Chaotic Coca-Cola 600 Not Kind To Nascar Chevy Teams: Video

To call the May 2022 Coca-Cola 600 “wild” would be an understatement – the race was downright chaotic. At just over 618 miles and six hours, the race was officially the longest event held in Nascar history, and chaos was rampant throughout. While several Nascar Chevy teams dominated throughout the race, trouble took them out of contention.

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 99 Camaro, took control of the front of the field halfway through the first stage. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Camaro tagged the wall, but sustained little damage thanks to the durable composite body of the Next Gen race car. Larson was then penalized on a pit stop in a separate incident and forced to the rear of the field, while Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro held off a charge from the No. 8 Camaro of Tyler Reddick to win Stage 1.

Stage 2 saw the No.1 Camaro of Ross Chastain enter contention for the lead, stealing past the No. 9 Camaro of Elliott just 11 laps in. Behind them, Larson’s No. 5 Camaro spun out, forcing him to the rear yet again. Then, Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro suffered a flat tire, causing him to spin and critically damaging his race car. The No. 99 Camaro of Suarez took advantage of the battle for first place and slipped by Chastain’s No. 1 machine to win Stage 2.

Chastain and Suarez continued to vie for first place throughout Stage 3, and Chastain captured the stage win. In the fourth and final stage, Suarez’s No. 99 Camaro attempted to clear the No. 14 Ford Mustang of Chase Briscoe, but the two made contact and Suarez spun and was struck by the No. 17 Ford of Chris Buescher. Buescher flipped several times through the infield, but walked away from the horrific wreck.

Larson in the No. 5 Nascar Chevy managed to gallop back through the field and challenge Chastain’s No. 1 Camaro for the lead after the restart. Eventually, the No. 14 Mustang of Chase Briscoe got around Chastain’s No. 1 Camaro for second, and he went after Larson’s No. 5 Camaro for the race lead. However, Briscoe got sideways attempting to pass Larson, forcing a caution and the first attempt at an Overtime finish. Chastain’s No. 1 Camaro was neck and neck with Larson’s No. 5 when the green flag dropped, while Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Camaro suddenly burst into the race for first and went three-wide going for the lead. Dillon’s No. 3 Chevy was clipped and turned sideways in front of the pack, collecting Larson and Chastain, among others.

When it was all said and done, polesitter Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota TRD Camry found victory, followed by Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota. Larson and Chastain finished ninth and 15^th, respectively. Reddick’s No. 8 Camaro had the best finish of the Nascar Chevy teams in sixth place.

# – Rookie
i – Points ineligible
* – Part-time driver

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