On Saturday, August 24, the NASCAR Cup Series arrives at Daytona International Speedway for the second-to-last race of the regular season, the Coke Zero Sugar 400. This event may bring further changes to the playoff standings as competitors tackle the high banks of Daytona.
Date: Saturday, August 24
Track: Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida)
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Weekend Schedule
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Date |
Time |
Session |
TV |
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Saturday, Aug. 24
7:30 p.m. ET
Coke Zero Sugar 400
NBC
Regular Season Championship, Playoff Battles Intensify Entering Daytona
The recent triumph of Tyler Reddick in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway has propelled him to the top of the regular season points leaderboard. With two races left before the playoffs commence, he currently holds a 10-point advantage over Chase Elliott. Reddick’s performance in the last 11 races has been remarkable, allowing him to rise from sixth to first in the standings.
At the same time, Ty Gibbs and Chris Buescher secured spots in the top six at Michigan, enhancing their chances of qualifying for the NASCAR Playoffs. This outcome helped them create a buffer over Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace, who are now separated by just one point, with Chastain currently positioned above the cutoff line.
Both Chastain and Wallace faced setbacks at Michigan, finishing 25th and 26th respectively. Although Buescher was part of the lap 116 incident that affected Wallace’s race, he managed to bounce back, ultimately finishing in sixth.
The aftermath of the Michigan race has tightened the competition at both the top and bottom of the playoff standings, with only the Daytona race on Saturday and the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway left in the regular season.
Daytona Capable of Producing Surprise Winner, Playoff Shakeup
All discussions surrounding the playoffs could experience significant changes due to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night. The unpredictable essence of superspeedway racing might lead to a new winner this season, consequently granting an at-large playoff position.
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In 2022, Austin Dillon achieved a significant victory in this race, securing his position in the NASCAR Playoffs. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 that year marked the conclusion of the regular season, rendering Dillon’s triumph a dramatic “walk-off” win.
Similarly, William Byron achieved the same success during the 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400, clinching his playoff berth with a win at the regular season’s finale in Daytona. This victory also represented Byron’s inaugural win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Going the Distance (And Then Some)
Over one-third of the NASCAR Cup Series races this season have extended into overtime, profoundly affecting their outcomes.
If past patterns hold, this trend seems poised to carry on into Saturday night. Since 2008, the summer Daytona event has seen 11 instances where it was extended beyond the scheduled 400-mile distance. Additionally, two other events were cut short due to weather, resulting in only three races during this timeframe being completed at the exact 400-mile distance.
‘NASCAR Nonstop’ Broadcast Debuts at Daytona
This week, NBC Sports revealed that the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will debut “NASCAR Nonstop” coverage, which will be one of three broadcasts this season. This innovative approach eliminates full-screen commercials during green flag racing, opting for split-screen advertisements instead.
At Daytona, alongside Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 8 and Talladega Superspeedway on October 6, fans can stay engaged without missing any of the exhilarating action at NASCAR’s superspeedways.
