Most want NASCAR’S longest race to remain at 600 miles

CONCORD, N.C.» With a furrowed brow, NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip scoffed at the notion that the Coca-cola 600 race is too long and should be shortened by, say, maybe a hundred miles or so.

“Is that what some thirty-something said?” the 72-year-old Waltrip said to The Associated Press.

Well, as a matter of fact ...

It was 38-year-old Denny Hamlin who recently suggested that NASCAR should shorten its longest race because nobody — at least not the friends that he knows — wants to sit and watch stock cars race around an oval 400 times for nearly five hours.

But Waltrip, a five-time winner of the Coca-cola 600, said that would be a mistake.

“It’s a tough race, it’s a grueling race,” Waltrip said. “It takes a long time to run this race. But it’s iconic. It’s the only one we have. Our sport is definitely in a tailspin if we ever do away with the Coke 600, I will tell you that.”

Waltrip is getting plenty of support in the garage.

Joey Logano said he gets a little angry when people suggest the race many refer to as the crown jewel of NASCAR should be shortened, saying to him it’s a no brainer to keep the race length.

“This is a special race, this is the Coca-cola 600,” Logano said. “It has been around for a very long time. Yeah, you keep it. That is what it makes it so special, what makes it so unique. Does every other race need to be 500 miles, probably not? But certain ones, the iconic ones, need to stay.”

NASCAR has shortened some races, including at Pocono.

But to defending champion Kyle Busch, changing the 600 wouldn’t be right.

“I think it brings a different aspect to our sport — it’s longevity,” Busch said. “People will say, ‘It’s too long. It’s boring.’ Whatever. Well, you know, it’s a part of the product and history that we’ve had on Memorial Day weekend for a long time that you run the extra hundred miles.”

While Hamlin would be just as happy winning a Coca-cola 300, others disagree.