Coke 600 Picks
This week’s race will be the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600 from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which is not only NASCAR’s longest race, but also three different races rolled into one.
What makes this race so difficult for both divers and crew chiefs is it starts during daylight, runs through twilight and finishes with the final crucial segment run late at night.
Since this race was switched to a night race, history has shown that the eventual winner generally was not very fast during the first two segments, but has a car that comes alive during those final 100 miles. Not only do we have to handicap the drivers this week, but we also have to look at the crew chiefs that will keep the car in contention early and make the crucial final adjustment at the end (which is when this race is won).
Greg Biffle 10/1
Greg Biffle has always shown a real fondness for this tack and tracks similar to it, such as Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Texas, where he has good finishes at all three tracks. In his last eight races at Lowe’s, he has only finished worse than seventh three times, with two of those bad finishes caused by mechanical issues. All of the cars from Rousch Fenway Racing have been in a slump it seems since the Atlanta race, but have shown that they are back on track and we expect another strong showing this week.
Carl Edwards 10/1
Just like his teammate, Carl Edwards has always shined at tracks like Lowe’s, but like all the other Rousch Fenway Racing cars, he has been mired in a slump the past month or so. In his last eight races at Lowe’s, Edward has finished worse than 15th just once with six top 10s and three top fives. During that span of eight races, he has the second best average finish of 10.8 with only race favorite Jimmie Johnson ahead of him with an average of 7.7. Even though Edwards has never won a race at Lowe’s in this series, we think this might finally be the week he gets that illusive first win,
Live Longshots
Jeff Burton 25/1
Jeff Burton won last year’s Bank Of America 500 at Lowe’s and this is one of those races where his history of not qualifying well won’t hurt his chances whatsoever. So far, Burton is the only driver from Richard Childress Racing that has shown life and with his history of great runs at Lowe’s, 25/1 offers tremendous value we think.
Kasey Kahne 25/1
If any track can wake Kasey Kahne out of his season long slump it has to be Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where he was won three out of last six points races in this series and also won last year’s All Star Race. If not for his season long slump and internal problems with his team and owner, Kahne would be one of our top selections this week.
2009 NASCAR Coca Cola 600 Race Information
Race Date: Sunday May 24, 2009
Location: Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Charlotte, North Carolina
Pre-Race: 5:00PM ET
Green Flag: Approx. 5:45PM ET
TV Coverage: FOX & FOX HD
Radio Coverage: MRN (Motor Racing Network)
Track Type: 1.5 Mile Quad Oval
Capacity: 165,000
Posted: 5/21/09 1:44PM ET
