CONCORD, N.C. – Christopher Bell won the 65th running of the Coca-Cola 600 after weather forced NASCAR to cancel the race.
Cup drivers completed 249 of the scheduled 400 laps Sunday night before rain brought out the caution. Lightning eight miles from the runway brought out the red flag. Repeated hits reset the countdown clock.
FURTHER: Coca-Cola 600 results
FURTHER: Cup Driver Points
The rain stopped around 10:30 p.m. ET when NASCAR sent drying crews out to the 1.5-mile track. Drying efforts continued until 11:30 pm when NASCAR decided to cancel the race. The statement said high humidity and the likelihood of resuming the race after 1 a.m. prompted the decision.
Speedway Motorsports reconfigures Charlotte Roval for playoff race
Speedway Motorsports spoke with several Cup drivers over the past year.
Brad Keselowski was credited with second place. He was followed by William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman and Josh Berry.
The two teams that have won the most races this season were in control for the first 249 laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Byron won Stage 1 for Hendrick Motorsports and led 49 laps. Bell won Stage 2 for Joe Gibbs Racing while leading a race-high 90 laps. Ty Gibbs, who started from the pole, led 74 laps.
Kyle Larson, who finished 18th in the Indy 500, was unable to get into the No. 5 Chevrolet before NASCAR canceled the race.
Stage 1 winner: William Byron
Winner of stage 2: Christopher Bell
Stage 3 winner: NASCAR declared Bell the winner of stage 3
Who had a good career: Bell led 90 laps and held off Keselowski until weather stopped the Coca-Cola 600. He won his first crown jewel race and the eighth Cup race of his career. …Justin Allgaier, driving in place of Kyle Larson started in the backfield. He made it as far as 13th while keeping the No. 5 clean. He held his own against several Cup regulars, including Byron, Joey Logano and Gibbs. … Reddick, who started from the back and served a passing penalty, moved into the top four during the third leg. Reddick was fourth when bad weather ended the race.
Who had a bad race: Defending race winner Ryan Blaney received a penalty in Stage 2 for a runaway tire. He then had a wheel come off which sent him into the outside wall exiting Turn 4. He finished 39th. …Kyle Busch received a runaway tire penalty during green flag pit stops in Stage 1. He then received a safety violation penalty during a pit stop in Stage 2. He finished 15th. … Noah Gragson hit the inside wall on lap 171 after contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Gragson finished 38th.
Next: The NASCAR Cup Series teams head to World Wide Technology Raceway for a race on Sunday afternoon, June 2 (3:30 p.m. ET on FS1).