2024 Coca-Cola 600 Preview

While the current NASCAR short-track package limited the quality of the racing, NASCAR’s All-Star Event saw plenty of fireworks after the race. A dust up between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch made national headlines. Now, NASCAR’s best will take on the longest race of the year in the backyard of most of the sport’s teams at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2024 Coca-Cola 600 sets up to be a thrilling race with both points and bragging rights on the line.

Also layered within the storylines of the race is Kyle Larson’s attempt to run “the Double” – taking on both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. Can Larson become the first driver to successfully complete all 1,100 miles since Tony Stewart in 2001? Who will find their way to Victory Lane? We’ll find out come Sunday as we witness another of NASCAR’s Crown Jewels.

2024 Coca-Cola 600 Entry List

Sunday’s race will feature a full 40 cars in the field with a handful of interesting entries. Shane Van Gisbergen makes another oval start for Kaulig Racing in the #16 and seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson will run once again in the #84 for Legacy Motor Club. JJ Yeley in the #44, Ty Dillon in the #50, and BJ McLeod in the #66 complete the list of drivers we don’t see on a weekly basis.

A championship run started with a #CocaCola600 triumph. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/V2K09zNjwl

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 22, 2024

While NASCAR’s NextGen car’s struggles on short tracks continued last week at North Wilkesboro, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile layout suits the car excellently as seen by the thrilling Kansas conclusion earlier this season. Last year produced excellent racing before Ryan Blaney eventually prevailed and this year is expected to deliver again.

2024 Coca-Cola 600 Race Odds and Predictions

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before but Denny Hamlin (+450) and Kyle Larson (+600) sit atop the odds for Sunday’s race. Last year’s winner – Ryan Blaney comes in at +900 and makes a great value pick if you hope to find someone outside of the top two.

However, if I’m considering the sheer magnitude of what Kyle Larson is attempting to complete, I would be looking at other drivers as possible race winners on Sunday – as well as considering other members of the Chevrolet camp to take top finisher honors for that group. In particular – I’d consider both Chase Elliott (+450) and Ross Chastain (+650) great picks to finish as the top Chevy.

It’s finally Coca-Cola 600 week. 🙌#CocaCola600 | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/kcJ8F7sm2p

— Charlotte Motor Speedway (@CLTMotorSpdwy) May 20, 2024

As for the official race winner, I’m going to ride with the favorite in Denny Hamlin as my prediction but I also genuinely think Ty Gibbs has a fantastic chance of claiming his first points-paying NASCAR win on Sunday and at +1400 the value is certainly there. Given his recent run of strong finishes, it feels like the #54 will end up in Victory Lane sooner rather than later.

Check out the schedule below so you don’t miss any on-track action. By the way, given the magnitude of this Sunday in the world of motorsports, I’m also including some non-NASCAR events on the schedule.

Friday 05/24

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying – 1:05 p.m. CT on FS1

NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying – 3:05 p.m. CT on FS1

General Tire 150 (NASCAR ARCA Menards Series) – 5:00 p.m. CT on FS1

North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) – 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1

Saturday 05/25

Formula 1 Qualifying – 9:00 a.m. CT on ESPN2

BetMGM 300 (NASCAR Xfinity Series) – 12:00 p.m. CT on FS1

Sunday 05/26

Monaco Grand Prix (Formula One) – 8:00 a.m. CT on ABC

Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar Series) – 11:45 a.m. CT on NBC/Peacock

Coca-Cola 600 (NASCAR Cup Series) – 5:00 p.m. CT on FOX

Unfortunately, weather might once again play a role in the weekend festivities so keep an eye out for any changes. With any luck, all three of Sunday’s events go off without a hitch and Kyle Larson makes it from Indianapolis to Charlotte without issue.

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