Who will win Coca-Cola 600? Our predictions, best bets for NC’s biggest NASCAR race

This weekend marks another edition of the Coca-Cola 600 — the biggest annual race in North Carolina and the longest race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

This weekend also marks the first weekend of racing since the sudden and tragic death of Kyle Busch on Thursday.

And yet, as drivers across the garage have said, the racing must go on.

“Knowing Kyle, that’s what he would want to do,” said Ross Chastain, who won the Coke 600 last season. “No question about driving down here to the track, no questions in my mind about coming in and going to work and going to race.

“It’s what we do.”

Here’s a guide to everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 Coke 600 — from broadcast information to betting odds to our predictions and more.

Fast facts about NASCAR race at Charlotte: How to watch, purse

Fans can watch the running of the race on Amazon Prime Video at 6 p.m., and they can listen to it on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90). Television coverage begins at 5 p.m.

Other quick facts:

• Track length: 1.5-mile asphalt oval
• Purse: $13,855,363
• Distance: 600 miles (400 laps)
• Stages: Stage 1 ends on Lap 100, Stage 2 ends on Lap 200, Stage 3 ends on Lap 300, Stage 4 ends on Lap 400

Top 10 driver odds to win Coca-Cola 600

Here are the Top 10 driver odds to win the Coke 600, according to BetMGM as of Saturday evening: Denny Hamlin (+450), Tyler Reddick (+450), Christopher Bell (+750), Kyle Larson (+800), William Byron (+900), Carson Hocevar (+1100), Chase Elliott (+1200), Chase Briscoe (+1200), Ryan Blaney (+1300), Ty Gibbs (+1300).

Our predictions

Scott Fowler: Tyler Reddick. The current points leader is having a dream season, and he’s going to grab another victory and make co-owner Michael Jordan happy once again in Victory Lane. Whether the pole-sitter wins or not, I will also predict that the race winner will take one of those grand, sweeping bows that Kyle Busch was famous for at some point during his celebration. That would be a fitting tribute, and I think most of the drivers in the garage are already honed in on the idea of doing this should they win.

Alex Zietlow: Denny Hamlin. Y’all remember this race in 2022? The one where Hamlin and Kyle Busch were teammates and yet were battling each other for the lead on the final few laps after all the other cars broke down? Hamlin certainly does. It’s one of a million memories he has with Busch, his contemporary and competitor and, at times, rival. This result would be a special conclusion to an emotional weekend. And considering Hamlin’s great start to the season — he has one win and seven Top 10s through 12 races — as well as his previous success at Charlotte, I think that storybook ending will happen.

NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 starting lineup

Cup qualifying was washed out Saturday afternoon, and thus the starting lineup was set by the rule book.

This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Who will win Coca-Cola 600? Our predictions, best bets for NC’s biggest NASCAR race."

Alex Zietlow

The Charlotte Observer

Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription