Next Race: Coke Zero Sugar 400
The Place: Daytona International Speedway
The Date: Saturday, August 28
The Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, 6:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 400 miles (160 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 50),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 100), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 160)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Wawa 250
The Place: Daytona International Speedway
The Date: Friday, August 27
The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 250 miles (100 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 100)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: In It To Win It 200
The Place: Darlington Raceway
The Date: Sunday, September 5
The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 200.1 miles (147 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 147)
NASCAR Cup Series
Regular Season Finale: Everybody has a chance at Daytona
It all comes down to this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, this Saturday, August 28 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and if history is any indicator of what to expect this weekend, everybody has a shot at the win.
A total of 15 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have one last chance to etch their names in the 2021 Playoff grid, as this is just the second time Daytona International Speedway has hosted the regular season finale. Last season, William Byron won Coke Zero Sugar 400 and, in the process, claimed his spot in the postseason.
Since the inception of the Playoffs in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004, Richmond Raceway held the regular season finale from 2004 to 2017 (14 years) and then from 2018-2019 Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the final regular season event.
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is currently operating in its third iteration of the postseason’s points system since its inception in 2004. The first Playoff points system (from 2004 to 2009) had the top 10 to 12 drivers earn their position in the Playoffs by points only. The second version of the Playoff points system (2010 to 2013) incorporated the top 10 drivers to get in on points/wins with the addition of two extra drivers referred to as the Wildcards. The third version of the Playoff points system (2014 to Present) features drivers vying for the top 16 Playoff spots either by points or the ‘Win and You’re In’ rule. The third version of the Playoffs also instituted the elimination style format with four drivers being eliminated from the Playoffs at the conclusion of each postseason round culminating with the Championship 4 battling it out for the title in the season finale.
Playoff Points System 1 (2004-2006 – Top 10 in on Points; 2007-2009 – Top 12 in on Points)
Four drivers have come from outside the postseason cut-off to make the Playoffs at Richmond in the first iteration of the Playoff championship format:
- Jeremy Mayfield in 2004 made up a 55-point deficit
- Ryan Newman in 2005 made up a one-point deficit
- Kasey Kahne in 2006 made up a 30-point deficit
- Brian Vickers in 2009 made up a 20-point deficit
Playoff Points System 2 (2010-2013 – Top 10 in on Wins/Points and Two Wildcards)
Seven drivers have come from outside the postseason cut-off to make the Playoffs at Richmond in the second iteration of the Playoff championship format that incorporates the Wild Card:
- Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer are the two drivers that clinched the Wild Card in 2010 to make the Playoffs. Biffle was 11th in points with one win; Bowyer was 12th in points with no wins heading into the regular season finale.
- Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin are the two drivers that clinched the Wild Card in 2011 to make the Playoffs. Keselowski was 11th in points with three wins; Hamlin was 12th in points with one win heading into the regular season finale.
- Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon are the two drivers that clinched the Wild Card in 2012 to make the Playoffs. Kahne was 11th in points with two wins; Gordon was 13th in points with one win heading into the regular season finale.
- Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne are the two drivers that clinched the Wild Card in 2013 to make the Playoffs. Kahne was 12th in points with two wins; Newman was 14th in points with one win heading into regular season finale.
- Due to a rare instance in the final race of the regular season that resulted in penalties being issued; a 13th car (Jeff Gordon’s No. 24) was added to the Playoffs. It was the second time in the Playoff Era the number of entries was expanded.
Playoff Points System 3 (2014 – Present – Top 16 in on Wins or Points/Elimination Style)
In the third iteration of the Playoff championship format from 2014-Present – Only one driver outside the Playoff cutoff has raced their way into the Playoffs in the regular season finale through points or last-minute wins.
- From 2014 to 2018 – the drivers that won or were inside the top 16 that were expected to make the Playoffs did, no drivers raced their way into the Playoffs in the regular season finale on points or wins.
- In 2019, heading into the regular season finale at Indianapolis, Ryan Newman was tied with Daniel Suarez for the 16th and final transfer position to the Playoffs. Newman finished eighth in the regular season finale to Suarez’s 11th-place finish, earning the final transfer spot into the postseason.
- Last season (2020), six drivers inside the Playoff cutoff had not clinched a spot in the postseason heading into Daytona. But all six ultimately clinched their spots, led by William Byron, who became the first driver to win his way into the Playoffs by taking the victory in the regular season finale. No drivers outside the top 16 advanced into Playoffs in the regular season finale.
Daytona International Speedway: The perfect stage for the regular season finale
All eyes will be on the ‘World Center of Racing’ this weekend.
Daytona International Speedway, the 2.5-mile paved superspeedway oval, has hosted 148 NASCAR Cup Series races since the inaugural race in 1959: 63 have been 500 miles, 58 were 400 miles and four were 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races. But this weekend marks just the second time the summer (August) race will be the NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale.
The 148 NASCAR Cup Series races at Daytona have produced 62 different pole winners and 67 different race winners, 29 drivers have multiple Cup Series wins at Daytona. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in winsat Daytonawith 10 victories (Feb. 1964, Feb. 1966, Feb. 1971, Feb. 1973, Feb. 1974, July 1975, July 1977, Feb. 1979, Feb. 1981, July 1984). Denny Hamlin(Feb. 2016, Feb. 2019, Feb. 2020) leads all active drivers in Daytona wins with three.
Of the 67 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona winners, 40 of them have won the summer race. A total of 14 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona winners are active this weekend and seven of those 14 have won a summer race at Daytona.
| Rank | Active Daytona Race Winners | Wins | Seasons | ||||
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | 3 | 2020 (Feb.), 2019 (Feb.), 2016 (Feb.) | ||||
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | 2 | 2010 (July), 2007 (Feb.) | ||||
| 3 | Michael McDowell | 1 | 2021 (Feb.) | ||||
| 4 | William Byron | 1 | 2020 (Aug.) | ||||
| 5 | Justin Haley | 1 | 2019 (July) | ||||
| 6 | Erik Jones | 1 | 2018 (July) | ||||
| 7 | Austin Dillon | 1 | 2018 (Feb.) | ||||
| 8 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 1 | 2017 (July) | ||||
| 9 | Kurt Busch | 1 | 2017 (Feb.) | ||||
| 10 | Brad Keselowski | 1 | 2016 (July) | ||||
| 11 | Joey Logano | 1 | 2015 (Feb.) | ||||
| 12 | Aric Almirola | 1 | 2014 (July) | ||||
| 13 | Kyle Busch | 1 | 2008 (July) | ||||
| 14 | Ryan Newman | 1 | 2008 (Feb.) |
NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the series in summer race victories at Daytona with five wins (1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978).
Five drivers have posted consecutive summer race wins at Daytona International Speedway: Fireball Roberts (1962-1963), A.J. Foyt (1964-1965), Cale Yarborough (1967-1968) David Pearson (1972 – 1974) and Tony Stewart (2005-2006).
The youngest Daytona summer race winner is Justin Haley (07/07/2019 – 20 years, 2 months, 9 days); all-time track record – Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 – 20 years, 0 months, 1 day). The oldest Daytona summer race winner is Bobby Allison (07/04/1987 – 49 years, 7 months, 1 day); all-time track record – Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 – 50 years, 5 months, 23 days).
This weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale will be 400 miles (160 laps) and the event will be broken up into three stages. The first two stages are 50 laps each and the final stage will be 60 laps. This weekend’s starting lineups were determined by Metric Qualifying and as a result Kyle Larson will start from the pole and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron will join him on the front row.
A total of 22 different starting positions have produced winners in the NASCAR Cup Series summer races at Daytona. The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (nine) than any other starting position in the summer races at Daytona International Speedway. The most recent driver to win from the pole or first starting position at Daytona in the NASCAR Cup Series was NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 2015 July race. The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Daytona is 42nd, by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart in the 2012 July race.
First-time winners aplenty at Daytona
One thing Daytona International Speedway is known for is unpredictable finishes that on occasion produce first time winners in the NASCAR Cup Series. In fact, the last three NASCAR Cup Series summer races at Daytona International Speedway have fashioned just that – first-time winners.
A total of 22 different drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway; 11 of the 22 drivers posted their first win in the Summer races – the most recent was last season’s August race with race winner William Byron earning his spot in the Playoffs.
NASCAR Cup Series First-Time Winners at Daytona International Speedway (All-Time)
| First-Time Race Winners (22) | Date | Driver’s Age | |||
| Michael McDowell | Sunday, February 14, 2021 | 36 | |||
| William Byron | Saturday, August 29, 2020 | 22 | |||
| Justin Haley | Sunday, July 7, 2019 | 20 | |||
| Erik Jones | Saturday, July 7, 2018 | 22 | |||
| Aric Almirola | Sunday, July 6, 2014 | 30 | |||
| David Ragan | Saturday, July 2, 2011 | 25 | |||
| Trevor Bayne | Sunday, February 20, 2011 | 20 | |||
| Greg Biffle | Saturday, July 5, 2003 | 33 | |||
| Michael Waltrip | Sunday, February 18, 2001 | 37 | |||
| John Andretti | Saturday, July 5, 1997 | 34 | |||
| Jimmy Spencer | Saturday, July 2, 1994 | 37 | |||
| Sterling Marlin | Sunday, February 20, 1994 | 36 | |||
| Derrike Cope | Sunday, February 18, 1990 | 31 | |||
| Greg Sacks | Thursday, July 4, 1985 | 32 | |||
| Pete Hamilton | Sunday, February 22, 1970 | 27 | |||
| Mario Andretti | Sunday, February 26, 1967 | 26 | |||
| Sam McQuagg | Monday, July 4, 1966 | 28 | |||
| Earl Balmer | Friday, February 25, 1966 | 30 | |||
| A.J. Foyt | Saturday, July 4, 1964 | 29 | |||
| Bobby Isaac | Friday, February 21, 1964 | 31 | |||
| Tiny Lund | Sunday, February 24, 1963 | 33 | |||
| Johnny Rutherford | Friday, February 22, 1963 | 24 |
Clinch Scenarios: One spot, one shot to clinch
This weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway is the last opportunity for the drivers who have not clinched a spot in the Playoffs to earn their position in the postseason. A total of 15 drivers have already clinched their Playoff spot, leaving just one spot left for drivers to battle it out in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Already Clinched
The following 15 drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Christopher Bell, Michael McDowell, Aric Almirola.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 4th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Denny Hamlin or Kevin Harvick.
- Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 31 points
- Austin Dillon: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
Tyler Reddick (Average finish at Daytona 27.8)
Austin Dillon (14.8)
Matt DiBenedetto (21.3)
Chris Buescher (21.0)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (19.5)
Ross Chastain (18.2)
Bubba Wallace (15.1)
Chase Briscoe (19.0)
Erik Jones (22.6)
Daniel Suarez (31.6)
Ryan Newman (19.1)
Ryan Preece (22.4)
Cole Custer (26.0)
Anthony Alfredo (32.0)
Corey LaJoie (18.7)
| 2021 Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 25 | |||||||||||||
| Rank | Driver | Points | Wins | Stages | Playoff Pts | Pts From Cutoff | |||||||
| 1 | Kyle Larson | 1004 | 5 | 12 | 37 | In On Wins | |||||||
| 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 789 | 3 | 5 | 20 | ||||||||
| 3 | Alex Bowman | 674 | 3 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||
| 4 | Kyle Busch | 838 | 2 | 5 | 15 | ||||||||
| 5 | Chase Elliott | 820 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||
| 6 | Ryan Blaney | 787 | 2 | 4 | 14 | ||||||||
| 7 | William Byron | 833 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||
| 8 | Joey Logano | 772 | 1 | 4 | 9 | ||||||||
| 9 | Brad Keselowski | 729 | 1 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||
| 10 | Kurt Busch | 643 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||
| 11 | Christopher Bell | 595 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||
| 12 | Michael McDowell | 497 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||
| 13 | Aric Almirola | 436 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||
| 14 | Denny Hamlin | 976 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
