The Coca‑Cola 600 has long stood as NASCAR’s marquee Memorial Day weekend spectacle, a 600‑mile endurance race that traditionally anchors the sport’s summer schedule.
This year, however, the event will be noticeably leaner, with only 39 cars entered, marking the third occasion in the past 66 years that the race will feature fewer than 40 competitors.
A Reduced Field, A Meaningful Gesture
In a tribute to the late Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing announced that the iconic No. 8 Chevrolet will be renumbered to No. 33 for the upcoming race. The change honors Busch’s legacy while also reserving the number for his 11‑year‑old son, Brexton Busch, should he ever ascend to the Cup Series.
The three non‑chartered entries slated to compete are the No. 66 Ford driven by Timmy Hill, the No. 67 Toyota piloted by Corey Heim, and the No. 78 Chevrolet fielded by Katherine Legge. Austin Hill is also scheduled to take the wheel of the No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend.
The race will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage kicking off at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 24. The broadcast marks a continued partnership between NASCAR and the streaming platform.
Beyond the tribute, the field includes other notable entries such as Kaz Grala in the No. 50 Chevrolet for Team AmeriVet and Jimmie Johnson, who continues to run select events in the No. 84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club, though his schedule does not include the Coca‑Cola 600 this year.
The reduced lineup reflects a broader trend of teams consolidating resources, with organizations like MBM Motorsports, 23XI Racing, and Live Fast Motorsports navigating a competitive landscape that increasingly favors chartered teams.