Martin Truex Jr.
Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 26
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Where We Stand: The New Jersey native sits second in the driver standings with 456 points, 30 behind leader Kyle Larson. Three of the four Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) entries are currently inside the top-10 in the standings, with Denny Hamlin sitting third and Ty Gibbs seventh as the series heads back to points-paying races this weekend with the annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

● As part of #NASCARSalutes and the 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Camry will be honoring First Lieutenant Harold Ring, who lost his life on Feb. 23, 1969, in Vietnam. Ring was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 11th Artillery Regiment (7/11), of the 25th Infantry (“Tropic Lightning”) Division (the 25 ID) in the Vietnam war. On Feb. 23, 1969, his platoon hastily retreated to better cover in a ditch along a road, which they had just crossed. One man was left alone about 20 yards from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) machine gun nest. It was at that point that the unit’s FO (1st Lieutenant Ring) began working its way toward the lone infantryman and the NVA machinegun nest. He also began calling artillery fire on NVA trenches and bunkers, from which the enemy had opened fire along a broad front. Ring was awarded the Silver Star for valor that day because his actions were instrumental in suppressing NVA fire and allowing the platoon to survive. Bass Pro Shops and Truex are honored to have 1Lt. Ring riding along on the No. 19 at Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 and remember the bravery of 1LT Ring and all those who have served our country this weekend and every day.

● In addition to 1st Lieutentant Ring’s name on the windshield, Bass Pro Shops is honoring 34 additional fallen soldiers, as they will be riding along on the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Camry with its patriot Red, White, and Blue paint scheme in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

● Truex has three wins, eight top-five finishes and 14 top-10s and has led a total of 1,059 laps in 32 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte. Truex’s average Charlotte finish is 13.7.

● Truex notched his most recent Coca-Cola 600 win in May 2019, when he led 116 laps en route to his third victory at the 1.5-mile oval. Truex’s other Charlotte wins came in May 2016 and September 2017. The Bass Pro Shops driver’s most memorable of two Coca-Cola 600 wins came in his first win there in 2016, when Truex led a whopping 392 laps, the most miles any driver has ever led a NASCAR Cup Series race to date in one of the most dominating performances of the modern era of NASCAR.

● Looking for 35: Truex’s win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon last July was his most recent Cup Series win, the 34th of his career, tying him with 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time Cup Series win list.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 63 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn last August. Truex scored his second stage win of the season at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway last month, leading the field across the line at the end of Stage 1.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE

What is your favorite thing about the Coca-Cola 600?

“My favorite thing about the Coke 600 is how much the track changes and how long the race is. It’s such a big challenge to get prepared for and get through the whole race. We’ve been fortunate to win it a few times. For whatever reason, it’s been a really good race for me and my Bass Pro Shops team the past eight or nine years. I always look forward to the challenge – it’s a grind and I love that. Always honored to not only have a fallen soldier riding along with me, but also for all the work Bass Pro Shops does with the USO and all their great work with our military heroes.”

What is it like winning the Coke 600?

“When you win the 600, you get to go upstairs in the Speedway Club and get the jacket – you get a ring and a jacket – it’s a big deal, it’s not like winning a normal race. Any time you get to do those things, it’s really special and you definitely savor the moment. For me, leading 492 miles or whatever back in 2016, it was a great trip up there after. The most laps and miles led in a NASCAR race, it was an incredible deal to be able to do that.”

What does it mean to you, all the things that are done for the families of fallen service members during the weekend?

“It’s obviously special to honor a fallen service member on all of our windshields with 1LT Ring on our car this weekjend, but also just to meet the family members who get to come to the track. And just to see their excitement and their appreciation for what NASCAR does to put that on and honor the family members. It makes them feel very special, and for us it’s just a huge honor. To do the break during the race is special, too. It’s just part of the whole day to honor those who have made so many sacrifices for our country, and to have the halfway break is very moving.”

Would you say the 2016 Coca-Cola 600 was a day that lined up for you the most perfectly in your career, and are there others that have been that good that maybe not everyone would know like that day?

“Certainly that 2016 Coke 600 was a special day. We started on the pole and led almost every lap, and the only laps we didn’t lead were when we were pitting. Essentially led every lap we were on the track racing. To do that in a 600-mile race, the longest of the year, to do that was as close to perfection as it gets. But, I feel like there were other races that I might have had a better performance by me, just because I know when I make mistakes and do the little things here and there. The Coke 600 that year, it got pretty sketchy a couple of times for as easy as it looked from the outside. I’ve had a couple of Darlington races where I think I had better performances. Last year, we led with 30 to go and had the belt issue and didn’t end up winning, I felt like that was one of my best races ever, even though we didn’t win. There have been a few along the way where I felt like I didn’t make any mistakes and I got everything I could, but certainly that Coke 600 was as dominant as we’ve been as a team.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Engineer: Jeff Curtis

Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Louria

Hometown: Gibraltar, Michigan

Austin Dillon to Race the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway in September to Highlight America’s Premier Children’s Christmastime Charity and Year-Round Giving

WELCOME, N.C. (May 21, 2024) – Marine Toys for Tots®, America’s premier children’s Christmastime charity, is partnering with Richard Childress Racing to highlight the charity’s year-round programs to help underprivileged children, both during the Christmas season and beyond. The dynamic, multi-year partnership includes primary race sponsorship of the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet for select races, kicking off with the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway this September. The race is scheduled to air live on USA Network beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 1.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Richard Childress Racing and Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Car,” said LtGen Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “This collaboration is a powerful way to drive the message of giving and community support across the finish line, reaching millions of NASCAR fans who can help significantly impact disadvantaged children’s lives during the holiday season and beyond.”

Established in 1947, Toys for Tots is the U.S. Marine Corps’ premier community action program and America’s most popular children’s Christmastime charity. Toys for Tots is the combined efforts of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Toys for Tots’ mission is to provide hope and emotional support to economically disadvantaged children through toys, books, and other gifts at Christmastime and throughout the year. Because needs aren’t seasonal, Toys for Tots has evolved into a year-round force for good – ensuring that no child is forgotten any day of the year.

Dillon, a two-time NASCAR Champion and the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion, joins a long list of celebrity ambassadors who have contributed their time and efforts to assist Toys for Tots. Dillon and RCR will help highlight Toys for Tots’ charitable campaigns throughout the year.

“Toys for Tots is an incredible organization, and we could not be more excited to build a relationship with them and the U.S Marine Corps Reserve,” said Torrey Galida, president of Richard Childress Racing. “We are honored to be able to debut the No.3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet and are eager to work closely with Toys for Tots to highlight their Christmastime charitable efforts and year-round commitment to ensuring that no child is forgotten.”

For more information on Toys for Tots and to find a chapter in your community, visit https://www.toysfortots.org/.

Toys for Tots, a 77-year National charitable Program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides year-round joy, comfort, and hope to economically disadvantaged children across the Nation through the gift of a new toy or book. Providing toys, books, and other gifts to disadvantaged children offers recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Since 1947, the Program has evolved and grown exponentially, having delivered hope and the magic of Christmas to over 301 million children in need. Because the need isn’t just at Christmastime, the Marine Toys for Tots Program also provides support year-round to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus fulfilling the hopes and dream of millions of disadvantaged children beyond the holidays. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR has celebrated over 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2024 NASCAR Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch (No. 8 Chevrolet) and 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet). RCR fields a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series program with Jesse Love (No. 2 Chevrolet) and Austin Hill (No. 21 Chevrolet).

CLUB ENTRY LIST

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
POINT STANDINGS: 24th

ERIK JONES
POINT STANDINGS: 27th

JIMMIE JOHNSON

CLUB NOTES

A new look: The No. 43 entry for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB will be wrapped in a patriotic scheme to celebrate Memorial Day. This weekend, the Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE will feature the traditional Family Dollar red along with navy blue and white stars to mimic the nation’s flag this weekend, a nod to those who serve and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

EJF at CMS: This weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Erik Jones Foundation will work with team sponsors Dollar Tree and Family Dollar and their supplier, Edgewell Personal Care, to distribute over 4,000 sun safety bags. The EJF will hand out Banana Boat sunscreen samples and sun safety materials to fans enjoying the Memorial Day race weekend, encouraging them to keep their skin safe throughout the weekend.

JJ’s House: Throughout Jimmie Johnson’s career, he practically resided in victory lane at Charlotte (then Lowe’s) Motor Speedway. Johnson has won on the speedway oval a record eight times across a span of 38 starts. Johnson won four races in a row at the 1.5-mile speedway, including two Memorial Day Coca-Cola 600’s during the 2004 and 2005 race seasons. In the 2004 600-mile event, Johnson dominated the field by leading a whopping 334 out of 400 total laps. In addition to the eight wins, Johnson has 16-top five, and 22 top-10 finishes while leading 1,936 laps around the circuit

A double of his own: Johnson never lets the grass grow under his feet for too long. He signed a deal with NBC Sports to do a ‘double’ of his own on Sunday, May 26. Johnson will practice and qualify the No. 84 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE at Charlotte and then hop on a plane to Indianapolis, Ind. Bright and early, Johnson will have production meetings and rehearsal, and the broadcast will start at 9 a.m. ET. Johnson joins NBC veteran analysts Mike Tirico, Danica Patrick, Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe to cover storylines of the Indianapolis 500. Johnson will head back to Charlotte at a pre-determined time in order to make the driver’s meeting and introductions, before strapping in to drive 600 miles in the Coca-Cola 600. He will most likely beat NASCAR points leader Kyle Larson to the track as Larson has a chance to win two races on Sunday as Larson takes on 1,100 miles in the true driving double.

Street cred in the booth: Johnson is no stranger to the Indy 500. He competed in the 2022 event, starting 12th before crashing with six laps to go in the event. He was crowned the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. The Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year is awarded annually by vote to the racing driver deemed to have been the best-performing rookie in the Indianapolis 500. Criteria include drivers’ performance during practice, qualifying, and the race, their relationship with fans and the media, their sportsmanship, and having a positive impact on the race.

Do-over from Kansas: Johnson is hopeful this weekend goes according to plan, as he had a fast Toyota Camry in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway earlier this month before his day ended early in a crash. He and the No. 84 team were making gains throughout the race and showed top-10 potential before the day ended early.

Boys and Girls Club: Team partner Family Dollar will host the Boys & Girls Club of America this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Family Dollar works with the Boys & Girls Club of America to outfit youth with the proper tools and resources to support their communities. The program with Family Dollar is focused on helping children think, learn, and create change. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entries will support this program by hosting a group from the Boys & Girls Club of America at the track, along with a decal near the roof numbers on No. 42 and No. 43 entries. To learn more about this program, click here.

Operation Homefront: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and team partner Dollar Tree will host guests from “Operation Homefront” at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. Operation Homefront is a nonprofit organization that aids military families in their growth and development with resources such as housing and financial assistance. In 2023, the organization helped over 1,400 military families who applied for critical financial assistance, with over $4 million in support. Operation Homefront will be represented on the roof of Nos. 42 and 43 throughout the weekend.

EJ in the Booth: Jones will join Fox for the annual “Drivers Only” broadcast team to call this weekend’s Xfinity race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jones will be in the booth as an analyst along with Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric. Fellow competitors Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Carson Hocevar, and Josh Berry will round out this year’s broadcast as studio hosts, pit reporters, and play-by-play commentary.

Xfinity Success: Jones has earned nine wins, 15 pole positions, 37 top-five, and 50 top-10 finishes across 79 attempts in the Xfinity Series. Jones competed in the Xfinity Series between 2014 and 2021, only running one full-time season in 2016. He earned four of his nine wins during the 2016 season.

Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma: Last week, two-time Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and multi-platinum award-winning star Luke Combs released a new music video to accompany his new single, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”. The video features tornado storm chasers and is the theme song for the summer blockbuster movie release of “Twister”. The music video starred Combs and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s Nemechek through the partnership with OLIPOP. To see the full video visit, www.lukecombs.com or on Nemechek and LEGACY M.C.’s social media channels.

That Jones Baby: Jones and his wife Holly announced late last week that the family will be expanding with a new addition to the Jones family. The two shared through their social media accounts that the family is expecting their first child in November of this year, just in time for the off-season.

NBC and JJ: In addition to this weekend’s Indianapolis 500, Johnson will also serve as an analyst on NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage of the events at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 24 and Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6, one of three Cup Series Playoff races in the Round of 12. Johnson will also contribute to NBC Sports’ coverage for select NASCAR races in which he is competing this year, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship from Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10.

Better Half Dash: On Wednesday evening, May 29, the “better halves” of the NASCAR industry will be competing for great causes in the Better Half Dash event hosted by Motor Racing Outreach (MRO). The go-karting event will take place at Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, N.C. This year, John Hunter’s wife, Taylor Nemechek, will be competing for the second time, while raising money for a special cause that is near to her heart, the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. To support Taylor in finding a cure for this terrible disease, visit, www.go2mro.com/bhd-drivers/taylor-nemechek

Keeping fans safe: Jones will make several public service announcements throughout the weekend that will play on the big screen at Charlotte Motor Speedway reminding fans to stay sun safe. May is “Melanoma Awareness Month”, and the Erik Jones Foundation (EJF) has been working hard to raise awareness for the most common type of cancer found in adults. This is a cause close to the Jones family, as Erik’s father, Dave Jones, passed away from melanoma in 2016.

JHN and the Longest Race of the Year: Nemechek’s first and only attempt at the longest race of the year came back in 2020. At the end of the 405-lap affair, Nemechek finished in the 16th position. Nemechek is no stranger to Charlotte Motor Speedway with multiple starts across the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series where he won in 2021.

Thinking of DC8: All LEGACY M.C. entries will run decals through the Charlotte Motor Speedway race in support of the Dollar Tree Distribution Center 8 (DC8) in Marietta, Okla. DC8 was impacted by the devastating tornadoes that hit the Oklahoma region last weekend. Although the distribution center was severely damaged, fortunately, none of the 456 associates employed by the distribution center were injured by the disaster.

Pit Crew: The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the most unique races of the year for not only the drivers but also the over-the-wall crew. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB pit crew members are expected to make 10-12 pit stops throughout the race, which will prove to be a marathon of precision and efficiency. All three CLUB entries will have plenty of opportunities to showcase their true athleticism and teamwork during the 600-mile marathon.

Going for G.O.L.D.: Partners Dollar Tree and Family Dollar will honor store #5424 this weekend as a part of the company’s “Go for G.O.L.D.” (Grand Opening Look Daily) program. The Dollar Tree and Family Dollar primaries will highlight these stores on the deck lid of all three LEGACY M.C. entries throughout the race season. Store #5424 is located in Charlotte, N.C.

CLUB members who served: Carl Garcia, the interior mechanic on the No. 43 for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, served in the military from 1997-2000. Garcia was a member of the 82nd Airborne Infantry Regiment and worked as an E-4 during his service at Fort Bragg, N.C. Earl Barban, Jimmie Johnson’s longtime spotter served from 1983-1988 in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and is a Navy Achievement Medal recipient. No. 42 mechanic Zach Casada served in the U.S. Army from June 2008 to April 2016.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

“This is your second Coke 600, what do you like about Charlotte and how important is it to stay on top of your Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE throughout the race?

“This is my second 600, and I ran well in the first one. I like Charlotte a lot, it has a lot of characteristics and bumps while trying to get your car to work. They’re spraying resin in the top groove this year so that’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out. It’s a long day to night race so the track is going to change a lot, so relying on Ben for notes and past experience during the 600 to kind of figure out what we need balance wise just so I myself as a driver can understand what I feel like I need. Not knowing how much it changes and kind of the balance that you’re looking for I think that’s the hardest part about the 600. You see a lot of guys that are really good early in the race, and you see a lot of guys that are good at the end of the race, and part of that is because the track changes so much, trying to keep up with adjustments during that is very hard. Charlotte hometown!”

During the Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and everyone at NASCAR does a great job of honoring the men and women that serve this country, what does it mean to represent the fallen soldier [Spc. Dustin J. Feldhaus] and all the families that will be there at the track as well as all of the men and women that will be watching from afar?

“It means a lot to be able to represent a fallen soldier and without them fighting for our country and for our freedom we wouldn’t be able to do the things that we love to do and that’s race every Sunday during the year and be able to have the freedom that we do, so I think that being able to honor and remember them on Memorial Day weekend for the Coke 600 it’s such a big celebration and remembrance of not only the soldier that’s going to be on our card but every single one that has fallen and given their life to our country and fighting for freedom

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

What are the keys to a strong run at the Coke 600?

“This track is a mix of handling and aerodynamics. It’s a fast track but the bumps get a little bit worse every year. So, blending a setup that has good aero platform but gets through the bumps well is a big part of making a fast car at Charlotte.”

With the Coke 600 being the longest of the year and it going from day to night, how important is it to stay on top of the changing conditions and adjustments for the car?

“It’s very important. The track will go through a couple transitions, so we’ll have to have a plan in place ahead of time to be able to adapt and try to be ahead of the adjustments we need as the sun sets and the track cools off.”

Each team will have a fallen soldier’s name riding along with them on the car, what does it mean to be able to represent the name that is on the car, the surviving families and all the men and women that serve our country?

“Seeing the Gold Star Flags this time of year is always a reality check. We are very privileged to be able to do the things we do because of all the brave soldiers who made great sacrifices for this country. It means a lot to the team to have one of those soldiers riding with us during the race to be able to tell their story of that sacrifice.

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

What makes the 600 such an important race for the sport and how does the length of the race change your strategy as a driver?

“The 600 is one of my favorite races of the year, and it’s obviously our longest; that challenge is unique to Charlotte. The sport does a really great job of giving us the opportunity to honor those who served on Memorial Day, and it is always neat to see those names ride along with us. I always get excited for this weekend; it is obviously a unique race in the way that it starts in the day and goes into the night; the track changes so much, and you see so many guys come and go in the last few years with this car that race has seemed to get pretty wild as the day goes on. Charlotte has been a good race for me, and for us at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, we showed some pretty good speed but ran into some unfortunate circumstances last year. So, hopefully, we can get our 1.5-mile stuff rolling and get the result that we want.”

Dave Elenz, Crew chief of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

How does the 600 miles of racing change your strategy and where can you find success?

“I think Charlotte is always a fun race, 600 miles gives you the opportunity to really get into a rhythm during the race, and it really brings out the most prepared drivers, and you’ll see those teams rise to the top. It is pretty fun to see how the stages are broken up, it’s four 100-lap stages that make things easier to get into a rhythm for each one of those and set up for the runs that entail from those. We look forward to it. We had a lot of speed there last year, so hopefully, we can bring a great car again.”

Jimmie Johnson, Driver of the No. 84 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE:

“I’m ready to get back on track after Kansas. It was the best I felt in these cars and I really hate we couldn’t finish that race. We have 600 miles to sort it out on Sunday night and I’m here for it. The opportunity with NBC to call the pre-race and participate in the broadcast for the Indianapolis 500 is just so cool. The first time I did the broadcast I got the itch to run the 500 (laughs) and we made that happen in 2022. It will be a long day on Sunday as we hit the airwaves bright and early, but I really can’t wait. It’s one of the greatest days in auto racing. Also, the 600 is so special with the Gold Star family of SSG James “Jimmy” Patton joining us. It’s an honor for his family to be with us for this event and we want to do well for Jimmy.”

Jason Burdett, Crew chief of the No. 84 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE:

“The good thing about Charlotte is that Jimmie ran last year’s 600 in this NextGen car, so he already has a starting point of where he needs to be and what he will want out of the AdventHealth Toyota. It’s only been two races since he has been out of the car so the momentum we had in Kansas should carry into Charlotte. The format of stages is like four races in one race for us. So we plan to take it stage by stage – it’s a long night but a great racetrack for us.”

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

ABOUT PETTY 75th: The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office, and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians, and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at race tracks across the country.

The First: Lee Petty was a part of NASCAR’s first race at the short track of Charlotte Speedway in 1949. The eldest Petty qualified ninth in a car that he borrowed (or rumored to have stolen) from the service station where he worked. Petty was collected in a wreck on Lap 102 and finished 17th in the race. This race kickstarted the passion for the Petty family to compete in NASCAR.

Career Win for Petty: Adam Petty won in his first career ARCA start in 1998 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Petty qualified sixth and led 27 of the possible 67 laps in the No. 45 entry for Petty Enterprises. Petty only had two starts in his ARCA career, and his second attempt came at Talladega Superspeedway that same year.

Lee Petty in Charlotte: Lee Petty raced at three different Charlotte-based tracks throughout his storied career. The patriarch of the Petty family raced at Charlotte Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Southern States Fairgrounds between the years between 1949 and 1961. Of these three tracks, he dominated Southern States Fairgrounds with three wins (1954, 1957, 1959) in 17 attempts with nine top-five, 15 top-10, four pole positions, and 313 laps led. The Petty that started it all holds an average start of 5.4 and an average finish of 6.8.

Richard Petty: “The King” has six starts at Southern States Fairgrounds between 1959 and 1961, including a trip to victory lane in the spring of 1960. Petty only finished one race in these six starts, being his win during the 1960 season. “The King” led 18 laps that day in his only win at the short track. “The King” made 64 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway dating back to the track’s inaugural race in 1960 until he retired in 1992. Of those starts, Petty was victorious five times (1961, 1975, 1977, 1983), won three pole positions, 23 top-five, 31 top-10 finishes, and 1,702 laps led.

KP at CMS: Kyle Petty went to Victory Lane once during his 53 attempts at Charlotte Motor Speedway while driving the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing. That day, Petty led 35 laps during the 600-mile event in 1987. Coupled with the win, Petty has six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes with 321 laps led between 1979-2008.

HONORARY CLUB MEMBERS

42: Spc. Dustin J. Feldhaus – The No. 42 Dollar Tree LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team will have the name of Spc. Dustin J. Feldhaus riding along with them on the Toyota Camry at the Coke 600. Feldhaus hailed from Glendale, Ariz., and was nicknamed “Mouse” because of his short stature and slender frame, weighing in at 112 lbs. What Feldhaus may have lacked in height he made up for in heart and tenacity. Feldhaus is survived by his mother, Niki Etchells, stepfather Lance; his father, Bernard Feldhaus-Mahaljevic; and stepmother, Sandra; siblings, Nicholas, Dorian, Patrick, and Alana; and many other relatives.

43: LCDR Charles Thomas Butler of Paintsville, KY. was a valued husband, father, and decorated service member who served in the Marine Corps until his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1953. Butler worked in the electronic and special weapons departments for various units across the country, including time in New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. During a refresher training course in Pensacola, FL., Butler was involved in an accident as his RA-C5 crashed due to a loose clamp in the starboard engine. Butler and his co-pilot, ENS John B. Smith, both ejected and while Smith survived, unfortunately, Butler lost his life due to his injuries. Butler was laid to rest with full military honors on June 20th, 1967, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of commander during his service. Butler is survived by his wife, Barbra Ann, and his five children, Sharon Kaye, Mary Lee, Richard Wallace, John Charles, and Robert Winston. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

84: SSG James Richard Patton: Jimmy Patton was known for his qualities as a soldier and for being “the life of his platoon.” Patton, 23, was killed in a helicopter crash April 18 in Tikrit, Iraq while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was assigned to Fort Benning, N.C., and a native of Vincennes, Ind. Patton was on his seventh deployment, having previously served twice in Iraq and four times in Afghanistan. Patton enlisted in the Army in 2004. His awards include, the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge. He has also been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

BROADCAST INFO

CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
SUNDAY, MAY 26th @ 6:00 PM ET

CHASE BRISCOE
Charlotte Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 26
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe comes into the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway with the kind of momentum any driver wants heading into the longest race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing finished an impressive fifth in the series’ prior points-paying race May 12 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. It was his best finish in the 13 races run this season and it was his first top-five in seven career Cup Series starts at Darlington. The fifth-place drive was the 11th top-five of Briscoe’s Cup Series career, a mark highlighted by his March 2022 win at Phoenix Raceway.

● The Coca-Cola 600 will mark Briscoe’s fourth career NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval. His best result came in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600, when Briscoe started 15th and worked his way into the lead on lap 260 before finishing fourth.

● Briscoe has made four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte with his best result coming in his most recent drive at the intermediate-style track – sixth in May 2021. It was a bittersweet run as Briscoe qualified his Ford Mustang second and led three times for 60 laps. But as eventual race-winner Ty Gibbs muscled past Briscoe on lap 181, Gibbs’ No. 54 machine took the air off Briscoe’s spoiler, sending Briscoe into a spin. That Briscoe recovered in the race’s final seven laps to finish sixth was a testament to his strength that day.

● Before Briscoe turned a lap at Charlotte in a NASCAR Xfinity Series car, he raced at the D-shaped oval in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Driving a Ford F-150, Briscoe started second and finished 11th in May 2017. It was his first and only Truck Series race at Charlotte.

● As part of #NASCARSalutes and the 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors team is honoring United States Marine Corps Corporal David W. Smith. A native of Garden City, Michigan, Smith graduated high school in May 2003 and enlisted in the Marine Corps four months later. Smith completed his recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, after which he was promoted to Private First Class on May 1, 2004. Smith reported to Okinawa, Japan and was assigned to Motor Transport Company, 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group as a motor vehicle operator. He was deployed to Iraq from September 2004 through March 2005, and was promoted to Lance Corporal on Jan. 1, 2005. Smith returned to Okinawa and, in less than a year, was promoted to Corporal on Dec. 1, 2005. It was shortly thereafter, on Dec. 11, 2005, that tragedy struck and the 20-year-old Smith faced his untimely death when a seven-ton MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement), towing another MTVR, overturned during a training exercise at Camp Fuji in Japan. Throughout Smith’s childhood, adolescence and adulthood, he continuously impressed, commanded respect, and was loved by everyone with whom he crossed paths – family, neighbors, peers, teachers, principals, coaches, pack leaders, preachers, employers, strangers and his fellow brothers and sisters in arms among all U.S. military branches and all ranks. Smith filled his free time with cars, sports, music, family, friends, telling jokes, pulling pranks, video games, more cars and using his magic touch to fix anything someone else deemed unfixable. Smith lived life to the absolute fullest with a laugh that was genuine, full and incredibly contagious. He looked eye to eye with full confidence into any challenge, obstacle, threat or fear that he encountered.

● Mahindra Ag North America is in its third year as the anchor sponsor for Briscoe and the No. 14 team after extending its partnership with Stewart-Haas during the offseason. The multiyear agreement with the NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and industrialist Gene Haas continues to feature Mahindra Tractors, a brand of Mahindra Ag North America, on Briscoe’s No. 14 Ford Mustang for the majority of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Houston-based Mahindra Ag North America is part of Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector, the No. 1-selling farm tractor company in the world, based on volumes across all company brands. Mahindra offers a range of tractor models from 20-75 horsepower, implements, and the ROXOR heavy-duty UTV. Mahindra farm equipment is engineered to be easy to operate by first-time tractor or side-by-side owners and heavy duty to tackle the tough jobs of rural living, farming and ranching. Steel-framed Mahindra Tractors and side-by-sides are ideal for customers who demand performance, reliability and comfort. Mahindra dealers are independent, family-owned businesses located throughout the U.S. and Canada.

● Mahindra Ag North America is using the Coca-Cola 600 to promote its newest line of sub-compact and compact tractors. From a new paint scheme on Briscoe’s No. 14 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to a display on the midway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Mahindra is showcasing its 1100 and 2100 tractors, which are designed with features to enhance operation for first-time buyers. Boasting comfort amenities like telematics, leather seats and USB charging ports, the Mahindra 1100 and 2100 models are designed around ease of use for acreage owners, farmers and ranchers, with features like a push-button PTO and side-by-side HST pedals. Other features include a hand throttle on the console, tilt and telescopic steering, implement quick raise and lower, and auto lift at three points while turning and backing. Every model in the 1100 and 2100 series is available in open station or cab configurations, with an HVAC system exclusive to the 2126. This line of compacts have compatible Mahindra attachments, including loaders, backhoes, mowers, snowblowers, post hole diggers and grapples. The loader on the 1100 series has a max lift of 770 pounds, while the 2100 has a max lift of 1,760 pounds. Both can be seen this weekend at Charlotte.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Before the Coca-Cola 600 goes green, two of motorsports’ biggest races take place earlier in the day – the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. How much racing do you watch prior to the Coca-Cola 600?

“I’ll typically turn on Monaco at some point and I’ll catch a couple of laps, but not a whole lot. I’m normally watching as much Indy 500 coverage as I can, including prerace. But at some point, I’ve got to step away from it. I’m normally doing meet-and-greets right when the Indy 500 is coming to an end, and I feel like during those meet-and-greets I’m kind of in La La Land because my mind’s on the Indy 500. Just growing up in Indiana, that race means a lot. I always watch almost every single practice session and definitely qualifying, and the race is just a super-big deal. It’s something I grew up doing. I remember watching with my family every Indianapolis 500, so that’s something I really enjoy doing.”

Memorial Day weekend is a big weekend for auto racing between Monaco, Indy and Charlotte. What sparked your interest in racing?

“Growing up in a racing family certainly sparked that interest from the get-go. I just didn’t know any differently. I thought when I was 3, 4 years old, that everybody just did the same thing that I did, right? I just didn’t know anything different. I’d go to the racetrack on the weekend, and during the week I’d go to the race shop and play around racecars and stuff like that. It was just normal for me. Looking back, it’s definitely not normal for very many people, but I kind of see it the same now with my son, Brooks. I don’t push racing on him at all, but he’s just naturally growing up around it. He loves playing with racecars and being around racecars, and that’s all he really talks about. He wants to watch the movie ‘Cars,’ or watch racing, and I don’t ask him, ‘Hey, you want to watch a race?’ He just wants to do it. It’s kind of the same for him. When you grow up around it, it becomes something you want to do and look forward to, and for me, growing up in a racing family was certainly that for me.”

Kyle Larson is doing the Double – running the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. How interested are you in his endeavor?

“I’m really excited for Kyle. I know it’s something that he’s wanted to do for a really, really long time. I’m excited from the NASCAR side, but I’m more excited from the sprint car side to see another sprint-car guy go to the Indianapolis 500. It’s kind of the origins of Indy. You had these sprint car guys who would go and run, you had A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Jack Hewitt, Bryan Clauson recently, and that was always the thing, if you were the best sprint car guy, you wanted to run the Indy 500, that was the dream. So it’s cool from that standpoint. Truthfully, I’ve never had the desire to run the Indy 500. I appreciate it so much as a fan, and I really don’t want to thrash at 240 miles an hour. I know I’m not going to put myself in those situations, so I’ve never really had that desire to go do it. But I will say seeing Kyle do it and talking to him about it and, honestly, hearing how similar he feels like it is to our Cup cars as far as how they drive, and the Indy stuff has gotten way safer over the last couple of years, so it very, very, very briefly piqued my interest. During the month of May, I typically get a ton of questions about running the Double, just being from Indiana. I always tell people I would like to just start and park the Indy 500, like I want to go through the prerace ceremonies, I want to do ‘Back Home Again in Indiana,’ do the pace laps, take the green flag and then just bring her down pit road and watch the rest of the race. I don’t think that’s ever going to be a possibility – I’m not going to say it’ll never happen, but I would say it’s a very slim chance, and slim’s probably left town or getting close to leaving town. But it’ll be cool to watch Kyle and I’ll certainly be pulling for him, and hopefully for the sprint car guys he can do it.”

The only person to complete all 1,100 miles between the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on a single day is Tony Stewart. Growing up a Tony Stewart fan, what do you remember about Tony’s attempts at the Double?

“Truthfully, I don’t remember a ton of it just because I was a lot younger and really didn’t understand what was going on with guys running the Double and what that meant. I do remember watching the Coke 600 and seeing him try to get there in time and all that. I remember that part of it, but I don’t remember any of him running the Indy 500. At that point, I didn’t watch any IndyCar races outside of the Indy 500, so I didn’t really know any of the drivers, where in NASCAR I knew every single guy. It’s definitely crazy to think he’s completed all 1,100 miles and just what that day would be like. Even hearing him talk about it, just the difference in how he was physically the first year to the second year, shows just how much Tony loves racing. It’s pretty cool that he’s the only guy who’s done that. I don’t know if that record will stand at the end of this year, but it’s been pretty cool for Tony to do the Double not only once, but twice, and to do it really successfully.”

Much is made about the Coca-Cola 600 being the series’ longest race. Because the race is so long, can it be a good thing where if you’re not where you want to be, you have time to make things right? Or is the other side of the coin being that it’s too long of a race to not be good, as the delta to being off can quickly become insurmountable?

“It can definitely be both, just depending on how far off you are. That’s a race where your car definitely goes through a lot of transitions. Last year we were way off, and it was hard to ever get back. You go back to 2022, I wasn’t great in the beginning part of the race, but then nighttime came and I kind of started creeping up. I probably should’ve won the 2022 Coke 600 and threw it away with three or four to go. It was one of those races where, at the beginning of the race, I definitely didn’t think I was going to be in the mix, and that transition happens when the sun goes down and some guys’ cars come to life and other guys’ kind of fall apart. Ours certainly came to life. It’s a long race. It’s one of those races where a lot of guys just eliminate themselves, whether it’s pit-road mistakes or just putting yourself in bad spots early in the race. I feel like, typically, the longer races kind of suit my style a little bit more. I feel like throughout my career I’ve always run better in the longer races, and the Coke 600 is obviously a long, long race. Hopefully this year we can kind of make up for that mistake I made in 2022.”

The Coca-Cola 600 used to be about pushing drivers and their cars to the limit, as attrition was once a key factor. But today, drivers are fitter than ever and cars seem to be built better than ever before. Is that extra 100 miles noticeable anymore, be it from your perspective behind the wheel or from your team’s when it comes to building your racecar?

“From a performance standpoint, I don’t really notice the extra 100 miles. Now, the first 100 laps of that race does feel like it takes forever. It’s one of those deals where in that race we have that extra stage, you get done with Stage 1 and you’ve got 100 laps down and you have 300 laps to go and it’s like, ‘Man, how am I going to make it?’ It’s just super long and I think some of the reason it feels so long is that you start that first stage in the daylight and that first stage is when that transition is typically from day to night, and it just feels like it takes two or three hours for that transition to happen, and in the car you just don’t realize how fast it happens. You get to halfway, I feel like the final 200 laps go fairly quickly, but that first 200 laps there, it definitely takes a long time. But from a performance standpoint, this car definitely seems to take it.”

The Coca-Cola 600 is considered one of NASCAR’s crown jewels because it is the only 600-mile race on the schedule. But in this short-attention-span era, is a 600-mile race still needed?

“Yeah, I think so. I think it’s different than every other race that we have. I feel like all of our other races are fairly similar. If the Coke 600 was a 400- or 500-mile race on a mile-and-a-half, it probably wouldn’t be as special. I think even with it being on Memorial Day weekend, if it wasn’t 600 miles, that’s what makes that race unique. In the past, it was more of a battle for the machine than what it probably is now, but it’s still different. It’s different from any other race we have all year long. And because it’s different, it makes it significant, and obviously with it being on Memorial Day weekend, with how much racing goes on that day, it’s always been a crown jewel. I don’t think you can change a crown jewel and have the same significance. Look at the Brickyard 400. When it went from the oval to the road course, it wasn’t a crown jewel anymore. Now that we’re going back to the oval, it’s a crown jewel instantly again. I feel like it’d be the same if you took any mileage off the Coke 600.”

No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe

Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell

Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey

Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Spotter: Joey Campbell

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala

Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal

Hometown: Holland, Michigan

Jack Man: Dylan Moser

Hometown: Monroe, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams

Hometown: Plymouth, Wisconsin

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips

Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable

Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey

Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina