NASCAR record could break after Charlotte driver change
By Asher Fair
Even with Kyle Busch not competing in Monday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race, two drivers have a chance to make NASCAR history at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch had initially been planning to compete in both the Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the Coca-Cola 600 Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.
The former was scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon while the latter was scheduled to take place on Sunday evening.
But with rain postponing both races to Monday, the Richard Childress Racing Cup Series team’s full-time driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet opted not to compete for Kaulig Racing behind the wheel of the No. 10 Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series race so that he could instead focus completely on the longest race of the NASCAR season.
Justin Haley, who competes full-time behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, is set to replace Kyle Busch.
The move carries a rather significant implication relating not only to Haley but to the man who replaced Busch at the Joe Gibbs Racing Cup Series this past offseason, that being Ty Gibbs.
Ty Gibbs, the rookie full-time driver of the No. 54 Toyota, is still set to compete in the Xfinity Series race, driving the No. 19 Toyota for his grandfather’s team.
The plan is for Ty Gibbs to run both races tomorrow. https://t.co/BMP6tIlsE7
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2023
As a result, Haley and Gibbs have the chance to break a NASCAR record. Monday’s NASCAR national series doubleheader is set to set to total 900 miles in length. As a result, it is set to be the longest national series doubleheader in NASCAR history on a single day.
Our stats folks at Racing Insights tell me that 900 miles would be the most in one day at a track for a NASCAR national series doubleheader.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 29, 2023
Can either Haley or Gibbs — or both — run all 900 miles (or more, depending on potential overtime restarts)?
Note that weather could come into play here as well, so there is still a chance of a shortened race (or races). According to The Weather Channel, there is a 50% chance of rain throughout the day on Monday.
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The Alsco Uniforms 300 is set to be broadcast live from the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Concord, North Carolina oval on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on Monday morning, with the Coca-Cola 600 set to follow on Fox beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss any of the action!