NASCAR.com names three drivers up, three down following Charlotte
Some drivers thrived during this year’s 249-lap edition of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday — some didn’t.
Zack Albert of NASCAR.com highlighted three drivers whose stock is up coming out of Charlotte, and three drivers who are hoping to quickly turn the page to next Sunday’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Beyond Christopher Bell, who was awarded the checkered flag after NASCAR called the race due to weather, Albert named Brad Keselowski as one driver who should be feeling good after the Coca-Cola 600. Keselowski, who snapped a 110-race winless streak at Darlington Raceway earlier this month, finished P2 at Charlotte after starting way back in 30th. Keselowski moved to ninth in the points standings after his strong run at Charlotte. The 2012 Cup Series champion came away disappointed, however, as rainfall halted his chances at catching Bell.
“Yeah, it was pretty disappointing,” Keselowski said after the race. “I felt like we had a car to win the race. We kind of ran down the 20 car [Bell] twice and just didn’t get to see it play out. Kind of slipped through our fingers there. Would have liked to have just had more laps and ran the Coke 600. I think we ran the Coke 350 today.”
Elsewhere, Tyler Reddick rebounded nicely from an unapproved adjustment during pre-qualifying inspection which had him start the race from the rear of the field and serve a pass-through penalty. Reddick finished P4.
Denny Hamlin failed to lead a lap for the first time this season but battled his way to a top-5 finish after starting 18th.
“Hamlin did not lead a lap in the race for the first time this season but inched up from where he started after just missing the final round of qualifying in Saturday’s time trials,” Albert wrote. “The promise of an even better result, however, was hampered by difficulties on pit road, where his exit was hurt more than once by the No. 17 Ford of Chris Buescher in close proximity in the stall ahead of him.”
Ryan Blaney has night to forget at Charlotte
Those less fortunate to have a good night at Charlotte included Ryan Blaney. The defending Coca-Cola 600 winner, Blaney had a tire blow out during Stage 2 and hit the outside retaining wall in Turns 3 and 4, ending his race early.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to look if I hit something or, I don’t know,” Blaney said after the race. “I just went into three getting up to speed and blew a tire and hit the fence. It’s an unfortunate end to our night. That sucks. We’re not even halfway and just wanting to work on your stuff all night. I thought we were getting it a little better here and there but won’t get a shot.”
Chris Buescher has had some close calls lately, but that wasn’t the case at Charlotte. He finished a disappointing P23 and is still looking for his first win of the season.
Noah Gragson entered Sunday’s race with three top 10s in his last four starts, a hot streak which ended at Charlotte. Gragson finished P38, his race coming to an end just 170 laps in after making contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.