NASCAR: Coke 600 Race Review
Finally Kenseth’s lead is wiped out when a piece of debris is spotted and the yellow flags come out for the fourth time. The leaders all come to pit row and the top 3 of the 20, 18 and 5 remain the same as they come off pit row as the 20 pit crew were just as fast on the stop as Kenseth is on track with a stop time of 12 seconds. Kenseth elects the outside line and gets a good boost from his team-mate Hamlin to hold off Kahne on the inside, partly as the 5 again has a poor restart and loses second to Kyle, he then loses more time trying to get round a back marker and Kurt gets by him. But after all the teams hard work Kyle’s day is done as his engine has let go and he takes his car to the garage. Before Kyle even makes it to his garage the caution flags are out for the fifth time as Dale Earnhardt Jr’s 88 car starts spewing smoke right in front of Greg Biffle who can’t see where he’s going and goes into the wall. Behind them Dave Blaney and Travis Kvapil get into each other as a result of cars slowing down and their races are also done.
May 26, 2013; Concord, NC, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Travis Kvapil (93) and Dave Blaney (7) wreck during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
While most of the leaders come to pit row strangely Kenseth elects to stay out, from listening to the radio between him and his crew chief they thought that others would also be staying out. Jeff Gordon has a great stop to come out in second so on the restart the top five are, Kenseth, Kahne, Gordon, Kurt and Jimmie Johnson. Another poor start from Kahne allows Kenseth to get away cleanly but this time Kahne doesn’t give up second easily and him and Kurt battle it out for second before the 5 finally gets clear of the 78. Kenseth’s choice to not come to pit row isn’t paying off as Kahne catches and flies by the 20 for the lead. He is also in danger of losing second to Kurt who is eating into the 20’s gap as it also appears that the 20 has trash on the grill and his temperatures are starting to climb and with the race now entering the final 100 laps now is the time when drivers need their cars to be at their peak.
Kenseth has to come to pit row not only for the trash on the grill but because he didn’t pit earlier his tyres are shot and this puts him a lap down, but does seem to trigger another round of green flag stops as other drivers also come to pit row. As Gordon comes to pit row from fourth debris brings out the sixth caution of the day. It is double bad luck for Gordon as he also doesn’t get off pit row before Kahne crosses the start/finish line and although he will go a lap down he can take the wave around but is now at the back of the field. It is also bad news for Kenseth who looked initially to be the lucky dog but after a closer look it was in fact Johnson who got it so Kenseth will be a lap down in 13th. Gordon and Johnson both elect to come back to pit row so both will now be a lap down.
May 26, 2013; Concord, NC, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) after crashing during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
The restart sees Kahne and Kurt race side by side for a lap with Kahne being mightily fast on the high line but he just can’t shake the 78. A lap later Kahne carries a little more speed through the turns and is able to move down ahead of Kurt to once again hold the lead. But there is no chance of him building a lead as Landon Cassill slides into the wall and leaves debris on the track for caution number seven. With the cars having only recently been to pit row it’s no surprise that the leaders all stay out. At the restart the 5 and 78 resume their side by side battle and are briefly joined by Martin Truex Jr who makes it three wide into turn one but the 56 is unable to make the position stick and it is the 78 who is able to take the lead. It is a very short-lived lead as only a lap after the restart Brad Keselowski appears to move down the track into the side of Danica Patrick sending them both into the barriers so again the caution flags come out.