The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series will sport their longest race of the year with the Coca-Cola 600 this Memorial Day weekend. The race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is set to get started on Sunday, May 27th at 6:18 p.m. EST. The grueling 400 lap shoot-out can be seen on FOX for some evening racing enjoyment. Last year at this event, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon drove his #3 Dow Chevrolet into victory lane. As a result, the youngster notched his first ever Monster Energy Cup Series triumph. Defending NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. claimed the checkered flag out in front for the fall race at this 1.5-mile venue.
Kevin Harvick
Once again, points leader Kevin Harvick is the favorite to win Coca-Cola 600 this Sunday. The veteran driver has sped his way to victory here three times throughout his career. In fact, he also captured the 1,000,000 dollar purse for his win at Charlotte for the All-Star event last weekend. Last time he rolled out his Ford for a points race here, he led the most laps with 149 but finished off his day in third. Sin City has the five-time 2018 race winner as a 12/5 favorite to capture his sixth win of the season in the Coca-Cola 600.
Kyle Busch
Kyle “Rowdy” Busch has been penciled in at 9/2 to win his first Coca-Cola 600. Amazingly, the Joe Gibbs Racing phenom has never won a points race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He did manage to walk away with the million bucks after he won the 2017 All-Star event. Either way, sports bettors have to include Busch on some of their tickets this weekend. He also currently sits second in the points race and has three wins under his belt in 2018.
Martin Truex Jr.
The Furniture Row Racing driver has been dominating at Charlotte in his recent outings. In the past six contests, Martin Truex Jr. has won twice and tallied another five top fives. His most recent triumph at Charlotte Motor Speedway was in the 2017 fall playoff race. Apparently, the longest race of the season bodes well for the defending NASCAR champion. In the past three Coca-Cola 600’s, he has results of fifth in 2015, first in 2016 and third in 2017. That is an impressive 3.0 average over the past three Coca-Cola 600’s. He has also led a whopping 756 laps of the 1200 laps turned in those three events.
Jimmie Johnson
If ever the was a time for the seven-time NASCAR champion to get back on track, Charlotte Motor Speedway might just be it. Jimmie Johnson has won six Coca-Cola 600’s throughout his career at this North Carolina tri-oval. He also finished with a respectable sixth-place result in last weekend’s All-Star race here. Even so, line setters have Johnson as a 30/1 favorite to win his seventh Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. Not a bad little bang for your buck considering how well Johnson knows how to navigate this speedy 1.5-mile raceway. He also won here in the fall of 2016 so it’s not like he hasn’t performed well at this track recently.
Odds to Win the 2018 Coca-Cola 600
Kevin Harvick 12/5
Kyle Busch 9/2
Martin Truex Jr. 9/2
Kyle Larson 15/2
Brad Keselowski 11/1
Ryan Blaney 11/1
Denny Hamlin 14/1
Joey Logano 14/1
Clint Bowyer 18/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 20/1
Erik Jones 25/1
Chase Elliott 30/1
Jimmie Johnson 30/1
Kurt Busch 30/1
Aric Almirola 33/1
Daniel Suarez 50/1
Alex Bowman 75/1
Matt Kenseth 75/1
Ryan Newman 100/1
Before Sunday’s main event, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will take the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval for Saturday afternoon’s Alsco 300. JR Motorsports’ Elliott Sadler is on top of the series standings but is looking for his first victory of the season. The veteran driver hopes to find Victory Lane Saturday as well as adding to his points total for this fall’s playoff race. Nascar Monster Energy Cup Series’ drivers Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman each won the Xfinity races here in 2017. Blaney took the spring session and Bowman the fall.
Qualifying is scheduled to get underway on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. EST and can also be seen on Fox Sports 1.
To get in some early action before qualifying takes place, go to BetDSI Sportsbook and get a head start on your weekly winnings.
