NASCAR Sprint Cup: 10 Drivers in the Mix to Win the Coca-Cola 600

Memorial Day weekend is a time to honor the military, but for NASCAR's premier racing series, it is a time to take to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for an endurance test in the longest race of the year.

The Coca-Cola 600 tests the driver's ability to perform optimally for 600 miles.

It is also a test of equipment that sometimes fails when it is pushed at speeds approaching 200 mph. The 1.5-mile track stresses the parts and pieces of a race car for that extra 100 miles.

Pit crews are forced to use strategy beyond what they are used to when they attempt to stretch fuel mileage and tire wear in the closing laps.

The Coca-Cola 600 is a prestigious race that ranks behind Daytona, but close to Darlington, Bristol and Indianapolis.

Though Danica Patrick is not expected to contend for a win, she will make her third Cup appearance this season in a race that will certainly test her ability to remain focused for 600 miles.

This is a race that can be won with strategy, but normally it is won by a driver who typically performs well on intermediate tracks, has an efficient over-the-wall gang and a fast car.

This slideshow highlights the drivers who are expected to be in the mix for the win when it is time for the checkered flag to wave. They are listed in no particular order.

Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart was expected to run with the lead dogs in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race with his No. 14 Chevrolet, but he never was a contender and finished in 17th place.

Stewart is seventh in the standings heading to the Coca-Cola 600. He has one win, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes with an average finish of 13.6.

This driver has attained 26 of his 46 career Cup wins on intermediate tracks.

The team totally missed it with the set-up on the car for the All-Star race. Perhaps they were doing a little experimenting, but expect Stewart to come roaring back as a contender to win.

Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Ford, might have been a victim of some testing when his engine let go during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

This driver is 10th in the point standings and winless so far this season. Edwards has 19 career wins in the Cup series, with 17 coming on intermediate tracks.

Roush-Yates horsepower is normally an advantage on the faster, longer tracks.

Edwards has five top-five and eight top-10 finishes with an average of 12.6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne may have struggled with his No. 5 during the beginning of his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, but he has been logging top-10 finishes lately.

Currently he is 16th in the point standings and very much needs to get a win. Kahne won 10 of his 12 career wins on intermediate tracks.

At Charlotte Motor Speedway, this driver has three wins, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes with an average of 13.4.

Jimmie Johnson

Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson, has been dominant at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is fresh from winning the Sprint All-Star Race and one million dollars plus.

Johnson has six wins for points at CMS in the Cup series. He has 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes with an average of 11.9.

The driver of the No. 48 heads into the Coca-Cola 600 fifth in the points.

Johnson has 56 career wins in NASCAR's top series with 39 having come on intermediate tracks. Look for this driver to be a top contender for the win.

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch seems to be finding his mojo at Joe Gibbs Racing having finished in the top five for the last three races (with one being his only win of this season).

The driver of the No. 18 M&M's Toyota is currently ninth in the point standings. Out of his 24 career Cup wins, 11 have been on intermediate tracks.

Busch does not have a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but he has six top-five and nine top-10 finishes with an average of 16.7.

Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, is currently second in the Sprint Cup point standings.

This driver has won 17 of his 22 career Cup wins on intermediate tracks. His statistics for Charlotte Motor Speedway show two wins, seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes with an average of 14.4.

The Roush-Yates engines are normally very strong on the bigger tracks. The All-Star race saw Kenseth's teammates lose engines because of a bit of experimentation.

Look for Kenseth and his team to be running with the lead dogs for a win, and he will likely run the best of the RFR drivers.

Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon has had most every odd stroke of bad luck he could have hoped not to have this season. Currently he ranks 24th in the point standings.

Gordon, the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, has won 45 of his 85 career victories on intermediate tracks.

This driver has five wins, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes with an average of 15.9 along with eight poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

At some point, Gordon's luck needs to turn, and this is a good race for him. His team has given him fast cars and barring more bad luck, he should be mixing it up for a win.

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick drives the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet out of Richard Childress Racing. Currently he is ranked eighth in the point standings.

Half of this driver's 18 wins in the Cup series have come on intermediate tracks. His record at Charlotte includes one win, two top-five and six top-10 finishes with an average of 18.5.

This driver stole a win in the Coca-Cola 600 last year when Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of fuel on the last lap, heading for the finish line.

Harvick slipped past Junior to take the checkered flag.

It is unlikely lightning will strike twice for Harvick this year, but look for him to be running with the lead pack toward the end of this long race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, is currently ranked third in points, 14 points behind the leader, Greg Biffle.

Seven of Junior's 18 Cup wins have come on intermediate tracks, but it has been nearly four years since he won his last points race in the series.

Earnhardt has five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes with an average of 19.4. Though his record is not that stunning at CMS, he is coming off a win in the Sprint Showdown and one segment of the All-Star race.

This driver has had some fast cars and he had a string of six top-10 finishes heading to Darlington where he finished 17th.

Earnhardt nearly won this race last year until he ran out of fuel going for the win. Look for him to be seeking revenge for that loss, and just maybe, breaking his winless streak.

Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin drives the No. 11 FedEx Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Currently he is ranked fourth in the Cup series point standings.

Hamlin has one top five and six top-10 finishes with an average of 16.0 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He has 19 career wins and 13 have come on intermediate tracks.

Look for Hamlin to be running in the lead pack under the guidance of his crew chief, Darian Grubb. Grubb was the crew chief for our reigning Sprint Cup champion, Tony Stewart.

The team should have plenty of time in this race to get the car right, and Hamlin may grab his third win of the season.