NASCAR at Charlotte live race updates, results, highlights from the Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 is the third NASCAR Cup Series race in seven days, thanks to the sport's new compact schedule. After two races in Darlington, the Cup Series has moved to Charlotte. 

NASCAR officials were watching the weather closely as thunderstorms were possible in Charlotte Sunday night. After Lap 50, the weather became too much to drive through. 

The rain slowed down enough and the track-drying process began with the 10 air-titans and six jet dryers at Charlotte Motor Speedway to dry the track. The race went back to green at 8:25 p.m. ET.

If the race cannot be completed tonight, the rain date is tentatively 3 p.m. ET Monday. and I think that would go too long to be able to swap out pit road and everything with the safety protocols. But NASCAR hasn't said what it would do as far as the Xfinity race.

Drivers had a qualifying session, the last of the season, at Charlotte Motor Speedway to set the starting lineup for the Coca-Cola 600. Kurt Busch earned the pole position, barely edging out Jimmie Johnson.

Chase Elliot, who was spun out by Kyle Busch in Wednesday's race at Darlington, is in starting in third place. Matt Kenseth and Tyler Riddick round out the top five.

Sporting News is tracking live race updates and lap-by-lap highlights from the Coca-Cola 600. Follow along below for complete results from Charlotte.

MORE: Watch the Coca-Cola 600 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

NASCAR at Charlotte live updates, highlights from Coca-Cola 600

10:15 p.m. — Martin Truex Jr. takes the lead. He shoots past Bowman halfway through Stage 3.

9:56 p.m. — Halfway through the 600-mile race. Cars are exiting to pit road off of turn four, about to observe a moment of silence for Memorial Day.

9:54 p.m. — Bowman takes Stage 2. Truex Jr. in second, Kyle Busch in third, William Byron in fourth and Chase Elliot in fifth.

9:36 p.m. — Alex Bowman back in the lead after the cycle of pit stops.

9:33 p.m. — Jimmie Johnson is the new leader. Bowman heads to pit road.

9:18 p.m. — Bubba Wallace to the garage. He lost his brakes.

9:08 p.m. — Clint Bowyer, who crashed earlier, is going to go somewhere he can take his face mask off and drink a cold beer, he said on the Fox broadcast.

9:04 p.m. — Back under green as Stage 2 kicks off.

8:53 p.m. — Stage 1 will end under caution. Alex Bowman gets the win. Truex Jr., Elliot, Reddick, Lagano, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Johnson, Byron and Kurt Busch round out the top-10.

8:51 p.m. — Caution out for Clint Bowyer with three laps before Stage 1. Bowyer went hard into the wall, lots of smoke and sparks from his No. 14. He's out of the car and walking.

8:44 p.m. — Christopher Bell just barely avoided spinning out. Ryan Blaney clipped him in the rear bumper in an attempt to move up to 13th. Somehow Bell maintained control and the race avoided caution.

8:37 p.m. — The "Crank It Up" is still really cool.

8:30 p.m. — Alex Bowman, Chase Elliot, Martin Truex Jr, Tyler Reddick and Kurt Busch make up the top-five off the restart.

8:28 p.m. — And with some relatively dry tracks, the flag is green on Lap 57. 43 to go in Stage 1.

8:20 p.m. — We're back under yellow. Nearly everyone heading for pit road before the race hits green.

8:16 p.m. — Engines are starting. 

8:12 p.m. — Drivers are getting back in their cars.

8 p.m. — We have a restart time:

7:37 p.m. — Radar update:

7:35 p.m. — Rain seems to have stopped in Charlotte. 

7:25 p.m. — In the event that the race cannot be finished tonight:

7:14 p.m. — Potential good news: 

7:10 p.m. — The radar: 

7:03 p.m. — Caution for rain. Red Flag is now out. Kurt Busch has led all 50 laps so far today. 

6:53 p.m. —  Back underway on lap 28. Busch, Truex Jr., Elliot, Reddick, Logano in the top-five. 

6:44 p.m. —  Caution on lap 20. Kurt Busch has led all 20 laps so far. 

6:42 p.m. —  Hamlin enters the race eight laps down.

6:35 p.m. —  Denny Hamlin, the winner on Wednesday, is on pit road early. 

6:32 p.m. —  We're underway in Charlotte. 

What time does the NASCAR race start today?

• Date : Sunday, May 24
• Start time : 6 p.m. ET (6:28 p.m. ET green flag)
• TV channel : Fox
• Live stream : Fox Sports Go |  fuboTV (7-day free trial)

A 6 p.m. ET start time has become the customary protocol for the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's longest race. It's the only event in the sport that features four stages rather than three, and each Coca-Cola 600 stage will be 100 laps.

The Coca-Cola 600 begins in the heat of the daylight, but it gradually turns into a night race over the span of roughly 4 1/2 hours. That leads to cooling track temperatures and puts the onus on adjustments as teams attempt to navigate the race.

Fox's coverage of pre-race ceremonies from Charlotte Motor Speedway — which are special on Memorial Day weekend — will begin at 6 p.m. ET, and the Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled to take the green flag 28 minutes later.