2012 Coca-Cola 600
[8] The Coca-Cola 600 was conceived by race car driver Curtis Turner, who built the Charlotte Motor Speedway.[11] The long distance makes it the most physically demanding event in NASCAR, and teams adapt to changing track conditions because the race occurs between late afternoon and evening.[16] Almirola of Richard Petty Motorsports clinched the first pole position of his Sprint Cup Series career, with a time of 27.988 seconds.[17] Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Hamlin, Paul Menard and Regan Smith rounded out the top ten.Kurt Busch failed to finish his qualifying lap after colliding into the SAFER barrier, but will remain on the grid as his team is in the Top 35 in owner's points."[19] Afterward, Johnson, who won the week before in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXVIII, commented about their recent performances, "I'm real proud of where our equipment is going."Next, Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Bag played "Amazing Grace", then Darius Rucker performed the national anthem.Afterward, retired U.S. Navy admiral, Frank Thorp and director of the United States Army Wounded Warrior Program, Gregory Gadson, with the addition of actress Brooklyn Decker gave the command for drivers to start their engines.[23] Following the traditional three pace laps, Phoenix Racing's Kurt Busch dropped to the rear of the grid due to changing to a backup car after crashing in qualifying.The leaders pitted, and Ambrose and Jamie McMurray took two right side tires on their stops to claim the top two spots.
2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesCharlotte Motor SpeedwayConcord, North CarolinaPole positionAric AlmirolaRichard Petty MotorsportsGreg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingKasey KahneHendrick MotorsportsNetworkMike JoyDarrell WaltripLarry McReynoldsNASCARSprint Cup Seriesstock car2012 seasonDenny HamlinKyle BuschAtlanta Motor SpeedwayKansas SpeedwayChicagoland SpeedwayDarlington RacewayHomestead Miami SpeedwayNew Hampshire Motor SpeedwayKentucky SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayTexas Motor SpeedwaybankeddegreesDrivers' ChampionshipMatt KensethDale Earnhardt Jr.Jimmie JohnsonMartin Truex Jr.Tony StewartKevin HarvickCarl EdwardsManufacturers' ChampionshipChevroletToyotaCurtis TurnerMemorial DayIndianapolis 500Daytona 500Brickyard 400Southern 500The Coca-Cola CompanyMarcos AmbroseLandon CassillA. J. AllmendingerClint BowyerJoey Loganoqualifying procedureMark MartinPaul MenardRegan SmithKurt BuschSAFER barrierMike BlissDavid ReutimannJ. J. YeleyScott RiggsNASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXVIIIBrad KeselowskiRyan NewmanJeff BurtoninvocationCharlotte Fire DepartmentAmazing GraceDarius Ruckernational anthemBrooklyn DeckerJamie McMurrayJeff GordonMichael Waltrip RacingJoe Gibbs RacingRichard Childress RacingFurniture Row RacingPenske RacingTrevor BayneWood Brothers RacingStewart-Haas RacingBK RacingCasey MearsGermain RacingBobby LabonteJTG Daugherty RacingCole WhittTurn One RacingJuan Pablo MontoyaEarnhardt Ganassi RacingDavid RaganFront Row MotorsportsMichael McDowellPhil Parsons RacingJosh WiseStephen LeichtCircle Sport RacingDavid StremmeInception MotorsportsDave BlaneyTommy Baldwin RacingTravis KvapilScott SpeedLeavine Family RacingDavid GillilandDanica PatrickT. J. BellFAS Lane RacingPhoenix RacingJoe NemechekNEMCO MotorsportsHumphrey Smith RacingRobinson-Blakeney RacingR3 MotorsportsYahoo! SportsYahoo!Cecil Whig2012 Bojangles' Southern 5002012 FedEx 400Subway Fresh Fit 500Kobalt Tools 400Food City 500Auto Club 400