NASCAR Cup qualifying for Coca-Cola 600 canceled

Field Level Media|published: Sat 23rd May, 14:48 2026

May 3, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick (45) is introduced before the start of the 2026 Wurth 400 cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

CONCORD, N.C.-Saturday's qualifying session for the Coca-Cola 600 has been canceled because of continued adverse weather at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Accordingly, NASCAR Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick will start from the pole position (based on metrics) in NASCAR's longest race (6 p.m. ET Sunday on Amazon Prime, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Reddick's best finish on the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval is fourth in the rain-shortened 2024 Coca-Cola 600.

Ty Gibbs will start from the second position on the outside of the front row, with Watkins Glen winner Shane van Gisbergen and Glen runner-up Michael McDowell making up the second row.

Defending race winner Ross Chastain will start 27th.

"It used to be the Coke 600 qualifying was not really all that important, because it was such a long race," said 2020 Coca-Cola 600 winner Brad Keselowski, who will start 26th.

"Now it's probably even more important than any other race because you're guaranteed to have a number of yellow flag pit stops, and if you don't qualify well, your pit selection is really problematic and can keep you from having a good day."

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