NASCAR at Charlotte live race results, updates, highlights from rain-delayed Coca-Cola 600

By | May 29, 2023
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Stormy weather . . .

For the second time this NASCAR Cup Series season, the weekend’s race has been moved to Monday because of rain.

MORE: Johnson to start at rear after qualifying rained out

The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race of the NASCAR season. This year’s iteration of the event will be accompanied by one of the longer delays of the year, too; the race, initially scheduled to be run under the lights on Sunday, was pushed to Memorial Day after steady rain overtook the track.

That means one more day of waiting to watch superstars like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and even Jimmie Johnson attempt to capture the famed race — one of the crown jewels of American stock car racing.

MORE: Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 car to have Michael Jordan-focused colorway

Conditions during the weekend should make for an unpredictable event. Qualifying was canceled as a result of the weather, as was practice. As such, it will take drivers some real adjusting to get themselves up to speed. Still, with four stages and 400 laps, they’ll have plenty of time to find it.

A good run at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May gives a driver a place in racing lore for posterity. The question is, who will be in front in clean air at the end?

MORE: Watch the Coca-Cola 600 live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Monday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Follow below for all the highlights and action in this year’s Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR at Charlotte live updates, highlights from 2023 race

(All times Eastern)

7:40 p.m.: Back to green for one last stage. Blaney, Reddick and Byron all showing off impressive speed at the front of the pack.

7:30 p.m.: At the end of Stage 3, it’s Blaney who takes the green flag. He’s in pole position to end that horrid winless streak as it stands!

6:05 p.m.: CAUTION! Major wreck between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott. Looks like Hamlin got into Elliott on the wall. The No. 9 car wasn’t too happy, delivering a right rear hook job on Hamlin. No. 11 car veers head on into the wall, smashing the front hood into pieces. If the radio soundbites are any indication, Hamlin is not too pleased.

5:45 p.m.: CAUTION! Finally back to green at Charlotte. However, it didn’t last too long; caution flag comes out after teammates Jimmie Johnson and Noah Gragson get into each other, sending the former sliding down the track. Terrible day for Legacy Motor Club so far; all three drivers find themselves down dozens of laps after going into the garage for various reasons.

5:26 p.m.: No exact timetable on when the race will resume. However, seems the rain has stopped, which is a good sign. Drivers are out of their cars for the moment. Per Bob Pockrass, it should take around 30 minutes or so for the track driers to do their magic.

5:07 p.m.: Red flag will be waved for rain. Drivers aren’t expected to be forced to wait too long, though.

5:04 p.m.: CAUTION! Canary yellow flashed as specks of rain linger onto Turns 3 and 4. Forecast says that the weather is heading west, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Hopefully.

4:59 p.m.: Reddick with a blazing fast pit stop. That will bring him to the front after pit road stops. 154 laps complete and it’s 23XI on top with Reddick.

4:57 p.m.: Austin Cindric into the wall. He’ll be the first one to make his way to pit road. He’s been flirting with the barrier for some time. Expect to see a wave of advertisement-laden stagecoaches filter into pit boxes sooner rather than later.

4:50 p.m.: Reddick making a charge for the front. He’s up to second, a half a second or so behind race leader Bell. Strong showing thus far for the No. 45 car.

4:44 p.m.: Johnson, Noah Gragson and Erik Jones all headed to the back for repairs. All three expect to be back out on the track in a bit.

4:37 p.m.: Green flag waved to kick off Stage 2. Michael McDowell breaks into the Top-10 for the first time in the day. Light conditions changing a bit. Could make an impact on the way folks drive getting around the bend.

4:24 p.m.: Blaney continuing to fly down the racetrack. The Team Penske talent hasn’t won a race in his last 59 attempts. He sits in P2, just behind Byron, who finishes Stage 1 on top. Another impressive drive by the burgeoning Hendrick Motorsports superstar.

4:15 p.m.: Back to green at Charlotte. Just 18 laps to go before the end of Stage 1. Byron and Blaney battling for that top stop.

4:10 p.m.: CAUTION! First (non-competition) caution waved after Jimmie Johnson spins out. Unlucky for the seven-time Cup Series champion

4:03 p.m.: 35 laps to go in Stage 1. Bell holds the slight lead over Blaney, who is only half a second in front of Byron for third. It’s been Joe Gibbs Racing drivers’ day so far; Bell, Hamlin (P5) and Truex (P8) have all showed decent speed thus far.

3:52 p.m.: Back to green. Ryan Blaney slips beyond Byron, who retook the top spot under yellow after a 9.9 second pit stop. As we hit Lap 46, here’s a look at the Top-5: Blaney-Byron-Keselowski-Bell-Hamlin

3:44 p.m.: At the competition caution it’s Christopher Bell who holds the lead. 33 cars on the lead lap. Expect the vast majority of them to make their way to pit road.

3:43 p.m.: Alex Bowman hanging on for dear life in Turn 3. Looks like Ryan Preece nearly got into his door as the sun began to peak through the clouds. That was a close one.

3:40 p.m.: Bubba Wallace and Kevin Harvick among the drivers struggling the most thus far. Seems like some teams adjusted their chariots as if the race was occurring at night. Both are dropping like a stone. They’ll be desperate for the competition caution that will wave in about five laps.

3:35 p.m.: Tyler Reddick flying down the surface thus far. He’s up seven spots on his starting position. That baby blue color scheme looking slick under the moody Charlotte sky.

3:32 p.m.: Denny Hamlin passes Byron to take P1 on Lap 15. Looks like those Hendrick cars are struggling a bit.

3:27 p.m.: Good battle ensuing between Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson. Have to imagine those two are in contention for the checkered flag if things stay fairly clean.

3:25 p.m.: Green flag waved and we’re off at Charlotte! William Byron and Kevin Harvick leading the line in the first row.

3:05 p.m.: No cars to the rear for today’s race. We’re about 10 minutes from the start.

2:50 p.m.: And one more look at the weather scanner before things kick off. Looks like the forecast might just hold up. At least to start the race.

2:45 p.m.: Here’s a look at the order of operations ahead of today’s race. Green flag drops at approximately 3:16 p.m. ET.

2:25 p.m.: The show must go on. Xfinity teams making their way for the big boys. Almost show time here at Charlotte.

2:20 p.m.: Lots of maintenance done to ensure that the track is on point. A cavalcade of track driers were out on the asphalt earlier in the day.

2:10 p.m.: Although the Xfinity Series race was postponed due to rain, today’s Cup Series start is expected to go off without a hitch. Green flag expected to be waved around 3:15 p.m. ET.

What channel is NASCAR on today? 

  • TV channel: Fox (U.S.) | TSN5 (Canada)
  • Live stream: FoxSports.com, Fubo
  • Radio: PRN

Monday’s race will be broadcast on Fox in the United States. Canadian viewers can find it on TSN5.

Veteran broadcaster Mike Joy will lead the telecast as the race’s lap-by-lap announcer. He’ll be joined in the booth by Clint Bowyer and Tony Stewart.

Cord-cutters can follow the action on FoxSports.com, as well as with Fubo, which offers a free trial.

NASCAR start time today

  • Date: Monday, May 29
  • Time: 3 p.m. ET

The new start time for the Coca-Cola 600 is 3 p.m. ET on Monday. The race was initially scheduled to start at 6:21 p.m. ET on Sunday but was pushed back due to inclement weather.

Coca-Cola 600 starting lineup 2023

Starting pos. Driver Car No. Team
1 William Byron 24 Hendrick Motorsports
2 Kevin Harvick 4 Stewart-Haas Racing
3 Brad Keselowski 6 RFK Racing
4 Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
5 Kyle Busch 8 Richard Childress Racing
6 Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports
7 Bubba Wallace 23 23XI Racing
8 Ryan Blaney 12 Team Penske
9 Christopher Bell 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
10 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing
11 Chris Buescher 17 RFK Racing
12 Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports
13 Harrison Burton 21 Wood Brothers Racing
14 Ross Chastain 1 Trackhouse Racing
15 Tyler Reddick 45 23XI Racing
16 Justin Haley 31 Kaulig Racing
17 Joey Logano 22 Team Penske
18 Martin Truex Jr. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
19 Ty Gibbs 54 Joe Gibbs Racing
20 Chase Briscoe 14 Stewart-Haas Racing
21 Austin Cindric 2 Team Penske
22 Ryan Preece 41 Stewart-Haas Racing
23 Aric Almirola 10 Stewart-Haas Racing
24 Daniel Suarez 99 Trackhouse Racing
25 Corey LaJoie 7 Spire Motorsports
26 Erik Jones 43 Legacy Motor Club
27 AJ Allmendinger 16 Kaulig Racing
28 Noah Gragson 42 Legacy Motor Club
29 Zane Smith 38 Front Row Motorsports
30 Michael McDowell 34 Front Row Motorsports
31 Alex Bowman 48 Hendrick Motorsports
32 Ty Dillon 77 Spire Motorsports
33 Austin Dillon 3 Richard Childress Racing
34 B.J. McCleod 78 Live Fast Motorsports
35 Todd Gilliland 51 Rick Ware Racing
36 J.J. Yeley 15 Rick Ware Racing
37 Jimmie Johnson 84 Legacy Motor Club

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