Need For Speed Race Preview: Lowe's

400 laps = 600 miles

Strap in this weekend for the longest race of them all - the Coca-Cola 600. Some will jokingly ask can you stay awake? It's been a Memorial Day tradition for 50 years and actually ever since June 19, 1960. The 600-miler that year was pushed back a few weeks due to unfinished construction at the track.

"I think it's more of a mental thing that our minds are programmed for 500 miles," said three time Coca-Cola 600 winner, Jimmie Johnson. "When you hear halfway and you look up at the scoreboard and you realize you've gone 300 and you've got 300 to go, it's kind of a mental thing that you have to focus on."

Just 4 active drivers have multiple 600 wins: Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have 3. Jeff Burton and Kasey Kahne have 2 each. Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to have 3 consecutive 600 mile victories - winning from 2003-2005.

"I do like the 600-mile race from a history standpoint," he said. "And I also like the challenge, to work on the car all night long. Start in the day, go to the night, the longer the race, all the aspects that come with it."

Johnson has racked up 5 wins, 8 top-5 finishes and 12 top-10's to date @ Lowe's with an average finish of 8.9. He's the only driver with an average finish under 10.

Six times has the winner of the All-Star Race gone on to win the 600-mile race the next week @ Lowe's. Jeff Gordon did it in '97; Johnson in '03 and Kasey Kahne was the last driver to accomplish the feat last year.

An even more interesting stat: the Coca-Cola 600 has never gone to a green-white-checkered finish.

TV coverage begins at 5 pm this Sunday night on FOX.

Have a great holiday weekend.