Charlotte alone on holiday stage as Kurt Busch takes pole

CONCORD, N.C. — Kurt Busch won the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the only event on the biggest single day of auto racing.

The Sunday before Memorial Day is a supposed to be a smorgasbord of motorsports that begins with Formula One at the Monaco Grand Prix, then IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500, followed by NASCAR and its longest race.

The coronavirus pandemic has wiped out the first part of F1’s schedule and, like IndyCar, it is still waiting to start its season. Roger Penske, the new owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has moved the Indy 500. It was the first time since 1946 the 500 was not on Memorial Day weekend.

NASCAR was able to go forward for its third Cup event in seven days under a health plan approved by state officials that allowed the sport to resume after a 10-week hiatus. NASCAR ran three events in South Carolina, and the Coca-Cola 600 kicks off four consecutive days of racing at Charlotte.

Team owner Chip Ganassi would have been at Indy early Sunday celebrating his 62nd birthday at the 500 before jetting to Charlotte to watch his two NASCAR teams. Instead, he watched on television from his home in Pittsburgh as Busch ran a lap at 181.269 mph to earn his first pole of the season and third top-10 start of 2020. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson qualified second and was followed by Hendrick Mototsports teammate Chase Elliott. Matt Kenseth, in his third race since

Ganassi pulled him out of retirement, qualified fourth in a strong start for the organization.

Tyler Reddick was fifth for Richard Childress Racing, one spot ahead of teammate Austin Dillon as Chevrolet drivers took the top six spots in qualifying.

NASCAR did report any issues with health screenings and all drivers were able to qualify ahead of the 600.

Matt DiBenedetto and Aric Almirola crashed in qualifying. DiBenedetto needed a backup Ford from The Wood Brothers, and Stewart-Haas Racing fixed Almirola’s damaged Ford.

Charlotte Motor Speedway invited team owners to watch the race the race from its 13,000-square foot member’s only restaurant, the Speedway Club. A track spokesman was unaware of any owners accepting the invitation. Most did not attend the first two races back at Darlington Raceway and unless they have a central race-day role, NASCAR has discouraged them from using one of the 16 allotted roster spots per car.

Charlotte Motor Speedway does have a tower of 52 privately owned condominiums that overlook the first turn of the track. Team owner Richard Childress owns a condo but a track spokesman could not confirm Childress planned to watch the 600 from there. Condo owners were allowed five people to enter their condo during the race.

Track officials treat the 600 as an elaborate tribute to the military and fallen heroes but most has been scrapped as spectators are not permitted to attend NASCAR races just yet.