Coca-Cola 600

Coca -Cola World 600 (1985)

The Coca -Cola 600 ( to 1984 World 600) is a 600 mile race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The race takes place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend, that is the last weekend in May. With a race length of the equivalent of 966 km it is the longest race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the longest regularly scheduled on an oval track race and only 34 km shorter than the usual distance of 1000 km for long distance races.

The race was originally introduced in 1960 as a rival event to the Indianapolis 500. In the years 2002-2004 it reached higher ratings than just that. By the year 1974, the two events were held on different days, before they both were laid on Sunday as host appointment. Both before and after the merger, there were drivers that both the Coca- Cola 600 and the Indianapolis 500 took part, with the number after the merger was lower.

As a floodlight system was installed on the Speedway in 1992, the fans turned to the management of the race track to start the race later in the day to escape the heat and high humidity of North Carolina. The race should be finished by the evening under floodlights, as temperatures in the evening for the audience is much more pleasant. So the start of the 1990s has been repeatedly pushed back before he was laid in the year 2001 to 17:30 clock local time. This date was chosen in order to finish the race to 22 clock, so the transmitter of the FOX Network can broadcast their local news at that time.

The change in the start time led to new challenges. Not only does the team have to cope with the high temperatures at the start of the race, they must be set at nightfall on completely changed track conditions. In the dark, the track is illuminated by a Flutlichtanlange that uses parabolic mirrors to minimize the glare of the driver.

With the relocation of the start time it had become possible to enable a driver to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca- Cola 600 again by they flew after the end of the race in Indianapolis by plane to Charlotte. Whether this approach in two races in one day at a distance of 1100 miles is good for health and pose a security risk, is controversial among experts. At least there is no legislation that prohibits this practice. However, the discussion was unnecessary, as the start of the Indianapolis 500 has been postponed by one hour back in 2005 in order to achieve higher ratings. Thus all that remains is just under an hour for the transfer from Indianapolis to Charlotte.

Previous Winners

2011: Kevin Harvick
2013: Kevin Harvick

NASCAR Sprint Cup race
Sporting event in North Carolina
The Coca -Cola Company
Cabarrus County

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