[5] Before the race, Greg Biffle led the Drivers' Championship with 411 points, while Matt Kenseth stood in second with 409.

[8] The Coca-Cola 600 was conceived by race car driver Curtis Turner, who built the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

[11] The long distance makes it the most physically demanding event in NASCAR, and teams adapt to changing track conditions because the race occurs between late afternoon and evening.

[16] Almirola of Richard Petty Motorsports clinched the first pole position of his Sprint Cup Series career, with a time of 27.988 seconds.

[17] Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Hamlin, Paul Menard and Regan Smith rounded out the top ten.

Kurt Busch failed to finish his qualifying lap after colliding into the SAFER barrier, but will remain on the grid as his team is in the Top 35 in owner's points.

[17][18] The four drivers that failed to qualify for the race were Mike Bliss, David Reutimann, J. J. Yeley and Scott Riggs.

[17] Once the qualifying session was completed, Almirola stated "It's a huge honor just to see it in victory lane (for the pole celebration).

"[19] Afterward, Johnson, who won the week before in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXVIII, commented about their recent performances, "I'm real proud of where our equipment is going."

Next, Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Bag played "Amazing Grace", then Darius Rucker performed the national anthem.

Afterward, retired U.S. Navy admiral, Frank Thorp and director of the United States Army Wounded Warrior Program, Gregory Gadson, with the addition of actress Brooklyn Decker gave the command for drivers to start their engines.

[23] Following the traditional three pace laps, Phoenix Racing's Kurt Busch dropped to the rear of the grid due to changing to a backup car after crashing in qualifying.

The leaders pitted, and Ambrose and Jamie McMurray took two right side tires on their stops to claim the top two spots.