Coca‑Cola 600 Memorial Day NASCAR Race

Charlotte Motor Speedway is set to stage NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 24, with the Cup Series race scheduled for 6 p.m. ET in Concord, North Carolina. NASCAR lists the event as 400 laps and 600 miles on the 1.5-mile oval, making it the series’ longest points race. Charlotte Motor Speedway calls it the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 and says the Memorial Day weekend program includes military appreciation activities, driver appearances and a pre-race concert by Brad Paisley. ### Why is the Coca-Cola 600 one of NASCAR’s signature weekends? NASCAR places the Coca-Cola 600 on its May 24 Cup Series schedule as the next points race after the May 17 All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway. The series schedule lists Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord as the site, with the race beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Charlotte Motor Speedway says the event serves as the centerpiece of its Memorial Day weekend lineup. (nascar.com) The track’s event page describes the race as “NASCAR’s toughest test of man and machine” and ties the weekend to military appreciation programming and fan activities around the speedway. ### What is on the schedule before Sunday night’s race? Saturday, May 23, opens with NASCAR Cup Series practice from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and qualifying from 2:40 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s published event schedule. (nascar.com) The same schedule lists the Charbroil 300 for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at 5 p.m. and the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at 9 p.m. (charlottemotorspeedway.com) NASCAR’s weekend schedule also shows on-track activity across Saturday before the Cup race on Sunday. Its Charlotte spring race weekend page lists practice and qualifying sessions, the Charbroil 300 at 5 p.m. ET and the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at 9 p.m. ET, followed by the Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. ### What happens at the track on race day? (charlottemotorspeedway.com) Sunday, May 24, begins with parking lots opening at 9 a.m. and fan assistance transportation starting at 9:30 a.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway says. The track schedule lists Speed Street Fan Zone hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Trackside Live with Kenny Wallace and John Roberts from noon to 1 p.m., and spectator gates opening at 2:30 p.m. The pre-race program builds through the afternoon. (nascar.com) Charlotte Motor Speedway lists the Brad Paisley concert from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., a military appreciation show at 4:30 p.m. and NASCAR Cup Series driver introductions at 5:25 p.m. before the 6 p.m. start. ### What should fans know about the race itself? NASCAR’s Cup Series schedule lists the Coca-Cola 600 as a 400-lap, 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (charlottemotorspeedway.com) The same schedule identifies the track as a 1.5-mile paved intermediate oval in Concord with 24 degrees of banking in the turns. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s event page says Sunday tickets are available through the track and notes that event pricing is subject to North Carolina sales tax. (charlottemotorspeedway.com) The page also promotes fan-facing elements including the Winners Circle Lounge, Champions Pavilion and infield access for credentialed guests. ### Where can people check the latest weekend information? NASCAR publishes a live Charlotte spring race weekend page with schedule updates, results postings and session status. (nascar.com) On Saturday, that page showed changes to some track activity, including canceled and delayed sessions earlier in the weekend, making the official NASCAR schedule page the clearest source for day-of changes. (charlottemotorspeedway.com) Charlotte Motor Speedway also maintains the event schedule for the Coca-Cola 600 weekend, including gate times, fan zone hours and pre-race entertainment. The next listed milestone is Sunday, May 24, when Cup Series driver introductions are scheduled for 5:25 p.m. ET ahead of the 6 p.m. ET green flag in Concord. (charlottemotorspeedway.com) (nascar.com)