NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte: Live updates, highlights, live leaderboard of Coca-Cola 600
The NASCAR Cup Series will run the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway with eyes on Kyle Larson's participation in the Indy 500, possible weather interruptions and more.
Sunday won't lack for newsworthiness. The Indy 500 start time has been delayed, and Kyle Larson is still in Indianapolis in anticipation for a late-afternoon start. If he remains in Indy to get that race completed, the Cup Series points lead won't be in Charlotte to run the 600. Either way, it looks like the double will have to wait for Larson.
Possible weather later in the evening on Sunday could impact the Coca-Cola 600, depending on timing.
And on the track, Ty Gibbs is on the pole for the first time in his Cup career. Gibbs is also searching for his first Cup win.
Follow along with our live race updates, with green flag set for after 5 p.m. CT on Sunday. We'll also keep tabs of Larson's performance in Indianapolis and any late changes in his status.
600 PICKS: NASCAR Charlotte predictions 2024: Expert picks for Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway
THE DOUBLE? Kyle Larson in the Indy 500: What to know about NASCAR star making Indianapolis 500 debut
NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte: Live updates, highlights, live leaderboard
LIVE LEADERBOARD: Full field leaderboard of NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
Christopher Bell wins Stage 2, which ends under caution after Harrison Burton spins
Harrison Burton spins off of turn 2 with four laps to go in Stage 2, and that'll be it for the stage. Christopher Bell earns the playoff point.
The top 10:
Christopher Bell
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
Denny Hamlin
Brad Keselowski
Alex Bowmn
Chase Elliott
Josh Berry
Ross Chastain
Tyler Reddick
Good run so far for Bubba Wallace. Tyler Reddick gets a point in Stage 2 after serving the penalties at the start of the race.
Lap 190: Christopher Bell leads William Byron and Bubba Wallace
Christopher Bell pulls away from William Byron and Bubba Wallace as the latter two battle for second. 10 laps to go in Stage 2.
Big damage for Noah Gragson at Charlotte. https://t.co/70cQiaqOt3 pic.twitter.com/BY6h7Pw1ME
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 27, 2024
Lap 171: Noah Gragson crashes down the backstretch
Noah Gragson has heavy damage to the front end of his Stewart-Haas Racing Ford after spinning down the backstretch and hitting the inside wall. That will likely end his night. Gragson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made contact coming off of turn 2.
Still 29 laps to go until the end of Stage 2. Some drivers pit, some stay out.
Lap 168: Chase Elliott takes the lead
Chase Elliott, who also stayed out, passes Martin Truex Jr. for the lead. But William Byron and Bubba Wallace are coming on new tires.
Lap 158: Caution for Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney is stalled on pit road, and the caution is out.
Ty Gibbs takes two tires and leads the cars off pit road. Martin Truex Jr. is among the cars that stayed out.
A FOX replay shows that Gibbs' crew was ready to put on four tires but only got two tires. Kyle Busch also had another pit road penalty on this round of stops. Truex and Josh Berry lead the field to the green.
Lap 145: Green flag stops underway
Bell has constructed a big lead as green flag stops are underway.
Ryan Blaney gets into the wall and has some noticeable cosmetic damage. In Saturday's Xfinity race, the wall in turns 1 and 2 resembled Darlington with the all the stripes and paint via contact with the outside wall.
NBC cameras show Kyle Larson leaving Indianapolis via helicopter. He should get to Charlotte in time for some laps. Justin Allgaier is in 26th and on the lead lap.
Lap 115: Christopher Bell leads
Christopher Bell takes the lead as the field shakes up through different strategies during the stage break.
Kyle Larson finishes 18th in Indy 500
Larson did stop for fuel and fell back to 18th at the finish. Nashville's Josef Newgarden goes back-to-back at the Indy 500 with a last-lap pass of Pato O'Ward for the victory.
Larson's 500 day ends at about 6:45 p.m. CT. Will he have a chance to run the final stage and change in Charlotte?
Kyle Larson leads the Indy 500
Kyle Larson is one of two cars not yet pitted for the final time at the Indy 500, and he leads with 19 laps to go. 47 laps is next to impossible for Larson to save under green flag conditions, right?!
William Byron wins Stage 1
Ty Gibbs leads off of pit road but can't hold onto the lead on the restart. William Byron takes the lead and sets sail for the Stage 1 win.
The top 10:
William Byron
Ty Gibbs
Alex Bowman
Christopher Bell
Martin Truex Jr.
Bubba Wallace
Ryan Blaney
Brad Keselowski
Josh Berry
Michael McDowell
Kyle Larson Indy 500 update
Larson got the wave-around to return to the lead lap and is trying a long-odd fuel strategy to not have to stop again. That would be a very long stint and would almost certainly need caution laps. Larson is now in 21st. There are 33 laps to go at IMS.
Lap 88: Caution for BJ McLeod
BJ McLeod spins off of turn four and has a tire down. It'll be an interesting final few laps in Stage 1. William Byron remains the leader. Justin Allgaier was able to stay on the lead lap. Jimmie Johnson gets the free pass.
Lap 71: William Byron passes Ty Gibbs for the lead in lap traffic
Justin Allgaier has newer tires than the leaders and flies past the leaders who are mired in lap traffic. William Byron takes advantage and passes Gibbs for the lead then re-laps Allgaier.
Lap 53: Ty Gibbs regains the lead as field cycles through
Ty Gibbs regains the lead as the field cycles through pit stops, but William Byron is pushing for the top spot.
Chase Elliott has moved outside the top 10 after starting in 5th. Justin Allgaier is one lap down in 33rd.
Lap 43: Green flag pit stops
The field begins green flag stops just short of cutting the first stage in half. Kyle Busch is penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation, so a pass-through penalty.
Meanwhile in the Indy 500, Kyle Larson penalized for being too fast entering pit road. He was running 6th. That will extinguish his 500 chances with less than 70 laps to go.
Lap 20: Ty Gibbs still leads as Tyler Reddick hangs onto lead lap
Ty Gibbs has a small lead over William Byron, partially because Tyler Reddick has rendered any clear air moot. Reddick served his pass-through penalty but stayed just ahead of Gibbs to stay on the lead lap, and he's pulled away by 15+ car lengths over Gibbs.
Lap 1: Green flag for the Coca-Cola 600!
Green flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway! Ty Gibbs leads through turn 1.
Pre-race festivities complete
The 40-car field is about ready to go through pace laps as pre-race ceremonies are completed at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Off to a beautiful start! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ujC0A2KHxx
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 26, 2024
A Kyle Larson-Indy 500 update: Larson was eighth before the most recent caution as the Indy 500 closes in on halfway.
Kyle Larson settles in as Indy 500 is underway
Kyle Larson and the 32 other drivers in the Indy 500 field take the green flag at about 3:45 p.m. CT.
TROUBLE right at the start!
Multiple cars involved in a Lap 1 incident!
📺: #Indy500 on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/7jXuG3oJ1F— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 26, 2024
Hendrick Motorsports confirms Kyle Larson will race in Indy 500, won't make start of Coca-Cola 600
Kyle Larson will start the Indianapolis 500, now set for an estimated 3:45 p.m. CT start time, and will miss the start of the Coca-Cola 600, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed via a tweet.
Despite the rain delay, @KyleLarsonRacin will start the Indianapolis 500. pic.twitter.com/o3oxFO7R8i
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) May 26, 2024
Justin Allgaier will start in the No. 5 car in Charlotte. He will have to move to the back of the field with the driver change.
Allgaier told FOX Sports and The Athletic that Larson would take over if the 500 finishes up and Larson can make it to Charlotte Motor Speedway before the end of the 600 to finish the race.
. @bobpockrass and I spoke to Justin Allgaier. Allgaier told us that whether Kyle Larson were to arrive "on Lap or with 10 (laps) to go," Larson would get in the No. 5 Hendrick car to finish the Coca-Cola 600.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 26, 2024
NASCAR has not said if it will grant a playoff waiver to Larson.
Who will race for Kyle Larson if he can't make it to Charlotte?
Kyle Larson looks likely to stay in Indianapolis to run the Indy 500 after weather delayed the start until the late afternoon. If he can't make it to Charlotte Motor Speedway in time, Justin Allgaier will run the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the 600 as the backup driver.
Donald Trump expected to appear at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Former President Donald Trump is expected to attend Sunday's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, per FOX Sports.
It won't be his first NASCAR race. Trump attended the 2020 Daytona 500, giving a speech and taking a lap around the track in his limousine prerace.
Trump is the frontrunner to earn the GOP nomination for the presidential election in November.
Ty Gibbs on the pole; full NASCAR Cup Series in Charlotte starting lineup
Ty Gibbs won the pole for Sunday's race, his first career Cup Series pole.
The top 10:
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota (will fall to the back of the field before green flag after failing inspection)
Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Find the full starting lineup here.
NASCAR race radio coverage: How to listen to NASCAR Cup race at Charlotte
The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte will be aired on the radio by the Performance Racing Network. PRN has affiliates all across the country, and their feed can also be streamed on GoPRN.com and on NASCAR.com as well as the NASCAR app. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte race TV schedule, start time
Green Flag Time: Approx. 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 26
TV coverage: FOX (coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. CT Sunday)
Radio: PRN (TBD in Nashville)
Streaming: FUBO (free trial available); FOX Sports app (subscription required); GoPRN.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required).
The Coca-Cola 600 will be broadcast nationally on FOX. Streaming options for the race include the FOX Sports app and FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Recent NASCAR Cup Series winners at Charlotte
2023: Ryan Blaney
2022: Denny Hamlin
2021: Kyle Larson
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte: Live updates, highlights, leaderboard