Harvick Chasing Coca-Cola 600 Win from Pole

Polesitter Kevin Harvick will be chasing history later today in the Coca-Cola 600 from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. On Thursday, Harvick secured his 20th career pole in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, his second pole at Charlotte and first in the 600. Harvick denoted a difference in practice and qualifying in the shape of handling.

“The cars in qualifying were a lot looser than they were in practice and just based on past experience here it was a handful through one and two,” Harvick said. “I just about lost it the first run, but the car was so good in three and four I didn’t want to overadjust on it and make it to tight down there because you get tighter as the lap runs. son the guy’s did a good job of making adjustments but not making it so tight that I couldn’t carry the throttle like I needed to in three and four. So they did a great job on out Mobil 1 Ford.”

Earlier in the week, track officials added a VHT-like substance to the top of the race track like they did at the Bristol Motor Speedway a few weeks ago to add more grip to the high line. As a few other drivers noticed, it didn’t really work nor make it any better of a place to race yet alone run.

“I never found any of it that worked. Everything is still right on the bottom. There’s really no speed right now in the middle or top of the race track even in XFINITY Practice.”

Starting from the pole is the beginning of one stride toward the win that the Bakersfield, CA will be chasing later today. Starting on the pole proved beneficial for Martin Truex Jr. last season who led a record 392 of 400 laps. It wasn’t a record for laps led in NASCAR, but a mileage record that saw him lead 588 miles. Harvick is looking to become the 11th driver to secure a Coca-Cola 600 victory from the pole.

Along with looking to become the 11th driver to win the 600 from the pole, Harvick is looking to score his third win in the race as already has two 600 victories to his name in 2011 and 2013. Buddy Baker, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon, and Kasey Kahne all have three victories in the Coca-Cola 600, and Harvick can add his name to that list of drivers today if he can cross the finish line at the end of the longest race of the season.