A high‑pressure system is expected to bring a greater than 50 % chance of thunderstorms to Concord, North Carolina, on Saturday afternoon and evening, casting a shadow over the scheduled qualifying for the Coca‑Cola 600.
Rain‑Soaked Qualifying Could Reshape the Grid
NASCAR has said that if the on‑track session is washed out, the starting order will be set by a metric that weighs recent race finishes and owner standings, a system that debuted at the start of the 2025 season and favors teams that have performed well in the last few races.
The metric, which replaced a more complex four‑variable formula, does not factor in results from the All‑Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, and it will be applied to determine the grid for the 600‑mile event.
A Tribute to Kyle Busch and a Future Entry
The weekend will also be marked by a somber tribute to Kyle Busch, who passed away earlier this year; his No. 8 car will be kept on standby, and the number is earmarked for his 11‑year‑old son, Brexton Busch, should he ever earn a Cup Series ride.
In a related move, Austin Hill is slated to drive the No. 33 entry for Richard Childress Racing in the Coca‑Cola 600, while live coverage of the event will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video from Charlotte Motor Speedway.