Coca-Cola 600: It’s the Real Thing
By Butch Harmon
Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Coca-Cola has been around racing for more than 50 years and has been NASCAR’s official beverage since the late 90’s. There have been many great Coca-Cola slogans over the past 128 years. Keeping in line with their slogans I have taken the liberty of matching a few of the slogans with various drivers.
1886 – Drink Coca-Cola is what the sponsors of this week’s race the Coca-Cola 600 would love for you to be doing.
1904 – Delicious and refreshing. Michael Waltrip is always fun to watch, whether in the car or in front of the camera he delights fans with his wit.
1917 – Three million a day Well not quite three million, Danica is definitely a fan favorite on Twitter with her 1.07M followers.
1922 – Thirst knows no season Greg Biffle is in need of quenching his thirst; he sits 9th in points without a win this season.
1924 – Refresh Yourself Kurt Busch who won the Coca-Cola 600 some 4 years ago would love a win this year.
1926 – It had to be good to get where it is Jeff Gordon, with 20+ years in racing, knows just how good it feels with a win and on top of the leader board.
1927 – Pure as Sunlight Kyle Larson and Austin Dillion are two fresh faces this year, both rounding out in the top-15 in points so far this season.
1927 – Around the corner from anywhere You can find Kyle Busch anywhere and everywhere. He is a solid driver week after week. He is also an all-around driver, winning races in each — Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series.
1932 – Ice-cold sunshine Kasey Kahne hot on the track but cold in wins so far this season.
1938 – The best friend thirst ever had is a toss between a Coke or win. Kevin Harvick returning Coca-Cola 600 Champion would love a back to back title.
1938 – Thirst asks nothing more, than with a win this week for Tony Stewart; he’d love to quench his at the race this week.
1948 – Where there’s Coke there’s hospitality. Hats off to the people of Charlotte, NC., and the fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Those folks can definitely shout this slogan, because they are a 5-Star city and track when it comes to Hospitality!
1949 – Coca-Cola … along the highway to anywhere. “Rocket Man” Ryan Newman is on a winner’s highway and looking for his first season win. Still 8th in points.
1959 – Be really refreshed. Carl Edwards comes out week after week thirsting for his second win.
1969 – It’s the real thing/here’s the real thing. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the real thing; ask his fans why…
1975 – Look Up America or should I say look out America, Matt Kenseth is 2nd in points and is still without a victory, he is sure to be looking for his first win this season. Look out!
1976 – Coke adds life; David Ragan and Clint Bowyer are expecting to add new life to their families. Both men are expecting their first child. A win would definitely add to an already exciting year for those guys and their wives.
1979 – Have a Coke and a smile. Danica Patrick, her smile definitely looks better in commercials than the other drivers.
1985 – America’s Real Choice Jimmie Johnson is one of America’s favorite drivers with his 6 championship titles.
1986 – Catch the Wave (for New Coke) Jamie McMurrary winning a cool Mil has caught the wave riding it into the Coca-Cola 600.
1987 – You Can’t Beat the Feeling, just ask any veteran driver, “How does it feel to win?” you’ll hear a resounding; “You can’t beat the feeling!”
1989 – Can’t beat the real thing. RACING IS FUN to watch!
2000 – Enjoy Joey Logano has two wins already and would enjoy a third victory.
2001 – Life tastes Good just ask Brian Vickers, as he continues to rise to the top. Brian is living proof nothing can keep a good man down.
2005 – Make It Real Brad Keselowski would love to make “it” real again with another win.
2009 – Open Happiness most definitely happiness can be found in NASCAR fans. Week after week we wait to hear qualifying and starting results, and then it’s time to hear those famous words that bring a smile to our faces, “Drivers, start your engines!”
Follow Stock Car Spin on Twitter @SCSblog or like Stock Car Spin on Facebook. Butch is also on Twitter @gbharmongroup.