It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

A marathon by definition is a long-distance foot race with an official distance of 26 miles and 385 yards and it is typically run on the road. While the distance of a marathon didn’t become standardized until 1921, it was one of the original modern Olympic sports in 1896. More than 500 marathons take place annually around the world. It’s a sport that can literally accommodate thousands of participants, most of whom engage in a variety of training practices in preparation for the test of endurance. 

Endurance is a concept with which competitors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series are well acquainted. Every race run on the Sprint Cup schedule tests the endurance of its drivers, whether they’re racing 300, 400 or 500 miles. That weekly test gets a little more aggressive this weekend as the series prepares for its own “marathon” of races with the running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The 2012 edition of the Coca-Cola 600 marks the 52nd running of NASCAR’s longest race. Aside from the distinction of being the longest race on the schedule, the Coca-Cola 600 is also one of the most prestigious events on the circuit due in no small part to its durability implications – it’s a race that tests man and machine.

Kurt Busch is among the drivers who have met the challenges that come with competing in the Coca-Cola 600, winning the 2010 version of the annual Memorial Day-weekend race. After just missing out on the pole, Busch started second and wasted no time jumping to the lead. He took over the top spot on lap 12 and led the next 40 laps before surrendering the lead briefly for a round of green-flag pit stops. Busch owned the lead 12 different times for a race-high 252 laps, including the final 19 laps. With the win, he became the seventh driver in series history to follow a victory in the Sprint All-Star Race with a win in the Coca-Cola 600 a week later.   

Prior to sweeping the 2010 All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600, Busch’s best finish at Charlotte was a second-place effort during the fall race in 2005. In total, Busch has scored one win, five top-five and six top-10 finishes in 23 career starts at the 1.5-mile track. Much like runners preparing for a marathon, Busch explains that it was a matter of time before he learned to speak the same language of the finicky track. Although the temperamental Charlotte track will always present its challenges, learning to balance the marathon aspect of the 600 is a key component to finding success.

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