is now , popping out of seemingly nowhere to win the 67th operating of NASCAR’s longest race, with rain ending the occasion 27 laps wanting the scheduled distance.
It was a race dominated by Toyota, however gained by Spire because the crew is now equal with on race wins this 12 months
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However greater than something, it was a day overshadowed by the indescribable lack of , and the energy of his grieving household,
However simply as we did following the sudden lack of Dale, Adam, Neil, Alan, Davey, and all the remainder — we race on. So this is a have a look at the most important winners and losers from the 2026 version of the Coca-Cola 600:
WINNER — All the NASCAR neighborhood for coming collectively within the face of tragedyRichard Childress, Samantha Busch, Brexton Busch, Lennix Busch, Nascar CEO Steve O’Donnell
Richard Childress, Samantha Busch, Brexton Busch, Lennix Busch, Nascar CEO Steve O’Donnell
The place to even start with this? Over the previous few days, the from unimaginable loss after the demise of 41-year-old Kyle Busch. However what we noticed within the fast aftermath is a testomony to how NASCAR is actually one huge household, and that pre-race scene … the energy of Samantha, Brexton, and the remainder of the Busch household to be standing there like they have been. It was a second that can eternally be ingrained within the minds of those that noticed it, each in-person and from afar. As the sector received able to go racing, there was a ‘lacking man’ formation in honor of the 2x champion, and on Lap 8, each single fan held up eight fingers in reminiscence of Busch. It was a good looking tribute as we start the therapeutic course of. And after a full evening of racing, there have been tears, however there was additionally laughter and pleasure because the NASCAR on Prime crew interviewed the principle tales of the race. It felt regular, for the primary time for the reason that horrible information was introduced. And that was solely made potential by the closeness of the NASCAR neighborhood and its skill to as soon as once more come collectively within the face of tragedy.
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Rain and fog at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Now to deal with the race weekend itself, NASCAR Race Management was put in an unenviable place. , a thrice-postponed , after which there was the 600 itself. NASCAR had accomplished nearly 560 of 600 miles when the skies opened and rain poured down on the speedway. Followers have been already aggravated by how the decrease divisions ended, and they didn’t wish to see one other untimely ending. This has by no means occurred earlier than, by the way in which — thrice in a single weekend. If NASCAR caught round to dry the monitor, we have been taking a look at operating the ultimate 27 laps round 1-2am on the earliest if the climate cooperated, and so NASCAR made the decision to drop the curtain on the race. The climate put them in a foul spot, and race management made some controversial choices over the weekend, however I do not suppose the 600 name was one in every of them. Both approach, it was a no-win scenario.
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Watch: Suárez wins Coca-Cola 600, salutes Kyle Busch
Final 12 months, individuals have been speaking about Suarez as if he was on his approach out the door, however he has discovered as. He is had a strong begin to the 12 months, and even earlier than the 600, was above all three Trackhouse automobiles in factors — the crew that lower him unfastened after 5 years collectively. The 2 events simply did not jell nicely in recent times, however Spire has been an ideal match for the Mexican-born racer. And whereas he gained a rain-shortened race on the 600, he did it after a number of unscheduled pit stops, after which held off a dominant fleet of Toyotas via a number of restarts whereas at a tire drawback. And now he’s a winner of a NASCAR crown jewel, changing into the primary driver born exterior of the USA to win any of NASCAR’s 4 crown jewel races. He jumped 4 positions within the standings to P10, and on prime of all of it, he received to honor the person who made his NASCAR profession potential, taking a bow for Kyle Busch.
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Watch: Bell reacts to runner-up end at Charlotte
It’s stunning that JGR and Toyota did not win Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Close to the tip of Stage 3, they have been operating 1-2-3-4-5 and had their very own non-public battle for the race lead. JGR drivers led a mixed 170 of 373 laps — add in , and so they led 289 of 373 laps on Sunday. However as an alternative of working collectively to beat the tire-disadvantaged Suarez on back-to-back restarts, they fought amongst themselves earlier than in the end operating out of time when unhealthy climate hit. and have been bouncing off one another’s doorways within the battle for second moments earlier than the race-ending warning flew. Toyota drivers completed 2nd, third, 4th, and sixth, and stroll away and not using a checkered flag, and so they solely themselves in charge.
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WINNER — SVG along with his most full oval exhibiting yetShane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
The Coke 600 wasn’t Shane van Gisbergen’s greatest oval end, but it surely was his most full oval race by a protracted shot. He earned stage factors in each single stage, and even led 11 laps within the remaining stage of the race. By the late-race restart chaos, he dropped to eleventh within the remaining order, however he spent nearly the whole race inside the highest ten. The outcome bumps him up two positions within the standings, getting him off the Chase bubble. He was additionally the quickest of the Trackhouse drivers, even out-performing 2025 Coke 600 winner earlier than his mid-race wreck.
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LOSER — Chase hopefuls lose treasured floor amid carnageChase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing
There have been some huge hits in Sunday’s Coke 600, and a few most likely damage greater than others — and I do not simply imply due to the severity of the affect. DNFs for Ross Chastain, , , and damage all of them within the battle across the Chase bubble. Chastain was the most important loser within the factors, dropping from nineteenth to twenty third within the standings after getting into the 600 as its defending winner. Briscoe really moved up within the stanings, however he misplaced over 30 factors and presumably a race win after crashing out of the occasion, leaving him dangerously near the bubble. Preece has fallen three spots right down to sixteenth, and Cindric is now under the cut-line after they wrecked huge as nicely.
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Zane Smith, No. 38 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
What an evening for Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford. He led 31 laps, which is greater than 3x that of his earlier file for laps led throughout a Cup race. He remained regular all through the evening, and scored a prime ten end, putting P10. Exterior of the Penske duo, he was the next-highest Ford in the long run, ten or extra spots forward of his FRM teammates.
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LOSER — Ever-consistent makes a uncommon mistakeChase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
Elliott entered this race third within the championship standings, however leaves fifth in factors after crashing out within the opening stage of the race. Elliott merely misplaced it on the exit of Flip 2, slamming the within wall and ending his evening. Elliott is a really constant driver, so it was a really uncommon mistake and his first DNF of the whole 12 months. He is additionally crashed in three of the final 5 Coke 600s.
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BONUS WINNER/LOSER – Katherine Legge provides her identify to the ‘Double’ record, however not with out frustrationKatherine Legge, No. 78 Stay Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, No. 78 Stay Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
It was a superb and unhealthy day for the 45-year-old British racer. Legge made historical past because the sixth driver to start out the Indy 500 and Coke 600 on the identical day. She was additionally the primary lady to take action, the primary non-American, and the oldest by a decade. Nevertheless, the day didn’t go as deliberate, and she or he solely accomplished 585 of a potential 1,100 miles between the 2 races. , making an attempt to keep away from a spinning Ryan Hunter-Reay. On the 600, she stayed out of hassle, however a wheel disconnected after a pit cease and she or he misplaced a number of laps within the course of. As Legge herself stated, whereas historic,
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