2009 Coca-Cola 600

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2009 Coca-Cola 600
Race details [1]
Race 12 of 36 in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2009 Coca-Cola 600 program cover.png
2009 Coca-Cola 600 program cover, with artwork from Sam Bass. "Gold Rush!"
Date May 25, 2009 (2009-05-25)
Location Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Distance 227 laps, 340.5 mi (547.981 km)
Scheduled distance 400 laps, 600 mi (965.606 km)
Weather Temperatures reaching up to 80.1 °F (26.7 °C); wind speeds approaching 15.9 miles per hour (25.6 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Stewart–Haas Racing
Time 28.651
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 173
Winner
No. 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
Lowe's Motor Speedway, where the race was held. Lowesmotorspeedway.jpg
Lowe's Motor Speedway, where the race was held.

The 2009 Coca-Cola 600 was the twelfth stock car race of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the fiftieth iteration of the event. It was held on May 25, 2009, at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina after being postponed on May 24 because of inclement weather. Scheduled for 400 laps on the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) quad-oval, the race was won by David Reutimann of Michael Waltrip Racing after being shortened to 227 laps because of poor weather conditions. Ryan Newman finished second ahead of Robby Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Brian Vickers, who completed the first five positions.

Contents

Fox Sports televised the event in the United States, while the race was broadcast on radio by Performance Racing Network (over-the-air) and Sirius XM Radio (satellite)

The logo for the 2009 Coca-Cola 600, celebrating the 50th running of the event. 2009 Coca-Cola 600 race logo.png
The logo for the 2009 Coca-Cola 600, celebrating the 50th running of the event.

On the day of the race, 1.33 inches of precipitation were recorded around the speedway; a significant amount of rain for the Charlotte area for the month of May. [2]

Background

Lowe's Motor Speedway, now called Charlotte Motor Speedway, is one of ten intermediate tracks to hold NASCAR races; the others are Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Texas Motor Speedway. [3] The standard track at Lowe's Motor Speedway is a four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.4 km)-long, quad-oval track. The track's turns are banked at twenty-four degrees; both the front stretch (the location of the finish line) and the back stretch (opposite the front) have a five-degree banking. [4]

The Coca-Cola 600 was conceived by race car driver Curtis Turner who built the Charlotte Motor Speedway. [5] It was first held in 1960 in an attempt by NASCAR to stage a Memorial Day weekend race to compete with the open-wheel Indianapolis 500; the two races were held together on the same day starting from 1974. [6] The race is the longest (in terms of distance) on the NASCAR calendar and is considered by several drivers as one of the sport's most important races alongside the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the Southern 500. [7] The event was known as the World 600 until 1984 when The Coca-Cola Company purchased the naming rights to the race and renamed it the Coca-Cola World 600 in 1985. It has been called the Coca-Cola 600 every year since 1986 except for 2002 when the name changed to Coca-Cola Racing Family 600. [8]

Entry list

Car #DriverHometownMakeOwnerTeam
00David ReutimannZephyrhills, FLToyotaMichael Waltrip
1Martin Truex JrMayetta, NJChevroletTeresa Earnhardt
2Kurt BuschLas Vegas, NVDodgeWalter Czarnecki
5Mark MartinBatesville, ARChevroletMary Hendrick
06David StarrHouston, TXDodgeTheresa Boys
6David RaganUnadilla, GAFordJohn Henry
07Casey MearsBakersfield, CAChevroletRichard Childress
7Robby GordonBellflower, CAToyotaRobby Gordon
09Mike BlissMilwaukie, ORDodgeJames Finch
9Kasey KahneEnumclaw, WADodgeGeorge Gillett Jr
11Denny HamlinChesterfield, VAToyotaJ D Gibbs
12David StremmeSouth Bend, INDodgeRoger Penske
13Max PapisComo, ItalyToyotaBob Germain
14Tony StewartRushville, INChevroletMargaret Haas
16Greg BiffleVancouver, WAFordJack Roush
17Matt KensethCambridge, WIFordJohn Henry
18Kyle BuschLas Vegas, NVToyotaJoe Gibbs
19Elliott SadlerEmporia, VADodgeGeorge Gillett Jr
20Joey LoganoMiddleton, CTToyotaJoe Gibbs
21Bill ElliottDawsonville, GAFordGlen Wood
24Jeff GordonVallejo, CAChevroletRick Hendrick
26Jamie McMurrayJoplin, MOFordGeoff Smith
29Kevin HarvickBakersfield, CAChevroletRichard Childress
31Jeff BurtonSouth Boston, VAChevroletRichard Childress
33Clint BowyerEmporia, KSChevroletBobby Ginn III
34Tony RainesLaPorte, INChevroletTeresa Earnhardt
36Scott RiggsBahama, NCToyotaTommy Baldwin
39Ryan NewmanSouth Bend, INChevroletTony Stewart
41JJ YeleyPhoenix, AZToyotaJeremy Mayfield
42Juan Pablo MontoyaBogota, ColombiaChevroletTeresa Earnhardt
43Reed SorensonPeachtree City, GADodgeRichard Petty
44AJ AllmendingerLos Gatos, CADodgeGeorge Gillett Jr
47Marcos AmbroseLaunceston, TasmaniaToyotaRob Kauffman
48Jimmie JohnsonEl Cajon, CAChevroletJeff Gordon
55Michael WaltripOwensboro, KYToyotaMichael Waltrip
64Todd BodineChemung, NYToyotaLarry Gunselman
66Dave BlaneyHartford, OHToyotaPhil Parsons
71David GillilandRiverside, CAChevroletKevin Buckler
73Mike GarveyMcDonough, GADodgeBarry Haefele
77Sam Hornish JrDefiance, OHDodgeBill Davis
82Scott SpeedManteca, CAToyotaDietrich Mateschitz
83Brian VickersThomasville, NCToyotaDietrich Mateschitz
87Joe NemechekLakeland, FLToyotaAndrea Nemechek
88Dale Earnhardt JrKannapolis, NCChevroletRick Hendrick
96Bobby LabonteCorpus Christi, TXFordJeffrey Moorad
98Paul MenardEau Claire, WIFordMax Jones
99Carl EdwardsColumbia, MOFordJack Roush

Qualifying

Pos. [9] [10] Car #DriverMakeSPD QTimeBHND
139Ryan NewmanChevrolet188.47528.6510.000
218Kyle BuschToyota188.25828.68400.033
324Jeff GordonChevrolet188.19328.69400.043
45Mark MartinChevrolet188.16628.69800.047
548Jimmie JohnsonChevrolet187.82028.75100.100
69Kasey KahneDodge187.49328.80100.150
709Mike BlissDodge187.42228.81200.161
883Brian VickersToyota187.39628.81600.165
942Juan Pablo MontoyaChevrolet187.18828.84800.197
1021Bill ElliottFord187.16928.85100.200
1187Joe NemechekToyota187.16228.85200.201
121Martin Truex JrChevrolet186.91628.89000.239
1311Denny HamlinToyota186.86428.89800.247
1420Joey LoganoToyota186.83228.90300.252
1519Elliott SadlerDodge186.82528.90400.253
1616Greg BiffleFord186.73528.91800.267
172Kurt BuschDodge186.59928.93900.288
1882Scott SpeedToyota186.57428.94300.292
1999Carl EdwardsFord186.54828.94700.296
2096Bobby LabonteFord186.47728.95800.307
2100David ReutimannToyota186.36828.97500.324
2229Kevin HarvickChevrolet186.23328.99600.345
2347Marcos AmbroseToyota186.22028.99800.347
2433Clint BowyerChevrolet186.18129.00400.353
2566Dave BlaneyToyota186.01429.03000.379
2677Sam Hornish JrDodge185.97029.03700.386
2788Dale Earnhardt JrChevrolet185.82929.05900.408
2814Tony StewartChevrolet185.77829.06700.416
2971David GillilandChevrolet185.70729.07800.427
3017Matt KensethFord185.60529.09400.443
3198Paul MenardFord185.59229.09600.445
3213Max PapisToyota185.43329.12100.470
3326Jamie McMurrayFord185.31929.13900.488
346David RaganFord185.17329.16200.511
3512David StremmeDodge185.09629.17400.523
3607Casey MearsChevrolet184.70429.23600.585
377Robby GordonToyota184.59029.25400.603
3844AJ AllmendingerDodge184.33829.29400.643
3955Michael WaltripToyota183.94929.35600.705
4031Jeff BurtonChevrolet183.28129.46300.812
4134Tony RainesChevrolet183.17529.48000.829
4243Reed SorensonDodge183.15629.48300.832
4336Scott RiggsToyota184.43229.27900.628
Failed to qualify
4441J.J. YeleyToyota184.09329.333
4573Mike GarveyDodge182.45729.596
4664Todd BodineToyota182.42629.601
4706David StarrDodge179.08130.154

Pre-race festivities

Air Force Tops in Blue sang the national anthem. Bobby Allison, the race's grand marshal, gave the command to start engines. (It was not televised on Monday, instead, it was preempted by commercials.)[ citation needed ]

Race recap

Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch started on the front row followed by Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin in the second one, and Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne in the third. Newman decided to start the race from the outside, switching positions with Busch.

At 12:12 pm EDT, the green flag waved marking the start of the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600. After lap 1, Newman led the first lap with Busch in 2nd and Martin in 3rd. Two laps later, Busch took the lead from Newman while out of turn 4. On lap 7, the first caution flag was waved for light rain. Before the caution, Brian Vickers was in 5th after starting in 8th and Denny Hamlin was in that position after starting 13th. Dale Earnhardt Jr., starting in 27th, was in 31st. Eleven drivers entered pit road. Among them were Earnhardt Jr.; Kevin Harvick; Michael Waltrip; Greg Biffle; and Matt Kenseth.

When the restarted on lap 12, Busch had the lead followed by Newman, Martin, Kahne, and Vickers behind him. Shortly after, Harvick and Sam Hornish Jr. made contact on the backstretch. On lap 17, Harvick made contact with the outside wall entering turn 1, causing damage to his car and bringing out a caution. Busch reported an electrical problem with his car.

On lap 19, the race restarted with Busch, Newman, Martin, Kahne, and Gordon in the Top 5. By lap 35, Busch had opened a 2-second lead over Martin, who was 2nd. Tony Stewart, starting in 28th, was now in 15th. During pit stops on lap 42 after a competition caution, Johnson had the lead off pit road and gained 16 positions, followed by Busch and Martin. Newman had to come back to pit road for a lugnut replacement and Mike Bliss drove his car to the garage.

The race restarted on lap 45 with Johnson, Busch, Martin, Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin rounding out the Top 5. On lap 51, Ky. Busch took the lead away from Johnson with Martin still in 2nd. By lap 55, Johnson, with a loose car, had fallen to the 6th place. Rain returned by lap 71, resulting in yet another caution. After pit stops that followed, Carl Edwards gained 10 positions, Jamie McMurray gained 16, Reutimann gained 7, and Martin Truex Jr. gained 13. Vickers lost 6. Martin's crew lost a tire from their pit, resulting in a penalty for him. Robby Gordon stayed out and led a lap. Waltrip and Scott Riggs also stayed out. Approximately 55 minutes after the start of the race, the red flag was waved on lap 74 for rain. R. Gordon, Waltrip, Riggs, KY. Busch, Edwards, Reutimann, McMurray, Joey Logano, Kahne, and Juan Pablo Montoya made up the Top 10 at that time.

This red flag period lasted 54 minutes before caution laps resumed. R. Gordon, Waltrip, and Riggs made pit stops under the caution. Each of the three had a led at least a lap. The restart on lap 79 with Ky. Busch, Edwards, Reutimann, McMurray, and Logano in the Top 5. Martin served a penalty from the last pit stop and dropped to 37th place. By lap 87, Ky. Busch opened a two-second lead over second place Reutimann. On lap 93, McMurray dropped from fourth to 10th and Reutimann fell two spots from 2nd after making contact with the outside wall of Turn 4. Meanwhile, Earnhardt Jr. continued to fight an ill-handling car and on lap 111 Ky. Busch, who was leading, put him a lap down. On lap 120, Vickers took the lead from Ky. Busch. As of lap 122, Joe Nemechek, Waltrip, Harvick, and Max Papis, running 38th through 41st respectively, were a lap down. Green flag pit stops began at that point. On lap 129, Montoya took second from KY. Busch. Logano led lap 131. Reutimann and David Gilliland were deemed too fast on pit road and served penalties. Meanwhile, Dave Blaney led two laps under green flag pit stops. Blaney's stop on lap 134 ended the cycle and Ky. Busch regained the lead, followed by Vickers, Montoya, Kahne, and Johnson. Vickers took the lead on lap 146, and by lap 161, he had opened a 2.2-second lead over Montoya.

Historic moment of silence

On lap 163, race officials threw the red flag, and ordered the cars to shut down the engines on the front stretch for a moment of silence in honor of those who died in the service of America's military. This moment took place at 3:00 pm EDT; the time was chosen because it coincides with that traditionally set aside by American tradition on Memorial Day. Members of pit crews and fans stood in observance, while drivers quietly reflected in their cars. Although this moment was not originally planned — and indeed would not have occurred if the race had not been postponed the day before — it reportedly met with praise from drivers, crews and fans.

Pit stops and resumption of race

During the pit stops, Edwards gained six spots, Jeff Gordon gained twelve spots, Montoya lost three positions, and Vickers lost nine spots. The rain came and delayed the waving of the green flag. On lap 177, the red flag was waved for rain for the second time in the race three hours and eight minutes since the start. Kyle Busch, Kahne, Johnson, Edwards, Montoya, Logano, Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Hamlin, and Vickers are in the top ten when the red flag waved.

The field restarted on lap 180 at 3:42 pm. EDT. Twenty-six cars were on the lead lap as they took the green flag. On lap 182, Logano took fifth from Montoya and Johnson took second from Kahne. Seven laps later, Montoya, running in 7th, reported his car has tightened up. Kurt Busch, running in 15th, entered pit road for a two-tire change on lap 193 because of vibrations. Kurt Busch re-entered the race in 38th, one lap down. On lap 208, seven laps after halfway, Kyle Busch had a 2.4-second lead over Kasey Kahne. Kyle's brother, Kurt, advanced four spots from 38th since the pitstop for vibrations. On lap 213, Kenseth, running in 7th, reported his car has tightened up.

Eight laps later, rain hit the track again and forced another yellow flag for rain. On the ensuing stops, Edwards gained two spots, Vickers five spots, and Labonte seven spots. Johnson lost four spots. Reutimann, Newman, and Robby Gordon stayed on the track.

On lap 227, the third red flag of the race was waved with Reutimann, Newman, Robby Gordon, Edwards, Vickers, Kyle Busch, Kahne, Montoya, Logano, and Kenseth in the top ten. Hours later the race was called official giving Reutimann his first Cup series win in 76 starts. Newman, the polesitter, finished in second in his Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet. Robby Gordon finished third, his first top 5 finish since the 2007 Watkins Glen race [11] Carl Edwards had the highest finishing Ford in fourth place. Kyle Busch had led the most laps (173), finished sixth. Kasey Kahne, the defending winner, [12] had the highest finishing Dodge in seventh. Rookie Joey Logano finished ninth. Bill Elliott, in his 800 career start, [13] finished 15th. Marcos Ambrose, the last driver on the lead lap, came in 26th.

Firsts

David Reutimann won his first race in the Sprint Cup Series. It was also the first win for Michael Waltrip Racing in the Sprint Cup Series and the first for Michael Waltrip as an owner. This was the first win for a car with the number 00 in Sprint Cup history and the first win for Toyota at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the Cup series. Also, due to the rainout, this marked the first time the actual race was held on Memorial Day. Also, this was the first Sprint Cup race at Charlotte to be held during the day since 2001.

Results

Finish [14] [15] No.DriverMakeTeamLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
100David ReutimannToyota Michael Waltrip Racing 2275running190403998
239Ryan NewmanChevy Stewart–Haas Racing 2272running175326754
37Robby GordonToyota Robby Gordon Motorsports 2271running120208985
499Carl EdwardsFord Roush Fenway Racing 2270running160207531
583Brian VickersToyota Red Bull Racing Team 22733running160177898
618Kyle BuschToyota Joe Gibbs Racing 227173running160200198
79Kasey KahneDodge Richard Petty Motorsports 2270running146159998
842Juan Pablo MontoyaChevy Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 2270running142151773
920Joey LoganoToyota Joe Gibbs Racing 2271running143163351
1017Matt KensethFord Roush Fenway Racing 2270running134160965
1111Denny HamlinToyota Joe Gibbs Racing 2270running130122655
1296Bobby LabonteFord Hall of Fame Racing 2270running127135829
1348Jimmie JohnsonChevy Hendrick Motorsports 2276running129158751
1424Jeff GordonChevy Hendrick Motorsports 2270running121145951
1521Bill ElliottFord Wood Brothers Racing 2270running118106000
1677Sam Hornish Jr.Dodge Penske Racing 2270running115121610
175Mark MartinChevy Hendrick Motorsports 2270running112111785
1882Scott SpeedToyota Red Bull Racing Team 2270running109116648
1914Tony StewartChevy Stewart–Haas Racing 2270running106109973
2016Greg BiffleFord Roush Fenway Racing 2270running103116175
2126Jamie McMurrayFord Roush Fenway Racing 2270running100105050
2212David StremmeDodge Penske Racing 2270running97128615
231Martin Truex Jr.Chevy Earnhardt Ganassi Racing 2270running94131140
246David RaganFord Roush Fenway Racing 2270running91102325
2531Jeff BurtonChevy Richard Childress Racing 2270running88137731
2647Marcos AmbroseToyota JTG Daugherty Racing 2270running85104898
2771David GillilandChevy TRG Motorsports 2260running8289200
2866Dave BlaneyToyota Prism Motorsports 2262running8491175
2998Paul MenardFord Yates Racing 2260running76121956
3055Michael WaltripToyota Michael Waltrip Racing 2261running7899925
3119Elliott SadlerDodge Richard Petty Motorsports 2260running7098775
3244A.J. AllmendingerDodge Richard Petty Motorsports 2260running6788150
3307Casey MearsChevy Richard Childress Racing 2260running64106975
342Kurt BuschDodge Penske Racing 2260running61106900
3543Reed SorensonDodge Richard Petty Motorsports 2260running58125101
3633Clint BowyerChevy Richard Childress Racing 2260running5595625
3787Joe NemechekToyota NEMCO Motorsports 2260running5287400
3836Scott RiggsToyota Tommy Baldwin Racing 2253running5487285
3934Tony RainesChevy Front Row Motorsports 2250running4695175
4088Dale Earnhardt Jr.Chevy Hendrick Motorsports 2250running43105065
4129Kevin HarvickChevy Richard Childress Racing 2240running40124283
4213Max PapisToyota Germain Racing 2190running3786850
4309Mike BlissDodge Phoenix Racing 420vibration3487817

References

  1. "2009 Coca-Cola 600 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  2. "Charlotte NASCAR Climatology" (PDF). SERCC. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  3. "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  4. Bonkowski, Jerry. "Here's all you need to know about the Coca-Cola 600 and the Charlotte Motor Speedway". NBC Sports . NBC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  5. Aumann, Mark (May 24, 2012). "Turner's dream brings creation of Charlotte track". NASCAR. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  6. Hart, Jay (May 23, 2009). "Story lines: Lowe's". Yahoo! Sports . Yahoo!. Archived from the original on February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  7. NASCAR Wire Service (May 22, 2014). "NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600 has a history with major appeal". Cecil Whig . Adams Publishing Group. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  8. "Coca-Cola 600". TicketsMate. Excite. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  9. "2009 Coca-Cola 600 Qualifying Results and Race Lineup - Charlotte Motor Speedway". frcs.pro. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  10. "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  11. 2007 Watkins Glen race results.
  12. 2008 Coca-Cola 600 race results
  13. "Bill Elliott: Welcome to NASCAR's 800 Club". Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2009.
  14. "2009 Coca-Cola 600 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  15. "Race Results". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
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