Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
NASCAR Confirms 39-Car Coca-Cola 600 Field, Eight Past Winners Return to Charlotte
NASCAR released the official entry list for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, confirming 39 cars for the 67th running of the crown-jewel event on Memorial Day Weekend. The field includes eight former Coke 600 winners: Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, and Kyle Larson. Three open entries round out the field — Corey Heim in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota, Katherine Legge in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, and Timmy Hill in the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford. The 600-mile endurance race begins Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video and HBO Max.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
Hamlin Studies Film, Adapts Driving Style for Coke 600 After All-Star Momentum
Denny Hamlin enters the Coca-Cola 600 weekend carrying momentum from Sunday's non-points All-Star Race win at Dover, with deliberate preparation underway to convert that confidence into a crown-jewel result. Hamlin, who has 61 Cup victories but no championship, is studying footage of Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex to sharpen his restart execution on Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval. His experience advantage is stark: 34 career Charlotte starts, compared to a combined 21 for points leader Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott. Joe Gibbs Racing's Monday driver meetings — attended by Bell, Briscoe, and Gibbs — have developed a reputation as intensive preparation sessions ahead of key events.
Sources: NBC Sports, FOX Sports
Legge Confirmed in Coke 600 as First Woman to Attempt NASCAR-IndyCar Double
With the official Coca-Cola 600 entry list released Monday, Katherine Legge is confirmed for NASCAR's longest race in her bid to become the first woman to attempt the Indianapolis 500–Coca-Cola 600 “Double.” Legge will drive the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet at Charlotte on May 24, after starting the Indianapolis 500 that morning in the No. 11 HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing entry. Only five drivers have previously attempted the same-day Double — John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, Kurt Busch, and Kyle Larson — and Stewart remains the only one to complete every lap of both events, in 2001.
Sources: Motorsport.com, NASCAR.com
Reddick Leads by 129 Points, Eyes Rare Daytona 500–Coke 600 Sweep at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick leads the NASCAR Cup Series standings by 129 points after winning the Daytona 500 and five of the first nine races this season — a feat last accomplished by Dale Earnhardt in 1987. His average finish of 5.7 through 12 races leads all drivers. A Coke 600 win would make Reddick the first to claim both crown-jewel races in the same season since Jeff Gordon in 1997. However, Reddick has finished outside the top 10 in five of his last six events, and team co-owner Denny Hamlin says the No. 45 23XI Racing squad needs a reset before Charlotte.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Chastain Defends Coke 600 Crown; No Driver Has Won Back-to-Back Since Jimmie Johnson
Ross Chastain enters the Coca-Cola 600 as defending champion after one of the most remarkable drives in the race's history — starting 40th in a backup car following a practice crash, then passing William Byron late to become the first driver ever to win the Coke 600 from last place. No driver has won back-to-back Coke 600s since Jimmie Johnson accomplished it in 2005. Chastain and Trackhouse Racing have struggled for pace in much of the 2026 season, making Charlotte a critical measuring stick. Eight former Coke 600 winners are in Sunday's field, adding to the competitive pressure on Chastain heading into Memorial Day Weekend.
Sources: Motorsport.com, NASCAR.com
Truck Series Champion Corey Heim Makes Coke 600 Debut with 23XI Racing at Charlotte
Corey Heim, who claimed the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship in a record-setting season that included 12 wins and 1,625 laps led, will make his Coca-Cola 600 debut on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota. Heim is one of three open entries in the 39-car field, alongside Katherine Legge and Timmy Hill. He has 12 scheduled Cup Series starts with 23XI Racing in 2026 as part of a part-time arrangement. Sunday's Coke 600 will be his longest race in the Cup Series to date, covering 600 miles on Charlotte's 1.5-mile oval.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Hamlin Wins Strange All-Star Race at Dover; Format Draws Criticism Ahead of Charlotte
Denny Hamlin claimed his second career All-Star Race title at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, making a decisive pass over JGR teammate Chase Briscoe with 29 laps remaining to collect the $1 million prize. Hamlin led the 350-lap event's final segment, winning by 0.887 seconds. The race drew criticism for feeling routine rather than marquee, with runner-up Briscoe noting the daytime scheduling and inversion format made it feel indistinguishable from a regular points event. Ryan Preece's crash on Lap 2 — his car erupting in flames after contact with Todd Gilliland — brought out the red flag and eliminated nine competitors, including Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Jayski
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 567 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 438 pts
3. Chase Elliott — 422 pts
4. Ryan Blaney — 405 pts
5. Chris Buescher — 375 pts
6. Ty Gibbs — 372 pts
7. Carson Hocevar — 342 pts
8. Kyle Larson — 332 pts
9. Brad Keselowski — 318 pts
10. Christopher Bell — 313 pts
11. Bubba Wallace — 311 pts
12. William Byron — 309 pts
13. Ryan Preece — 296 pts
14. Daniel Suarez — 295 pts
15. Austin Cindric — 287 pts
16. Shane Van Gisbergen — 283 pts
After Race 12 (Watkins Glen, May 10)
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 547 pts
2. Chevrolet — 495 pts
3. Ford — 409 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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