NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway add fourth stage to 600

There will be a new twist on the sport’s longest race of the season.

NASCAR announced on Monday a fourth stage will be added to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28. 

Each quarter will feature 100-lap segments for Charlotte Motor Speedway’s marquee event. 

“The stage racing format is delivering more dramatic moments over an entire race, fueling tremendous racing action this season,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president, and chief racing development officer. “With a fourth stage added to the Coca-Cola 600, the historic event will have another layer of strategy for teams and even more excitement within the race for fans.”

NASCAR announced the new stage format at the start of the 2017 season. However, in the 11 previous races, the first two segments were shorter sprints and put emphasis on the final run to the checkers. Having four equal stages will provide teams with unique possibilities for strategy over the course of the 600-mile marathon. Adding a segment also puts another playoff point up for grabs.

"For 58 years, the Coca-Cola 600 has been a crown jewel on the NASCAR circuit because it presents unique challenges that don't exist in any other race,” said Marcus Smith, president and chief operating officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. The distance is greater. The test of endurance is greater.  The challenge of adjusting to the track surface from hot to cool puts more pressure on crew chiefs and pit crews. 

"It's only fitting that teams have an opportunity to be rewarded for the extra effort required to win at the 600.  An additional stage win and that extra playoff point in May could be critical for playoff success in the fall.”

Martin Truex Jr., is the defending winner of the Coca-Cola 600. He led a record-high 392 laps en route to his first of four wins in 2017.