI over the full-time experience they presently obtained. Heim is a possible menace for the win, if the fitting circumstances current themselves.
And naturally, how are you going to depend out the No. 67 within the 67th operating of the Coca-Cola 600?
Ryan PreeceRyan Preece, RFK Racing
Ryan Preece, RFK Racing
One other potential candidate is , who drives the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford Mustang. In a deal that got here collectively late within the 2024 season, Preece has impressed everybody to date, brushing shoulders with the checkered flag on a couple of event.
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He even received a Cup race this 12 months, however it was the Conflict exhibition race at Bowman Grey. However that Victory Lane interview confirmed simply how hungry he’s to get an ‘official’ one in a points-paying race. He will probably be making his 236th begin this weekend, This will probably be Preece’s seventh look within the Coke 600, and he completed as excessive as ninth there one 12 months in the past.
And regardless of going up in flames simply two laps into final weekend’s All-Star Race, he is additionally a really constant driver who is sweet at getting his automotive to the end. That persona trait it essential whenever you’re taking over a 600-mile marathon.
The othersTodd Gilliland, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Whereas these three look to be probably the most life like bets, they are not the one drivers within the discipline with no Cup win. The 39-car entry record for this 12 months’s Coke 600 options 13 completely different drivers who’ve by no means received a Cup race. Moreover Zilisch, Heim, and Preece, they’re:
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Noah Gragson (Entrance Row), Ty Dillon (Kaulig), Todd Gilliland (Entrance Row), Riley Herbst (23XI), Zane Smith (Entrance Row), John-Hunter Nemechek (Legacy), Cody Ware (Rick Ware), Timmy Hill (Gararage 56), Katherine Legge (Reside Quick).
It would all appear extremely inconceivable, however at one level, so did a number of of the names now immortalized on this record.
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