By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday. This weekend NASCAR travels to Charlotte, North Carolina for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.   Charlotte is a 1.5-mile quad-oval speedway that was built in 1960.  Joe Lee Johnson won the first NASCAR race there that same year.  Last year’s winner at this race was Christopher Bell.   Tomorrow’s race will be 400 laps long (for a total of 600 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 100 – 200 – 300 – 400.  Pit road speed is 45 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 55 mph.  The fuel window is between 63-68 laps.   This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 3,331 laps, for 4,438.64 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed every single lap, but Chase Elliott is one lap behind, and Tyler Reddick is two behind.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Charlotte: Tyler Reddick 7.67 over 6 races Josh Berry 10.00 over 1 race Denny Hamlin 12.42 over 33 races (1 win) Joey Logano 13.12 over 26 races (1 win) Kyle Busch 13.78 over 36 races (1 win)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Charlotte: Noah Gragson 32.67 over 3 races Michael McDowell 28.68 over 25 races Cody Ware 28.67 over 3 races Austin Cindric 28.33 over 3 races SVG 28.00 over 1 race   Charlotte is an Intermediate Track.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediate Tracks: Denny Hamlin 12.08 over 340 races (28 wins) Kyle Larson 12.17 over 178 races (18 races) Joey Logano 12.46 over 286 races (19 races) Kyle Busch 12.46 over 356 races (29 wins) Chase Elliott 12.53 over 159 races (6 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediate Tracks: Shane Van Gisbergen 23.00 over 10 races JH Nemechek 22.81 over 45 races Ty Dillon 22.40 over 126 races Ryan Preece 22.40 over 92 races Josh Berry 21.32 over 27 races (1 win)   Jimmie Johnson is the winningest driver at Charlotte, with 8 victories there.  Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are tied for 2nd with 6 wins each.  Brad Keselowski is the winningest of current drivers, with 2 wins.   Notable drivers who have not won at Charlotte: William Byron (has won at 10 other tracks) Tyler Reddick (has won at 8 other tracks) Alex Bowman (has won at 8 other tracks) Chris Buescher (has won at 6 other tracks) Ross Chastain (has won at 5 other tracks)   Austin Dillon scored his first ever Cup Series win at Charlotte – it was his 133rd Cup start.   Based on average finish, no drivers list Charlotte as their BEST track, but Noah Gragson lists it as his WORST.   Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers:   Drivers Faring Better than in 2024 Tyler Reddick +613 pts Bubba Wallace +467 pts Chris Buescher +457 pts William Byron +351 pts Chase Briscoe +290 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2024 Brad Keselowski -494 pts Ty Gibbs -320 pts Joey Logano -217 pts Josh Berry -217 pts Todd Gilliland -198 pts   Next, let’s look at who’s having their best and worst career year by Average Finish:   Best Career Year William Byron 10.17 Christopher Bell 11.17 Chase Briscoe 15.17 JH Nemechek 18.17 Todd Gilliland 18.83 Ryan Preece 19.75   Worst Career Year Brad Keselowski 27.17 Cole Custer 25.58 Carson Hocevar 22.17 Ty Gibbs 20.58 Zane Smith 18.83   Rookie of the Year Battle Riley Herbst 151 SVG 138   The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1st, 35 for 2nd, 34 for 3rd, etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count.   Manufacturer Standings Chevrolet 437 Toyota 425 Ford 405   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Hendrick 432 Joe Gibbs 411 Penske 366 Trackhouse 333 23XI 321 RFK 307 Front Row 283 RCR 281 Spire 280 Legacy MC 262 Kaulig 247 Hyak 236 Wood Bros 195 Haas Factory 137 Rick Ware 75   At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year:   Stage Point Leaders Kyle Larson 128 Ryan Blaney 107 William Byron 98 Bubba Wallace 90 Alex Bowman 83 Austin Cindric 71 Chase Elliott 71 Tyler Reddick 70 Joey Logano 68 Denny Hamlin 66   Milestone Watch Chase Elliott Looking for his 20th Career Win William Byron Looking for his 60th Career Top 5 Erik Jones Looking for his 40th Career Top 5 Ty Gibbs This will be his 100th Career Cup Series Start Ryan Preece This will be his 200th Career Cup Series Start   Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 153 races Cole Custer 109 races Bubba Wallace 91 races Erik Jones 91 races Kyle Busch 69 races Michael McDowell 60 races Daniel Suarez 46 races Chase Elliott 39 races Brad Keselowski 35 races AJ Allmendinger 32 races   The race begins Sunday, May 25th at 6:00 pm EST (3:00 pm PST) – Enjoy the race everyone!   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter  @RacingRefresh   Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu Verstappen Shows the Mentality of a Champion Starting behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult, Max Verstappen knew he had to strike early amid the opening-lap chaos. And strike he did—Verstappen stormed past Piastri within just a few corners, muscling his way through Tamburello with a stunning overtake on the championship leader. Lando Norris passed George Russell a short time later, and the two quickly pulled away from the rest of the field. Pit stops for fresh tires began around lap 9, but it soon became evident that Verstappen and Norris were on the superior strategy. Drivers who stopped early struggled to make effective overtakes, highlighting the difficulties of the undercut on this circuit. A Virtual Safety Car, triggered when Esteban Ocon was forced to pull off to the side of the track, played perfectly into Max Verstappen’s hands. He was able to make his pit stop during the VSC, saving significant time—especially compared to his closest competitor, Lando Norris, who had pitted just one lap earlier under green flag conditions. A full Safety Car on lap 46 injected some late-race drama, bunching up the field and setting the stage for a tense finish. Both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen took the opportunity to pit for fresh tires, while Oscar Piastri, who had 16-lap-old rubber, stayed out and found himself right behind the race leader. The tire disadvantage proved costly for Piastri, as Verstappen quickly pulled away from the pack to claim his second win of the season, followed by Norris in second and Piastri in third. Imola Showed Its Danger Early in the Weekend The Formula 1 AWS Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna (try saying that 10 times fast), or more commonly known as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, is often a race of intrigue as a result of the venue it is held at. Despite several safety-related modifications, Imola didn’t hesitate to bare its teeth during qualifying. Two red flags were thrown in Q1—Yuki Tsunoda suffered a massive crash that flipped his Red Bull, and Franco Colapinto, making his Formula 1 return by replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine, also had a heavy accident. Although Colapinto managed to advance to Q2, he couldn’t set a time as his car was too damaged. Rookie Report It was a tough start to the weekend for Oliver Bearman, as the stewards ruled that he failed to set a qualifying time under green flag conditions. As a result, he was classified in P19, ahead of only the aforementioned Yuki Tsunoda, who crashed out. Liam Lawson also failed to advance past Q1, finishing P16—just behind Franco Colapinto. Kimi Antonelli, racing at his home Grand Prix, failed to advance past Q2 for only the second time this season, ending his impressive 100% record of Q3 appearances. His heartbreak would only continue as the young driver was forced to retire from the race while in 10th place on lap 46, citing an issue with his car.   Isack Hadjar was the lone rookie driver to qualify for Q3 and subsequently finish in the points with a P9 finish.   Returnee Franco Colapinto had a weekend to forget after damaging his car at the end of Q1 then finished the race in 16th. Rough Start to Weekend for Ferrari During the early part of Q2, both Ferraris appeared well-positioned to advance to Q3. However, neither Lewis Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc managed to improve their lap times, resulting in both being eliminated from Q2. They started the race in P12 and P11, respectively—a disappointing outcome for the large contingent of Ferrari fans at the track. After qualifying, Hamilton expressed his devastation over not being able to deliver a better performance. However, both he and the Ferrari drivers staged a strong comeback in the race, with Hamilton finishing fourth and Leclerc—who had earlier said he hoped to work some miracles on race day—finishing sixth. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Max Verstappen, Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Max Verstappen 2nd: Lando Norris 3rd: Oscar Piastri 4th: Lewis Hamilton 5th: Alex Albon 6th: Charles Leclerc 7th: George Russell 8th: Carlos Sainz 9th: Isack Hadjar 10th: Yuki Tsunoda Next on the F1 Schedule: Monaco Grand Prix: May 23rd-25th

Hey everyone! After one of the more interesting All-Star Races in quite some time we're back with your top ten tweets of the week! 10. Emotions were high after the open. Will this carry over? Time will tell. The All-Star Race clearly still means a little something. 9. Personally, I know it's an extremely controversial conversation but I'm really looking forward to NASCAR on Prime. This could be the next great evolution in NASCAR broadcasts. I will miss Mike Joy though. 8. Who do you think should be apart of NASCAR's Hall of Fame Class of 2026? Dave Moody doesn't look thrilled. 7. As much as I enjoyed the race on Sunday, the All-Star Race should have never left Charlotte in my opinion. I'm all for the movement to get NASCAR a little closer to the roots. But, just give North Wilkesboro a points race. 6. I really believe Daniel Dye has a bright future. He's a future Cup Series winner in my book. 5. Who doesn't love bird watching? It's just so relaxing. 4. Rick hits this one dead on. Other All-Star events have become complete and utter waste of our time. Say what you will about the gimmicks that NASCAR uses these days, but when push comes to drive, we know the drivers are going all out. 3. We love that the ATYL crew is paying closer to attention to drag racing. Ron Capps is incredibly insightful. This is must watch. 2. Smoke is finding his groove in Top Fuel. That's bad news for the rest of the field. He's got a lot more wins in him. Say what you will about him, but Tony Stewart can drive and succeed in any series in the world. 1. Tony Stewart remains as strongly opinionated as ever. If you ask him a question, you will get an answer. His motivation should worry the Top Fuel field.

Curated by Crystal Clay | Hosted at Beer Park Las Vegas | May 26, 2025 From the Curator I’ve always believed that racing deserves more than just a spot on the bar TV. This Memorial Day, I wanted to bring something deeper to the Strip—something that captures the grit, legacy, and impact of American motorsports. Red, White & Rainbow isn’t just a nod to the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600—it’s a statement. A curated pop-up museum experience at Beer Park that honors the icons, traditions, and cultural moments that made racing what it is today. Motorsports deserve a seat at the table. And now, they’ve got one—with a view. Flyer includes image of Dan Wheldon celebrating his 2011 Indianapolis 500 win. Photo by Kevin Ward, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of General Hal Hornburg and Jeff Gordon: U.S. Department of Defense, Public Domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons The Pop-Up Museum Located within Beer Park’s open-air space overlooking the Strip, this curated experience walks fans through the intertwined legacies of NASCAR and IndyCar: Legacy Wall From the Brickyard to the bootleggers, this display features replica race-day relics and authentic NASCAR memorabilia that trace the evolution of American motorsports across decades. One of the centerpiece items in the exhibit is a firesuit worn by Rocko Williams, Jeff Gordon’s longtime tire carrier and the first Black pit crew member to win in NASCAR’s premier series. Rocko began his career in 2005 and quickly rose through the ranks at Hendrick Motorsports, becoming a trusted part of Gordon’s team during one of the most competitive and culturally significant eras in the sport. Known as Jeff’s "favorite pit crew member", Rocko’s presence in the pop-up pays tribute to the grit, talent, and barrier-breaking legacy behind every checkered flag. Tribute Panels Spotlighting icons like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, and Richard Petty these panels explore themes of military appreciation, cultural legacy, and the deep connection between Memorial Day weekend and motorsports history. The importance of the Coca-Cola 600 and Memorial Day Weekend Check out this quick video that breaks down its history, and place in NASCAR legend. Multimedia Experience From vintage TV Guides and fan memorabilia to ambient sounds of race day, the exhibit brings together multiple sensory touchpoints that celebrate motorsports culture across generations. A featured photography series by Rachel Schuoler adds a modern visual layer, capturing the emotion, focus, and atmosphere that define race weekend from a perspective beyond the grandstands. Living Room Throwback Step into a reimagined 1990s-era living room, complete with vintage diecasts, race-day magazines, classic furniture cues, and era-specific memorabilia. It’s a tribute to the peak of NASCAR culture, when Sundays were sacred and the rainbow warriors ruled the airwaves. About Rachel Schuoler Rachel’s work captures racing beyond the checkered flag, from raw pit lane emotion to moments of silent reverence. Her exclusive photo set will be featured within the museum space. Follow Rachel: @rachelschuolerphotography   Photo: Rachel Schuoler Photography Photo: Rachel Schuoler Photography Museum Hours: 9:00 AM – End of Coca-Cola 600 Admission: Free and open to all guests of Beer Park. Guest Amenities: The Full Race Day Experience Forget velvet ropes and bottle service. This is race day, reimagined. Step onto the rooftop patio of Beer Park and find yourself immersed in a full-blown tailgate-style atmosphere, perched above the Las Vegas Strip. The grass under your feet, cold beer in hand, and the distant hum of engines set the tone for a day fueled by racing and rhythm. Outside, the energy mirrors the legendary Snake Pit vibe—high-tempo music, sun-soaked crowds, and the kind of all-day buzz only race weekend delivers. The "Infield" Hot Dog Cart is serving wagyu beef dogs with bold, no-fuss toppings: Classic Wagyu – Ketchup + mustard Chili Cheese Crunch – Chili con carne, cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, and Fritos Chicago Street Style – Neon relish, tomato, diced onion, dill pickle spear  All $14.99, served with chips. Nearby, a smoker rolls all afternoon, slow-cooking pork ribs and brisket to fill the air with that unmistakable race day aroma. Pair your bite with one of over 100 beers on tap and in cans—lagers, IPAs, and classics that belong in your hand between green flags. Just inside, through the open garage doors, Beer Park transforms into an open-air living room. Broadcasts from both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 roar from the screens, filling the space with engine echoes and crowd noise. It’s the best of both worlds: Snake Pit–style energy outside, infield hospitality inside. And yes, we’ve got Busch Lattes on hand because nothing pairs with race day quite like one. Double Duty Race Day Platters Perfect for groups or splitting across races. If you’re in it for the long haul or attempting the 1,100 mile doble, fuel up with one of the race-day platters built for the big leagues. The Carb Day Platter is stacked with wings, tots, pretzel bites, and fried pickles; perfect for loading up before the first green flag drops. For the heavy hitters, the Brickyard Platter brings smoked brisket, ribs, sausage, pork shoulder, and more to the table. You may not be kissing the bricks, but your crew will swear you crossed the finish line first. About Beer Park Perched above the Las Vegas Strip with one of the best rooftop views in town, Beer Park brings elevated tailgate energy to every race. With over 100 beers, dozens of screens, and betting kiosks on-site, it’s the place to be for race day; IndyCar, NASCAR, or both. Location: Beer Park, Paris Las Vegas Doors open: 9:00 AM First race (Indy 500): 9:30 AM PT Second race (Coca-Cola 600): 3:00 PM PT Reserve Your Spot Visit Beer Park - Indianapolis 500 & Coca-Cola 600 Viewing Party