Blaney wins at Daytona as last two NASCAR playoff spots locked up

AI-assisted summary
• Ryan Blaney won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, earning his second win of the season.
• Blaney’s victory solidified the final NASCAR Cup Series playoff spots for Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman, despite Bowman’s early exit from the race due to a crash.
• The race featured a dramatic last-lap surge by Blaney, who climbed from 13th to first place.

Ryan Blaney ended the NASCAR Cup Series regular season with a victory and a surge of momentum after capturing the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series champion, earned his second win of the season in an eventful race that determined the final two playoff berths. Because no new winner emerged at Daytona, Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman clinched the last two spots in the 16-driver playoff field on points, despite Bowman’s night ending early following a massive multicar crash in the opening stage that destroyed his No. 48 Chevrolet.

The 10-race NASCAR Cup Series playoffs being next weekend at Darlington Raceway.

Blaney, who won this race in 2021, led 27 laps but was not among the leaders as the final stage wound down. That all changed when his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano spun to bring out a caution with 12 laps remaining, necessitating one final restart.

Blaney didn’t pounce immediately as a handful of winless drivers fought for the lead and the last playoff berth in the final laps. But with two laps remaining, he made his move surging from 13th to first in the final turn of the last lap as drivers raced three-wide to the checkered flag.

Blaney edged Daniel Suarez by 0.031 seconds and Justin Haley by 0.036 seconds for his 15th career NASCAR Cup Series victory. Cole Custer and Erik Jones rounded out the top five. Kyle Larson finished sixth, followed by Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry and Chase Elliott.

‘This is such a cool victory lane, looking up and seeing the World Center of Racing,’ Blaney said. ‘It’s something I’ll never forget when we won here in ‘21. It’s just a cool place to be, so it’s really special.

“I think this team is really doing a good job of hitting our stride when we need to. … it’s great to win this one and good momentum for next week.”

Bowman, who was forced to watch the final two stages of the race from his trailer after crashing out early, was probably the second happiest person to see Blaney take the checkered flag since Blaney’s win assured Bowman of the last spot in the playoffs.

When asked after the race what he owed Blaney, Bowman joked ‘Seven million beers.’

‘I’m certainly thankful for him,’ Bowman continued. ‘Ryan’s a good dude, happy to see him win. … It’s tough, and you know we crashed, and it’s something that is outside of our control. And then you just have to sit and watch. It’s not fun for any of these guys (on my team).’

USA TODAY Sports had full coverage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, Aug. 23. Scroll below for full race highlights.

Which drivers made the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?

Here are the 16 drivers who will race in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in order of reset points following the Coke Zero Sugar 400 (Number of wins in parentheses):

1. Kyle Larson (3) ….. 2032
2. William Byron (2) ….. 2032
3. Denny Hamlin (4) ….. 2029
4. Ryan Blaney (2) ….. 2026
5. Christopher Bell (3) ….. 2023
6. Shane van Gisbergen (4) ….. 2022
7. Chase Elliott (1) ….. 2013
8. Chase Briscoe (1) ….. 2010
9. Bubba Wallace (1) ….. 2008
10. Austin Cindric (1) ….. 2008
11. Ross Chastain (1) ….. 2007
12. Joey Logano (1) ….. 2007
13. Josh Berry (1) ….. 2006
14. Tyler Reddick (0) ….. 2006
15. Austin Dillon (1) ….. 2005
16. Alex Bowman (0) ….. 2002

NASCAR at Daytona: Coke Zero Sugar 400 highlights

Ryan Blaney wins the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona

Ryan Blaney took the lead in Turn 4 of the final lap and edged Daniel Suarez and Justin Haley to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Blaney raced from 13th to second in the final two laps to earn his 15th career NASCAR Cup Series victory. Cole Custer, who finished fourth and Chris Buescher, who finished sixth, spun after crossing the start/finish line.

NASCAR at Daytona full results

Here is the final finishing order from the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway (with starting position in parentheses, car number and manufacturer, laps completed):

1. (1) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford, 160, Running
2. (12) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet, 160, Running
3. (37) Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet, 160, Running
4. (29) Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford, 160, Running
5. (26) Erik Jones, No. 43, No. Toyota, 160, Running
6. (3) Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet, 160, Running
7. (24) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford, 160, Running
8. (18) Ty Gibbs, No. 54, No. Toyota, 160, Running
9. (11) Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford, 160, Running
10. (30) Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet, 160, Running
11. (28) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford, 160, Running
12. (20) Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet, 160, Running
13. (15) Christopher Bell, No. 20, No. Toyota, 160, Running
14. (31) Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford, 160, Running
15. (19) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet, 160, Running
16. (17) Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet, 160, Running
17. (34) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42, No. Toyota, 160, Running
18. (10) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford, 160, Running
19. (8) William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet, 160, Running
20. (35) Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford, 160, Running
21. (27) Tyler Reddick, No. 45, No. Toyota, 160, Running
22. (23) Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet, 160, Running
23. (9) Chase Briscoe, No. 19, No. Toyota, 160, Running
24. (7) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet, 160, Running
25. (6) Denny Hamlin, No. 11, No. Toyota, 160, Running
26. (21) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet, 159, Running
27. (4) Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford, 159, Running
28. (40) Joey Gase, No. 44 Chevrolet, 157, Running
29. (39) Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford, 156, Running
30. (36) Austin Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet, 155, Running
31. (13) Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford, 154, Running
32. (38) BJ McLeod, No. 78 Chevrolet, 137, Accident
33. (14) Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet, 95, Running
34. (16) Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet, 81, Engine
35. (25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet, 28, Accident
36. (2) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet, 27, Accident
37. (22) Bubba Wallace, No. 23, No. Toyota, 27, Accident
38. (32) Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford, 27, Accident
39. (5) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford, 27, Accident
40. (33) Riley Herbst, No. 35, No. Toyota, 27, Accident

Joey Logano brings out caution with 12 laps to go at Daytona

Joey Logano got loose while leading the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with 12 laps remaining at Daytona International Speedway and spun into the grass to bring out the caution.

Erik Jones and Justin Haley will lead the field when the race restarts, followed by Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece in Row 2 and Chris Buescher and Chase Elliott in Row 3.

NASCAR at Daytona: 20 laps to go

Joey Logano continues to lead the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with 20 laps remaining at Daytona International Speedway. The reigning Cup Series champion leads Erik Jones, Justin Haley and Chris Buesher.

NASCAR at Daytona: Lap 120 update

Joey Logano and Austin Dillon, last week’s winner, lead the field with 40 laps remaining in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Justin Haley, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher are racing in the top 7.

Denny Hamlin brings out the caution at Daytona

A rough race continued for Denny Hamlin as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver suffered a flat right front tire, bringing out the caution flag on Lap 108 of 160. Hamlin is tied with Shane van Gisbergen for most wins this season with four.

Stage 3 begins at Daytona

John Hunter Nemechek , Christopher Bell, Erik Jones and Chris Buescher lead the field as the green flag drops on the final stage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the final race of the NASCAR regular season.

Ross Chastain wins Stage 2 at Daytona

Ross Chastain outdueled Joey Logano with a push from Christopher Bell to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Bell edged Logano for second, while William Byron and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top five. Ryan Blaney finished sixth, followed by Chase Briscoe, Ryan Preece, Ty Gibbs and Ty Dillon.

The final stage of tonight’s race is scheduled for 65 laps.

NASCAR race at Daytona: Lap 75 update

Michael McDowell, who won the 2021 Daytona 500, took the lead on Lap 73 over road-course ace Shane van Gisbergen, who has four victories this year. Three laps later, three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano shot to the lead with Cody Ware battling alongside.

NASCAR race at Daytona: Lap 50 update

Cody Ware and Brad Keselowski lead the Coke Zero Sugar 400 through 50 of a scheduled 160 laps at Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Larson wins Stage 1 at Daytona

Kyle Larson withstood all the crashes in the opening laps of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 to win the first stage of the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona Internatioanl Speedway. Ross Chastain finished second in the 35-lap stage, Ryan Blaney third, Michael McDowell fourth and Justin Haley fifth. Joey Logano, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell rounded out the top 10.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Alex Bowman, Bubba Wallace, Noah Gragson, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric and Riley Herbst all had their race end early after massive damage to the cars during a multicar crash near the end of Stage 1.

Tyler Reddick clinches playoff berth with Alex Bowman knocked out

Tyler Reddick, who entered the Coke Zero Sugar 400 as the top winless driver in the standings, clinched one of the two remaining playoff spots despite a crash in the first stage. Reddick entered the race ranked 15th in the standings, and with a 29-point lead over 16th-ranked Alex Bowman and 60-point lead over 17th-place Chris Buescher. After Bowman’s No. 48 sustained unrepairable damage in the multicar crash on Lap 27, Reddick was guaranteed enough points to make the playoffs.

Huge multicar crash takes out contenders at Daytona

Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch got together near the front of the field, triggering a massive multicar crash on Lap 27 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Kyle Larson pushed Wallace from behind but caught the No. 23 Toyota on the quarter panel turning him into Busch and Logano as they were all battling for third position. Wallace spun across the track into other cars while the field stacked up behind them.

Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson, Denny Hamlin, Austin Hill, Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Alex Bowman also sustained damage in the aftermath.

NASCAR dropped the red flag, pausing the race, to clean up the track and remove the wrecked cars.

Bubble driver Tyler Reddick involved in accident at Daytona

Tyler Reddick makes contact with Todd Gilliland on Lap 19 and careened into the inside wall off Turn 4. Reddick’s No. 45 23XI Toyota spun around near the entrace to pit road before hitting the wall front first and damaging the nose. Reddick was in position to make the playoffs on points as the top winless driver in the standings entering the race.

Casey Mears brings out first caution at Daytona

Casey Mears spun in Turn 4 in his No. 66 Ford to bring out the first caution on Lap 12 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400. While that’s bad news for Mears, it was great news for William Byron, who had gone a lap down after serving a stop-and-go penalty to start the race. Byron will get the free pass and will be back on the lead lap for the restart.

NASCAR race at Daytona: Lap 10 update

Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey lead the Coze Zero Sugar 400 after 10 laps at Daytona International Speedway. The opening stage is 35 laps.

NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona begins

The final regular season race of the NASCAR Cup Series has begun, and the green flag has waved at Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman lead the front row.

Points leader William Byron penalized, will start from rear at Daytona

NASCAR Cup Series points leader William Byron and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team were penalized for an unapproved adjustment after his Chevrolet went through technical inspection. NASCAR dropped Byron to the rear of the field to start the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and will require him to serve a stop-and-go on pit road after taking the green flag. Byron’s crew chief Rudy Fugle was ejected for the race; engineer Brandon McSwain will handle crew chief duties Saturday night.

How to watch NASCAR race today: Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 23
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET; Green flag: 7:55 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.
• Location: Daytona International Speedway

Stream NASCAR Cup race at Daytona on Fubo

Who is starting on the pole in the NASCAR race at Daytona?

Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is starting on the pole in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He will be joined on the front row by Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman, who is fighting to join Blaney in the 2025 playoffs – either via a victory or on points.

What is the weather forecast for the NASCAR race at Daytona?

Summertime in Florida means there’s always a chance of rain, but NASCAR may actually benefit from the Coke Zero 400 being a night race with the heaviest precipitation coming during the morning and afternoon. The Weather Channel is calling for mostly cloudy skies when the green flag is scheduled to drop just before 8 p.m. ET, with temperatures around 80 degrees. But the National Weather Service says there is still a 47% chance of rain at 7 p.m. ET, so it may come down to how quickly the storms push out. The start of the race could also be impacted if the track is not yet dry, so a delayed green flag is a possibility.

What is the lineup for the Coke Zero Sugar 400?

Here is the lineup for tonight’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway (Car number in parentheses):

1. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
2. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
3. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
4. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
5. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
6. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
7. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
8. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
9. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
10. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
11. (21) Josh Berry, Ford
12. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
13. (38) Zane Smith, Ford
14. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
15. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
16. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
17. (88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
18. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
19. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
20. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
21. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
22. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
23. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
24. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
25. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
26. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
27. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
28. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
29. (41) Cole Custer, Ford
30. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
31. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
32. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
33. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
34. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
35. (51) Cody Ware, Ford
36. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet
37. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
38. (78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet
39. (66) Casey Mears, Ford
40. (44) Joey Gase, Chevrolet

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona?

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is 160 laps around the 2.5-mile track for a total of 400 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 35 laps; Stage 2: 60 laps; Stage 3: 65 laps.

Odds to win NASCAR Cup race at Daytona today

Here are the drivers with the best odds to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, via BetMGM (as of 6:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 23):

• Ryan Blaney ……. +1000
• Joey Logano ……. +1000
• Austin Cindric ……. +1200
• Brad Keselowski ……. +1300
• Kyle Busch ……. +1600
• Chase Elliott ……. +1600
• Kyle Larson ……. +1600
• William Byron ……. +1600
• Denny Hamlin ……. +1800
• Christopher Bell ……. +1800
• Chris Buescher ……. +1800
• Alex Bowman ……. +2000
• Tyler Reddick ……. +2200
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ……. +2200
• Bubba Wallace ……. +2500
• Ryan Preece ……. +2500

Drivers on the NASCAR Cup Series playoff bubble

Here are the winless drivers with the most point entering the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway – two above the 16-driver cutoff line and four below (including regular-season points, and points above or below cut line):

• 15. Tyler Reddick ….. 714 ….. +89
• 16. Alex Bowman ….. 685 ….. +60
• 17. Chris Buescher ….. 625 ….. -60
• 18. Ryan Preece ….. 591 ….. -94
• 19. Kyle Busch ….. 537 ….. -148
• 20. Ty Gibbs ….. 512 ….. -173

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona start?

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona on?

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will be broadcast on NBC. Pre-race coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona?

Yes, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Who won the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona last year?

It took seven caution periods that saw nearly half the field taken out of contention before Harrison Burton made it past Kyle Busch to win his first career Cup Series race. Burton’s win came shortly after Wood Brothers Racing announced he’d be replaced for 2025. Busch, Christopher Bell, Cody Ware and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top five drivers.

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