By Jared Turner

After leading a record 392 laps on the way to a victory in last year’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, Martin Truex Jr. led 233 laps en route to a third-place finish earlier this year.

A winner of two of the first three playoff races, Kyle Busch won the All-Star Race at Charlotte in May and finished second in the following weekend’s Coca-Cola 600.

This weekend will mark Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final start at Charlotte, the track just down the road from his hometown of Kannapolis.

Ever since snaring his first career Monster Energy Series win at Charlotte as a rookie in 2000, Matt Kenseth has been fond of the 1.5-mile track.

Jamie McMurray, scored his first career victory here in the fall of 2002, and captured the 2014 All-Star Race.

 

Driver To Beat: Martin Truex Jr.

Team To Beat: Furniture Row Racing

Sleeper: Erik Jones