NASCAR Pre-race: FOX - 5:30pm/et

Television Race Coverage: FOX, 6:00pm/et

In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds

Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum, Krista Voda

Hollywood Hotel: Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond

SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 3:30pm/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Wednesday, June 1 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

TV Listings, Links and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
NASCAR on TV
Race Fan TV

This Week - Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio 90

goprn.com

sirius.com

Track Specifications:
Superspeedway: 1.5-mile quad oval
Race Length: 400 laps, 600 miles
Banking: turns: 24 degrees; straights: 5 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch - 1952.8 feet; Backstretch - 1360 feet
Grandstand Seating: 171,000
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Pace Car Speed: 55mph
Opened: 1960
Carry-In Items
Coolers: Allowed (14"x14"x14" limit).
Glass containers: Not allowed.
Alcoholic beverages: Allowed.
Cameras/recording devices: Allowed

Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell
Command to start engines: Master Sgt. William "Spanky" Gibson and USO's John Falkenbury
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: South Carolina Speaker Bobby Harrell
Honorary Pace Car Driver: Larry the Cable Guy
Invocation: Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family
National Anthem: Darius Rucker
Flyover: B-2 Stealth Bomber, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO

Track Websites:
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Speedway Motorsports
Facebook - Charlotte Motor Speedway
Twitter - CLTMotorSpdwy
2011 Cabarrus County Destination Guide

October 2010: see my Charlotte Race Info page

May 2010: see my Charlotte Race Info page

Back to Back winners of the Coca-Cola 600:
Jimmie Johnson (3 in a row), 2003-2005
Jeff Gordon, 1997-1998
Dale Earnhardt, 1992-1993
Darrell Waltrip, 1988-1989
Neil Bonnett, 1982-1983
Darrell Waltrip, 1978-1979
Buddy Baker, 1972-1973

Winners of the Coca-Cola 600 and All-Star Race in same season:
1985-Darrell Waltrip
1991-Davey Allison
1993-Dale Earnhardt
1997-Jeff Gordon
2003-Jimmie Johnson
2008-Kasey Kahne
2010-Kurt Busch

Winners of the Coca-Cola 600, All-Star Race and Fall Race in same season:
no driver

Drivers who lead at 500-mile mark, and won the Coca-Cola 600:
1996-Dale Jarrett
2006-Jimmie Johnson
2008-Kasey Kahne
2010-Kurt Busch

Most laps led in 600-mile race win at Charlotte (modern era)
" Jimmie Johnson, 2004 -- 334
" Richard Petty, 1977 -- 311
" Rusty Wallace, 1990 -- 306
" Davey Allison, 1991 -- 263
" Kurt Busch, 2010 -- 252

Track Qualifying Record: #38-Elliott Sadler, Oct 2005, 193.216mph

Coke 600 Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, May 2005, 192.988mph

Youngest Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 22 years, 2 months, 6 days, 10/10/1993

Oldest Pole Winner: Bobby Allison, 49 years, 10 months, 8 days, 10/11/1987

2010 May Race Winner: #2-Kurt Busch, 144.966mph, started 2nd

2010 October Race Winner: #1-Jamie McMurray, 140.391mph, started 27th

Track Race Record 500 miles: Jeff Gordon, Oct 1999, 160.306mph

Track Race Record 600 miles: Bobby Labonte, May 1995, 151.952mph

Slowest Race Record: Junior Johnson, 107.752mph, 1960

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Jimmie Johnson, May 2003, started 37th

Oldest Winner: Cale Yarborough, 46 years, 6 months, 9 days, 10/6/1985

Youngest Winner: Jeff Gordon, 22 years, 9 months, 25 days, 5/29/1994

The Numbers for the Coca-Cola 600:
1  fewest cars on the lead lap at finish of Coca-Cola 600 (eight times, most recent 1987)
2  fewest cautions for the Coca-Cola 600 (twice, most recent 1963)
4  fewest leaders (1972)
5  fewest laps led by race winner (David Reutimann, 2009)
5  most 600 wins (Darrell Waltrip)
6  number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
6  most 600 poles (Ryan Newman & David Pearson)
8  wins from the pole
11  fewest lead changes (twice, most recent 1967)
21  most leaders (2005)
22  most cautions (2005)
26  most cars on lead lap at finish (2009)
27  different pole winners
29  different race winners
31  most Coca-Cola 600 starts (Buddy Baker & Richard Petty)
54  most lead changes (1979)
113  most caution laps (1980)
120 minutes  approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 1.5-mile track after a significant rainfall
335  most laps led by race winner (Jim Paschal, 1967)
2011 Caution Update
4  fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
16  most cautions this season (Daytona)
92  number of cautions in the first 11 races of 2011; includes 45 for accidents, 16 for debris and 16 for spins
465 of 3,679  number of laps under caution in 2011
581.429 of 4,368.500  miles under caution in the first 11 races
(Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports)(5-26-2011)

At Charlotte Motor Speedway:
· Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1959.
· The track's first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960.
· The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
· The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1999. It changed back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2010 season.
· The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
· There have been 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, two races per year since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).
· 37 drivers have posted poles, led by David Pearson with 14.
· Fireball Roberts won the pole for the first race, in 1960.
· David Pearson posted 11 straight poles at Charlotte from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
· Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in poles, with nine. Jeff Gordon has eight.
· Jeff Gordon won five straight poles for the spring races between 1994 and 1998.
· 43 drivers have won races, led by Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Jimmie Johnson, with six each.
· Joe Lee Johnson won the first race, in 1960.
· There have been 13 back-to-back victories, including three consecutive by Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (both in 2004 and 2005).
· A sweep has occurred eight times, including each season from 2004-2007.
· 14 races have been won from the pole, the last by Jimmie Johnson (October 2009).
· Jimmie Johnson won the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 from the 37th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
· Joey Logano is one of two drivers with more than two Charlotte races to average top-10 finishes (8.5); Jimmie Johnson is the other, with an average finish of 9.8.
· A number of active drivers earned their first win at CMS: Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears and David Reutimann. Inactive drivers David Pearson, Buddy Baker and Charlie Glotzbach also got their first series win at Charlotte.
· There have been 512 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in North Carolina.
· 424 drivers in NASCAR's three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as North Carolina.
· There have been 43 race winners from North Carolina in NASCAR's three national series; 28 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.(NASCAR)(5-24-2011)

For news, stats, records and more about this race track, see: Jayski's Charlotte Track News/Rumors/Links page

Practices:
Thursday, May 26, 3:30 - 5:00pm/et, TV-SPEED
Saturday, May 28, 11:30 am - 12:15 pm/et, TV-SPEED

Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, May 28, 12:50 - 1:50pm/et, TV-SPEED

Qualifying Draw: none, qualifying order is set by practice speeds, if rained out, then by points

Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Thursday, May 26 at 7:10 pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air at 10:00pm/et and 1:30 am/et;
AND live via radio at PRN Radio only on NASCAR.com.

Harvick wins at Charlotte: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 3rd win of 2011 and 17th win of his career. #6-Ragan [best career finish] finished second followed by #20-Logano, #22-Busch, #43-Allmendinger, #9-Ambrose, #88-Earnhardt Jr. [who led, ran out of fuel in 4th turn], #78-Smith, #00-Reutimann and #11-Hamlin. #48-Johnson lost an engine with a few laps to go, setting up a green-white-checker finish. #4-Kahne led on the final restart and immediately ran out of fuel. The points leader, #99-Edwards, finished 16th and increased his points lead to 36 points over #29-Harvick who moves into 2nd
There were 38 lead changes among 19 drivers; 14 cautions for 64 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 145,000 up from 140,000 last year.
Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, June 1 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Charlotte Race Results/Awards page.(5-29-2011)

Race Fast Facts - Charlotte:
#29-Kevin Harvick won the 52nd Annual COCA-COLA 600, his 17th victory in 370 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in 21 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#6-David Ragan (second) posted his third top-10 finish in nine races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his fourth top-10 finish in 2011 (and best career finish).
#20-Joey Logano (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#99-Carl Edwards leads the point standings by 36 points over Kevin Harvick.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-29-2011)

2011 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
[after Charlotte, race 12 of 36]:
rank, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 445
2) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 409, -36
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson [1 win], 408, -37
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 402, -43
5) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 392, -53
6) #22-Kurt Busch, 377, -68
7) #17-Matt Kenseth [2 wins], 374, -71
8) #33-Clint Bowyer, 365, -80
9) #14-Tony Stewart, 356, -89
10) #39-Ryan Newman, 353, -92
wild cards
11) #16-Greg Biffle, 343, -102 [11th in points]
12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 324, -121 [16th in points]
NOTE: wild cards are drivers not in the chase with a win as long as in the top-20 in points, then if no wins by drivers points
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(5-29-2011)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Kansas:
No changes this week.
31) #09-Caeeill/Phoenix, 193, +37
32) #36-Blaney/TBR, 191, +35
33) #13-Mears/Germain, 190, +34
34) #32-Bliss/FAS Lane, 183, +27
35) #21-Bayne/Wood Brothers, 173, +17 points ahead of 36th
these teams / drivers would need to qualify by speed:
(however, #21 will not run Kansas, so the #7 moves to 35th)
36) #7-RGordon/RGM, 156, 17 points out of top 35
37) #71-Lally/TRG, 143, -30
38) #38-Kvapil/Front Row, 141, -32
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(5-29-2011)

Penalty Report / Infraction Sheet - Charlotte:
Car#, Lap, Infraction, Flag, Penalty, Lap Assessed
#78 Lug nut(s) not installed Y Must Come In
#78 Pre-Race to the rear W Tail of Field Transmission
#09 Pre-Race to the rear W Tail of Field Transmission
#60 Pre-Race to the rear W Tail of Field Back-Up
#16 44 Speed-Entering pits G Pass Thru 46
#36 76 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 79
#47 77 Speed-Entering pits Y Tail of Field 79
#47 77 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 79
#47 99 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 102
#47 99 Speed-Entering pits Y Tail of Field 102
#36 100 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 102
#4 100 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 102
#38 128 Speed-Exiting pits G Pass Thru 130
#36 172 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 175
#1 182 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#16 182 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 187
#36 183 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 187
#34 184 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 187
#13 188 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 193
#13 188 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 193
#13 234 Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area Y Tail of Field 237
#27 241 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 244
#56 241 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 244
#13 283 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 286
#27 283 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 286
#56 284 Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area Y Tail of Field 286
#95 289 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#09 295 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#13 299 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 301
#39 302 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#27 302 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 310
#5 302 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#34 302 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#13 303 Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area Y Tail of Field 310
#13 303 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 310
#32 306 Pitting before pit road is open Y Tail of Field 310
#27 320 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 322
#18 343 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#48 345 Removing equipment from assigned pit area Y Tail of Field 348
#9 346 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 348
#48 396 Pitting before pit road is open Y Garage
#83 398 Speed-Exiting pits Y Tail of Field 400
(NASCAR Statistics)(5-29-2011)

Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Charlotte: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #20-Logano, 3rd
Caution 2: #16-Biffle, 12th
Caution 3: #78-Smith, 8th
Caution 4: #39-Newman, 31st
Caution 5: #20-Logano (2), 3rd
Caution 6: #16-Biffle (2), 13th
Caution 7: #34-Gilliland, 33rd
Caution 8: #99-Edwards, 16th
Caution 9: #83-Vickers, 18th
Caution 10: #13-Mears, 23rd
Caution 11: #78-Smith (2), 8th
Caution 12: #47-Labonte, 24th
Caution 13: #9-Ambrose, 6th
Caution 14: #17-Kenseth, 14th
(5-29-2011)

Pit Road Times
Charlotte Motor Speedway
COCA COLA 600
Provided by NASCAR Statistics
Sun, May 29, 2011 @ 11:20 PM Eastern

Race Coverage of the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, 2011.
Television (TV): FOX at 6:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 5:30 pm/et; green flag approx 6:15pm/et
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
SPEED, Wednesday, June 1 at 12:00pm/et

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #2-Keselowski chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #99-Edwards took pit stall 15, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
#99-Edwards, who starts 3rd took the 22nd pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 6th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-28-2011)

NASCAR Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR allows a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The procedure applies to all three national series. See rule and notes on the Green-White-Checker rule page.(2-11-2010)

Wave-around rule: The wave-around rule dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around.(10-11-2009)

See Jayski's - 2011 Sprint Cup Race Results Page for pole winner, race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race

Happy Hour practice: for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#00-Reutimann 184.483
#9-Ambrose 184.143
#27-Menard 184.093
#18-Busch 183.799
#31-Burton 183.767
slowest: #46-Yeley 178.577 & #09-Cassill 178.678
no speed listed: #60-Skinner
For fastest speeds, laps run, average speeds, see my Charlotte Practioce Speeds page.(5-28-2011)

Saturday's 1st practice: for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#27-Menard 188.745
#22-Busch 188.357
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 187.162
#11-Hamlin 187.097
#4-Kahne 187.007
slowest: #46-Yeley 179.474 and #09-Cassill 179.946
notes: #78-Smith's team changed a transmission, early in practice, so Smith will have to fall to the rear of the field before the greeen flag of the Coke 600.
For fastest speeds, laps run, average speeds, see my Charlotte Practioce Speeds page.(5-28-2011)

Keselowski wins Charlotte pole: #2-Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light pole for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a speed of 192.089mph. It is his 1st pole of the season and the 2nd of his career. #43-Allmendinger starts 2nd followed by #99-Edwards, #11-Hamin, #31-Burton, #48-Johnson, #00-Reutimann, #6-Ragan, #21-Stenhouse Jr. (1st career start) and #33-Bowyer.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #21-Stenhouse Jr., #38-Kvapil, #95-Starr, #66-McDowell, #46-Yeley, #87-Nemechek, #30-Stremme and #60-Skinner.
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (5): #71-Lally [spun in 2nd lap], #50-Bell, #77-Wimmer, #37-Raines [rear end problem] and #81-Riggs.
Qualifying Re-Air: on SPEED at 10:00pm/et and 1:30am/et
See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Charlotte Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(5-26-2011)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Charlotte:
#2-Brad Keselowski won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 52nd Annual Coca-Cola 600 with a lap of 28.112 seconds, 192.089 mph.
This is his second pole in 65 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and fifth top-10 start in 2011.
This is his first pole in four races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#43-A J Allmendinger (second) posted his fifth top-10 start of 2011 and his second in nine races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#99-Carl Edwards (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It is his seventh in 12 races this season.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-26-2011)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 7:00pm/et.
Television (TV): SPEED, 7:00pm/et
Radio: Performace Racing Network (PRN) via nascar.com only
Jayski.com: Jayski's Charlotte Qualifying Page
Qualifying Re-Air: on SPEED at 10:00pm/et and 1:30am/et

Qualifying Order for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 48 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #36-Blaney.
The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #31-Burton.
The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #81-Riggs with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #21-Stenhouse Jr..
Qualifying order is set by practice speeds, with the top 35 drivers going out from slowest to fastest, then the non-top 35 drivers go out, slowest to fastest from practice.
See the full qualifying order on the Charlotte Qualifying Page.(5-26-2011)

Thursday practice: for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#31-Burton 188.580
#99-Edwards 188.029
#48-Johnson 188.009
#11-Hamlin 187.970
#39-Newman 187.728
#21-Stenhouse Jr. was 12th fastest
slowest: #81-Riggs 180.234 & #37-Raines 181.026
For fastest speeds, laps run, average speeds, see my Charlotte Practioce Speeds page.(5-26-2011)

Practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
#21-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 12th overall fastest
#38-Travis Kvapil, 32nd
#60-Mike Skinner, 33rd
#95-David Starr, 35th
#66-Michael McDowell, 36th
#71-Andy Lally, 37th
#50-T.J. Bell, 38th.
#30-David Stremme, 39th
these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
#77-Scott Wimmer, 40th
#87-Joe Nemechek, 42nd
#46-J.J. Yeley, 43rd
#37-Tony Raines, 47th
#81-Scott Riggs, 48th

The Entry List for the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted, 48 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
Not in top 35 of owners points:
#21-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (37/8)(2011 Race Winner)
#30-David Stremme (46/3)
#37-Tony Raines (39/11)
#38-Travis Kvapil (38/11)
#46-J.J. Yeley (40/11)
#50-T.J. Bell (51/1)
#60-Mike Skinner (43/11)
#66-Michael McDowell (41/11)
#71-Andy Lally (36/11)
#77-Scott Wimmer (0/0) - Robby Gordon Motorsports
#81-Scott Riggs (52/2)
#87-Joe Nemechek (42/11)
#95-David Starr (48/1)
In the event that all practices and qualifying are all rained out or cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 21,71,38,37,46,66,87,60
missing the race would be [5]: #'s 30,81,95,50,77
See the full entry list at my Jayski's Charlotte Entry List.(5-23/25-2011)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Charlotte [May 29th]:
No changes this week.
32) #36-Blaney/TBR, 174, +31
33) #32-Bliss/FAS Lane, 169, +26
34) #13-Mears/Germain, 168, +25
35) #7-RGordon/RGM, 150, +7 points ahead of 36th
these teams / drivers would need to qualify by speed at Charlotte:
36) #71-Lally/TRG, 143, 7 points out of top 35
37) #21-Bayne/Wood Brothers, 140, -10
38) #38-Kvapil/Front Row, 122, -28
39) #37-Raines/Front Row, 115, -35
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(5-15-2011)

2011 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
[after Dover, race 11 of 36]:
rank, car#, driver, points, behind
1) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 416
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [1 win], 392, -24
3) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 379, -37
4) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 364, -52
5) #29-Kevin Harvick [2 wins], 362, -54
6) #17-Matt Kenseth [2 wins], 342, -74
7) #39-Ryan Newman, 340, -76
8) #33-Clint Bowyer, 336, -80
9) #22-Kurt Busch, 336, -80
10) #14-Tony Stewart, 328, -88
wild cards
11) #5-Mark Martin, 324, -92 [11th in points]
12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 299, -117 [14th in points]
NOTE: wild cards are drivers not in the chase with a win as long as in the top-20 in points, then if no wins by drivers points
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(5-15-2011)

Chassis selections for Charlotte: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 Race on the Charlotte Race Info page - Chassis selection area:
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin Manion and the Bass Pro team have elected to bring a brand new Chassis #1104 to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. This chassis was raced last weekend in the Sprint All-Star race where McMurray started ninth and finished 17th, it was the first race for the brand new chassis.
#2-Brad Keselowski: The #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-753 during Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS). This is a new chassis to the #2 fleet.
#6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-750 Last ran Texas finished seventh, the backup chassis, RK-695 Last ran Phoenix in 2010 as the #99  finished first. UPS mechanic Andy Mclean will be an honorary member of the UPS crew this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mclean was selected for his hard work and dedication to UPS and also for achieving zero injuries in his operation for 2009 and 2010. In addition to his VIP experience on Sunday, Mclean will also have his name on the C-post of David Ragan's #6 UPS Ford.
#9-Marcos Ambrose: The #9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 735 for the 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This DEWALT Ford Fusion has been run previously this season at Texas Motor Speedway. Australian Word of the Week: Fairy Floss = Cotton Candy
#14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-591 debuted last May in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. It qualified 26th and finished 15th in its maiden race. It saw extensive wind tunnel time before returning to action in late July for the Brickyard 400. There, it qualified 15th and ran most of the race at the lower end of the top-10. But a savvy two-tire pit call on the team's final stop allowed it to rally to a fifth-place finish. Chassis No. 14-591 spent the rest of the 2010 season as a backup, and in the offseason, it received a new body and logged many hours in the wind tunnel. The Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas was its third career start and first of 2011. It was impressive, as Stewart dominated, leading four times for a race-high 163 laps. He opened up a four-second advantage until a pit road miscue derailed the perfect outing and left him second when the checkered flag dropped. Chassis No. 14-591 has not raced since, and Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 marks its return to action.
#17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-741 (Last run at Texas and won), this weekend Kenseth will pilot the #17 Jeremiah Weed Southern Style Ford Fusion.
#18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 283 will make it fifth-ever start in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. In its first start last September at New Hampshire, Busch started ninth and finished ninth. The #18 team brought No. 283 back for the AAA Texas 500 at Texas last November, where Busch started 29th and finished a disappointing 32nd. Busch competed with this chassis in the Ford 400 Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead, where he started 33rd but finished 32nd after being spun and making hard contact with the frontstretch inside retaining wall while running in the top-five late in the race. In its most recent start at Texas in April, Busch started 11th and ran within the top-five before a loose wheel caused an unscheduled green-flag pit stop and relegated him to a 16th-place finish.
#20-Joey Logano: and the #20 Home Depot Team is taking chassis #287 for Logano this weekend. The team raced this chassis at Auto Club Speedway earlier this year to a 25th-place finish after an engine change and a pass through penalty. Logano also drove this chassis to a seventh-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October and to a fourth-place finish at Texas in November.
#22-Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led "Double-Deuce" team will be racing their "PRS-750" Dodge Charger in this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 action at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "It's a new car that we're bringing out this weekend for the 600," said crew chief Addington. "If it can be anywhere near as strong as our car was in the 600 last year, we'll be extremely pleased. We know we have to show more strength than we did there last weekend (in the Sprint All-Star Race where Busch finished 13th)."
#27-Paul Menard will pilot chassis No. 356 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This #27 Menards / Moen Chevy is a brand new addition to the RCR fleet, and will see its first laps on the track at CMS.
#29-Kevin Harvick: will race chassis No. 353 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new #29 Budweiser Armed Forces chassis that will make its on-track debut this weekend.
#31-Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 359 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. This Caterpillar Impala will be put through its first paces of competition this weekend.
#33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot chassis No. 350 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet Impala, built new for the 2011 season, last saw action in April at Texas Motor Speedway when Bowyer led 44 laps en route to a runner-up finish.
#36-Dave Blaney: will run the No. 802 chassis this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Golden Corral team last ran chassis No. 802 at Bristol Motor Speedway this past March and finished 25th. The team also ran No. 802 at Phoenix International Raceway as a backup and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this season.
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Team Target Crew Chief Brian Pattie elected to bring chassis No. 1108, a brand new chassis, to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
#43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 752 for this weekend's event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This U.S. Air Force Ford has been run previously this season at Texas Motor Speedway.
#48-Jimmie Johnson: will pilot chassis No. 659 in Sunday's 600-mile event. He finished 15th in that car at Darlington Raceway on May 7. Johnson finished 16th in backup chassis No. 623 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.
#99-Carl Edwards: The Aflac team will be bringing chassis RK-765 to CMS, a brand new chassis with the final Scotts EZ Seed paint scheme of the season.
(from team PR's/sites if reported)(5-26-2011)

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,500, Right-side -- 1,500;
Nationwide: Left-side -- 525, Right-side -- 525

Set limits:
Sprint Cup -- 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 12 sets for race;
Nationwide: 6 sets for weekend

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4428; Right-side -- D-4430

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.3 in.; Right-side -- 88.4 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 55 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi; Right Front -- 54 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 48-52 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes at Charlotte this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup teams ran in the Sprint Showdown and All-Star races at Charlotte last weekend . . . both Cup and Nationwide teams also ran this right-side tire code (D-4430) at Darlington earlier this month . . . this tire set-up came out of a Goodyear tire test at Charlotte last fall . . . drivers participating in that test were Kurt Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya and Martin Truex . . . compared to what was run at Charlotte last season, this tire set-up features softer compounds on both the left and right side, which will give the cars more grip . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.