Over 6 million people tuned into FOX last Sunday for The Real Heroes 400. The did so to witness NASCARs first race back since the COVID-19 pandemic hit this past March. The 293 lap race at the Darlington Raceway, one of NASCARS most historic tracks, was the first major sporting event to be held in over 10 weeks. The TV numbers were large because of that.

How big was it? Last Sunday’s race was the most viewed sporting event on TV for the entire weekend, clearing everything else by nearly a million people. By comparison, an all-star golf event in Florida had 2.3 million tune in on NBC and while ESPNs coverage of UFC netted 1.2 million.

NASCAR was t he juggernaut in the room.

6.3 million people watched Kevin Harvick score his 50th career Cup Series victory at Darlington, joining a list of 13 other greats to accomplish that feat.

On Wednesday night, the Cup guys were back at it again. The Toyota 500 produced the most viewed show of the night and did so on Fox Sports. Over 2 million folks waited out a 90 minute rain delay to tune in to the sports network to witness the first Wednesday Cup Series race since 1984. Denny Hamlin won a wild race that featured a fox on the race track and a feud between NASCARs most popular driver and NASCARS most hated.

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Less than 24 hours later, we saw a thrilling finish to the Xfinity Series Race in their resumption their season on the exact same 1.366 mile South Carolina race track. An emotional Chase Briscoe won just two days after learning via FaceTime that they lost their unborn baby.

A ton is storylines in a span of a couple of weeks which surely sparked some new fans in the process.

Now, NASCAR is back for more. This time at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday evening for the years longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 (6 pm ET/FOX/PRN).

“The Coke 600 is a crown jewel event,” Joey Logano said on Friday. “It’s always been that way for us. It’s such a big deal to try to win that one.

“I’ve come so close (to winning the 600), finished second there last year, just want to get that one done so bad.”

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While Wednesday nights race showed us that shorter races are a thing we should look further at, drivers say though that NASCAR needs to leave the 600 alone in terms of the length of the prestigious event.

“I’ve always enjoyed the Coke 600 because there’s more racing to watch,” Logano continued. “There are shorter races to watch if you don’t want to watch a long one, but as far as the 600, you can’t shorten that race, you just can’t.

“It’s the Coke 600. No one calls it the Coke 300 or 400. It’s the Coca-Cola 600 and you cannot change that. It’s a crown jewel event. We must keep it the same and that’s what we’re doing.”

Logano notes the historical aspect of this race too.

“I was watching the (TV) special during the rain delay this weekend about the 600 and the history behind it and all, and it just got me excited to race in that race this weekend,” said Logano. “I’m glad we’re keeping it the same.

“I think fans will enjoy it either way. It’s a good race track and it’s gonna be intense out there from lap one. At this point, nobody saves their car and says, ‘Oh, I’ve got to make sure I have brakes on it. It’s 100 percent from lap one. We’re hammer down every lap, so the intensity is there the whole time.”

Logano also notes that while nothing is the same anymore in terms of competition and gearing up for races, he feels much more safer at the tracks than he does anywhere else with the exception of his own home.

“One of my favorite lines I’ve heard this whole time is don’t let a good crisis go to waste,” said Logano. “And at this point, yes, there is a lot of risk that we are all weighing out and concerns, and there are a lot of people trying to weather this storm, whether it’s financially with their job or physically with their health.

“There are a lot of things up in the air, but there is also a lot of opportunity that sits in front of us as all these businesses are shut down and industries are shut down. For us to find a way to get back to the race track as a sport, as an industry, and get back to work before most was an amazing opportunity that I think NASCAR saw and it was important for everybody on this call for that to happen for all of our livelihoods – every one of us. That’s something I’m proud of this sport to be able to do that and do this in the safest way we possibly can.

“I know I feel plenty safe at the race track. I feel safer at the race track than I do at the grocery store, and I really do at this point.”

Ford hasn’t won the ‘600 since 2002. Toyota’s have won four of the last five. Despite that, Martin Truex Jr, last years winner, says that he feels confident in their chances on Sunday, but his speed is a tad off compared to last year. Nevertheless, racing is back for another go around and NASCAR gets the stage to themselves in what normally would have been a crowded weekend of Motorsports.