Definition
The 2008 Coca‑Cola 600 was the 49th running of the Coca‑Cola 600, a 600‑mile (400‑lap) NASCAR Cup Series stock‑car race held on May 25 2008 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States.
Overview
The event served as the ninth race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Kasey Kahne, driving the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Chevrolet, won the race after leading the final 38 laps. Ryan Newman of Penske Racing secured the pole position with a qualifying speed of 181.468 mph. The race featured 12 caution periods for a total of 71 laps and was completed in 4 hours, 4 minutes, and 13 seconds. An estimated 138,000 spectators attended the event, and the television broadcast was carried by Fox Sports.
Etymology/Origin
The race name combines the primary corporate sponsor, The Coca‑Cola Company, with the distance of the event (600 miles). The Coca‑Cola 600 originated in 1960 as the “World 600” and was renamed in 1985 when Coca‑Cola became the title sponsor.
Characteristics
- Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway – a 1.5‑mile (2.41 km) quad‑oval track with 24‑degree banking in the turns.
- Distance: 600 miles (965.606 km) comprising 400 laps.
- Series Significance: One of the three “crown jewel” races on the NASCAR Cup calendar, alongside the Daytona 500 and the Southern 500.
- Points Impact: As a standard points‑earning race in 2008, drivers earned championship points based on finishing position and laps led.
- Broadcast and Media: Live television coverage, radio broadcast on the Motor Racing Network (MRN), and extensive press coverage due to its status as a mid‑season marquee event.
Related Topics
- NASCAR Cup Series
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Coca‑Cola 600 (general history)
- 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season
- Kasey Kahne’s racing career
- Ryan Newman’s qualifying record
All information presented reflects publicly available records and reports from the 2008 NASCAR season.