Drivers race for final playoff spots at Coke Zero Sugar 400

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR Cup Series Playoff spots will be on the line Saturday at the regular-season finale Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

At least one winless driver will qualify for the playoffs, and Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman occupy the final two provisional spots in the points standings after last week’s race in Richmond, Va. Neither have won a race yet this year. 

Austin Dillon secured his playoff spot last week with a victory at Richmond.

The playoff field is made up of 16 drivers, and a first-time winner Saturday could change the playoff picture because any driver who wins one of the first 26 races will be in the playoffs. That is what happened last year, when Harrison Burton won the race and boosted himself into the playoffs. That is bound to generate some full-throttle racing and desperate moves on the high-banked track.

Saturday’s race is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting. WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Rey Mysterio is grand marshal for the race, and NCAA Women’s Basketball national champion and musician Flau’jae Johnson will be the honorary starter and wave the green flag. 

The field for the race is set, but drivers are set to start qualifying for starting positions at 5 p.m. Friday.

On Friday night, the Xfinity Series drivers will take to the track for the Wawa 250 Powered By Coca-Cola. Qualifying for that race is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.

Tickets remain available for both events, with links on the Daytona International Speedway website. Other tickets options that include the pre-race concert featuring Gretchen Wilson and access to Fanzone also are available.

Volusia County has adjusted Votran routes this weekend because of the anticipated increase in traffic.