The NASCAR Cup Series is gearing up for its Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, a race that will determine the last four drivers who advance to the playoffs.
A crowded entry list
With more than 40 cars entered, the event marks only the third time since November 2018 that a non‑Daytona 500 race has attracted such a large field, meaning one competitor will miss the qualifying cutoff.
NASCAR’s qualifying metric blends 30 percent owner standings with 70 percent performance in the most recent race, shaping the order in which drivers take to the track.
Unfamiliar qualifying dynamics
None of the five drivers who are contending for the playoff spots entered the recent race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, so they will lead the Friday qualifying session.
To move on to the second round, each of those drivers must finish inside the top ten; otherwise, the decision on who fails to qualify will be made after the first five runs.
The race is scheduled for August 28, with NBC beginning its live coverage at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Daytona’s high‑banked 2.5‑mile oval in Daytona Beach, Florida, presents a unique challenge that can reshuffle the leaderboard in a matter of laps.