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Monday, 30 May 2011 10:36 |
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Page 1 of 5  Coming out of the final turn of the Coca-Cola 600 Kevin Harvick passed the out of fuel Dale Earnhardt Jr, who had jumped out to a sizeable lead on the final restart, to take the win in NASCAR's longest race of the year on Sunday night at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The crowd roared as Earnhardt took the white flag, leading the field in the final lap of a race for the first time in 105 starts, but in a split second the hysterical fans expecting to see the end of Earnhardt's nearly three year losing streak come to an end, were silenced and heartbroken as the gas tank in his Chevrolet ran dry along the back stretch in sight of the chequered flag, coasting across the finish line in seventh place.
After the race Harvick said: "Even though we won, I'm still miserable. In about 30 minutes, I will be happy, when we drive out of that tunnel and leave the month of May behind. We were lucky, I told them at the beginning of this thing that if we haven't fixed this thing in two weeks, there's no way we're going to fix it. Nothing against this race track, I just don't like racing here. It just doesn't feel right. I griped and griped and griped all freaking day long about how terrible it was. I just have a bad attitude here, so hopefully this helps."
NASCAR's most popular driver Earnhardt said he would have been lucky, too, if he had won the race: "We almost won this race, but we weren't supposed to win. We played our hand, and those other guys came in.
I tried to save a ton of gas, but I know I didn't save enough. I tried to save as much as I could. I'm disappointed we didn't win. I know all our fans were disappointed to come so close. We were a top five car. This was our Vegas car, and it's really, really good, so we'll keep taking it to race tracks and running good. We were so fast at the start of the race, and once the sun went down we kind of went back. We ran good. I'm proud. I'm proud of my guys, and I'm proud of the car we unloaded."
Race Fast Facts provided by NASCAR Statistics
Charlotte Motor Speedway - 52nd Annual Coca-Cola 600
Race Winner: Kevin Harvick
Age: 35
Team : #29 - Budweiser / Armed Forces Chevrolet
Owner: Richard Childress
Crew Chief: Gil Martin
- Kevin Harvick won the 52nd Annual Coca-Cola 600, his 17th victory in 370 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
- This is his third victory and seventh top 10 finish in 2011.
- This is his first victory and fifth top 10 finish in 21 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
- David Ragan (second) posted his third top 10 finish in nine races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top 10 finish in 2011.
- Joey Logano (third) posted his fourth top 10 finish in five races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
- Carl Edwards leads the point standings by 36 points over Kevin Harvick.
Failed to qualify:
(5) #71 Andy Lally; #50 T.J. Bell; #77 Scott Wimmer; #37 Tony Raines; #81 Scott Riggs
Race Comments:
Before a crowd estimated at 145,000, Kevin Harvick won the Coca-Cola 600, his 17th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Prior to the green flag, the following cars dropped to the rear: #60 (back-up car), #78 and #09 (transmission).
TIME OF RACE: 4 hours, 3 minutes, 14 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 132.414mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.703 second(s)
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Brad Keselowski (192.089mph. 28.112 secs.)
AMERICAN ETHANOL GREEN FLAG RESTART AWARD: Matt Kenseth
DIRECTV CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE: AJ Allmendinger (crew chief Mike Shiplett)
GOODYEAR GATORBACK FASTEST LAP: Jeff Gordon (186.355 mph, Lap 312)
MAHLE CLEVITE ENGINE BUILDER OF THE RACE: Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies (#29)
MOBIL 1 OIL DRIVER OF THE RACE: Kevin Harvick
MOOG CHASSIS PARTS PROBLEM SOLVER OF THE RACE: Kevin Harvick (crew chief Gil Martin, 0.442 seconds)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP LEADER BONUS: No winner: rolls over to $130,000 at next event++
O'REILLY AUTO PARTS POSITION IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Kevin Harvick (27 places)
++Rollover money awarded at year's end, amount not included in race winnings.
Caution Flags:
14 cautions for 64 laps. [Beneficiary in Brackets] 76-79 (Debris Turn 1 [20]); 100-103 (Car #47 Spin Turn 4 [16]); 172-175 (Debris Turn 2 [78]); 182-187 (Oil On The Track [39]); 189-193 (Debris Backstretch [20]); 234-237 (Car #32 Stopped On The Track [16]); 241-244 (Car #27, 56, 83 Accident Turn 2 [34]); 283-286 (Debris Turn 3 [99]); 290-292 (Car #4, 95 Accident Turn 4 [83]); 296-301 (Car #09, 78 Accident Frontstretch [13]); 303-310 (Car #5, 34, 39 Accident Turn 3 [78]); 320-322 (Car #18 Spin Frontstretch [47]); 344-348 (Car #18 Accident Turn 2 [9]); 397-400 (Oil On The Track [17]).
Lap Leaders:
38 lead changes among 19 drivers. Keselowski 1-7, Edwards 8-45, Burton 46-47, Allmendinger 48-52, Edwards 53-75, Hamlin 76, Burton 77-80, Hamlin 81-100, Ragan 101-107, Kenseth 108-146, Hamlin 147, Kenseth 148-171, Hamlin 172, Ambrose 173-175, McMurray 176-180, Kenseth 181-193, Ambrose 194-198, Kenseth 199-223, Hamlin 224, Earnhardt Jr 225, Biffle 226, Stewart 227-231, Ku. Busch 232-234, Ambrose 235-244, Ky. Busch 245-276, Kenseth 277-278, Kahne 279, Montoya 280, J. Gordon 281-283, Ky. Busch 284-306, J. Gordon 307-319, Kahne 320-344, Harvick 345, Mears 346, J. Gordon 347-349, Biffle 350-398, Kahne 399-400, Earnhardt Jr 401, Harvick 402.
2011 Charlotte Motor Speedway - Coca-Cola 600 unofficial race results:
| Pos. |
Started |
N° |
Driver |
Car |
Sponsor |
Pts/Bns |
Laps |
Status |
| 1 |
28 |
29 |
Kevin Harvick |
Chevrolet |
Budweiser Armed Forces Tribute |
47/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 2 |
8 |
6 |
David Ragan |
Ford |
UPS "We Love Logistics" |
43/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 3 |
23 |
20 |
Joey Logano |
Toyota |
The Home Depot |
41/0 |
402 |
Running |
| 4 |
26 |
22 |
Kurt Busch |
Dodge |
Shell / Pennzoil |
41/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 5 |
2 |
43 |
A.J. Allmendinger |
Ford |
U.S. Air Force |
40/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 6 |
24 |
9 |
Marcos Ambrose |
Ford |
Dewalt |
39/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 7 |
25 |
88 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
Chevrolet |
National Guard / Amp Energy |
38/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 8 |
20 |
78 |
Regan Smith |
Chevrolet |
Furniture Row Companies |
36/0 |
402 |
Running |
| 9 |
7 |
0 |
David Reutimann |
Toyota |
Aaron's Dream Machine / Armed Forces Foundation |
35/0 |
402 |
Running |
| 10 |
4 |
11 |
Denny Hamlin |
Toyota |
FedEx Express |
35/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 11 |
9 |
21 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
Ford |
Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center |
0 |
402 |
Running |
| 12 |
29 |
42 |
Juan Montoya |
Chevrolet |
Target |
33/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 13 |
15 |
16 |
Greg Biffle |
Ford |
3M |
32/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 14 |
19 |
17 |
Matt Kenseth |
Ford |
Jeremiah Weed Southern Style |
32/2 |
402 |
Running |
| 15 |
10 |
33 |
Clint Bowyer |
Chevrolet |
Cheerios / Hamburger Helper |
29/0 |
402 |
Running |
| 16 |
3 |
99 |
Carl Edwards |
Ford |
Scotts EZ Seed |
29/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 17 |
22 |
14 |
Tony Stewart |
Chevrolet |
Office Depot / Mobil 1 |
28/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 18 |
18 |
83 |
Brian Vickers |
Toyota |
Red Bull |
26/0 |
402 |
Running |
| 19 |
1 |
2 |
Brad Keselowski |
Dodge |
Miller Lite |
26/1 |
402 |
Running |
| 20 |
11 |
24 |
Jeff Gordon |
Chevrolet |
Drive to End Hunger |
25/1 |
401 |
Running |
| 21 |
5 |
31 |
Jeff Burton |
Chevrolet |
Caterpillar |
24/1 |
401 |
Running |
| 22 |
17 |
4 |
Kasey Kahne |
Toyota |
Red Bull |
23/1 |
401 |
Running |
| 23 |
37 |
13 |
Casey Mears |
Toyota |
GEICO |
22/1 |
401 |
Running |
| 24 |
27 |
47 |
Bobby Labonte |
Toyota |
Kingsford / Bush's Beans |
20/0 |
400 |
Running |
| 25 |
31 |
38 |
Travis Kvapil |
Ford |
Long John Silver's |
0 |
398 |
Running |
| 26 |
14 |
56 |
Martin Truex Jr. |
Toyota |
NAPA Auto Parts |
18/0 |
397 |
Running |
| 27 |
42 |
36 |
Dave Blaney |
Chevrolet |
Disabled American Veterans / Golden Corral |
17/0 |
396 |
Running |
| 28 |
6 |
48 |
Jimmie Johnson |
Chevrolet |
Lowe's Summer Salute |
16/0 |
395 |
Engine |
| 29 |
16 |
27 |
Paul Menard |
Chevrolet |
Moen / Menards |
15/0 |
383 |
Running |
| 30 |
39 |
32 |
Mike Bliss |
Ford |
blu Cigs |
0 |
367 |
Running |
| 31 |
12 |
39 |
Ryan Newman |
Chevrolet |
U.S. Army |
13/0 |
358 |
Running |
| 32 |
21 |
18 |
Kyle Busch |
Toyota |
M&M's |
13/1 |
344 |
Accident |
| 33 |
30 |
34 |
David Gilliland |
Ford |
Taco Bell |
11/0 |
301 |
Accident |
| 34 |
13 |
5 |
Mark Martin |
Chevrolet |
Carquest / GoDaddy |
10/0 |
301 |
Accident |
| 35 |
40 |
9 |
Landon Cassill |
Chevrolet |
Thank A Teacher Today / Security Benefit |
0 |
293 |
Accident |
| 36 |
32 |
195 |
David Starr |
Ford |
Jordan Truck Sales |
0 |
286 |
Accident |
| 37 |
35 |
1 |
Jamie McMurray |
Chevrolet |
Bass Pro Shops / Convoy of Hope |
08/1 |
181 |
Engine |
| 38 |
41 |
7 |
Robby Gordon |
Dodge |
Speed Energy / Harris Teeter |
6/0 |
99 |
Brakes |
| 39 |
33 |
66 |
Michael McDowell |
Toyota |
Keyper Systems |
5/0 |
40 |
Engine |
| 40 |
38 |
30 |
David Stremme |
Chevrolet |
Inception Motorsports |
4/0 |
34 |
Handling |
| 41 |
36 |
87 |
Joe Nemechek |
Toyota |
NEMCO Motorsports |
0 |
28 |
Clutch |
| 42 |
34 |
46 |
J.J. Yeley |
Chevrolet |
Red Line Oil |
2/0 |
22 |
Brakes |
| 43 |
43 |
60 |
Mike Skinner |
Toyota |
Big Red |
0 |
6 |
Vibration |
* Rookie
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