Coca-Cola 600: A recap in GIFs

It’s the Coca-Cola 600! That means 600 miles of racing action, patriotic paint schemes, and saluting those who gave all.

Kyle Busch earned his second pole position of the season, while Kevin Harvick started in the rear of the field after failing inspection — opposite ends of the field for 2018’s two dominant drivers.

Parker Kligerman, making his return to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, caught the wall early in his No. 96 car.

Defending race winner Austin Dillon’s odds of repeating took a hit early after cutting a tire on his Chevrolet.

Chasing his third consecutive win and sixth of the season, Kevin Harvick’s night ended during Stage 1 after cutting a tire and pounding the wall. The result was Harvick’s first-ever last-place finish, and first DNF in the Coca-Cola 600.

Kyle Busch won the first stage of the night as the sun started to set.

Rookie William Byron had a rough outing in his first Coca-Cola 600, losing control and hitting the wall, ending his night before halfway.

Near the front of the field, Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano spun. Somehow, no cars sustained significant damage, including Johnson’s or Logano’s. Talk about a close call.

Kyle Busch continued to dominate, winning Stage 2.

Martin Truex Jr. had a rough night on pit road Sunday, between a speeding penalty, complaints of a headache, to pit crew snuggles — er, struggles.

Gray Gaulding went for a spin during Stage 2. Shortly after, Chris Buescher did the same.

Fourth-place driver Kyle Larson had a close call, spinning out but avoiding damage to his No. 42.

Ryan Blaney’s streak of bad luck continued when his engine expired in fiery fashion.

It’s like Kyle Busch was on cruise control Sunday, fending off any competition and winning the third of four stages.

After a strong performance most of the evening, Erik Jones lost much of his momentum after two pit road mishaps — one when Kasey Kahne knocked an air gun out of Jones’ tire changer’s grip, and another when the No. 20 team earned an uncontrolled tire penalty.

In the end, he did it. Kyle Busch won the Coca-Cola 600, leading 377 of 400 laps from the pole, winning each stage. It was a much different mic drop compared to last year’s disappointment.

'Rowdy’s' dominant victory marked the first time a driver has won a race at every track on the schedule, an incredible mark of versatility. The mark of a GOAT?