The 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 29, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 166 laps on the superspeedway, extended from the original 160 laps due to a overtime finish, it was the 26th race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and the final race of the regular season.
Ryan Preece won the race for his first career series win in his 249th Cup Series race. Daniel Suárez finished 2nd, and Michael McDowell finished 3rd. Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five, and Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Josh Berry, and Cole Custer rounded out the top ten. Preece's win gave him enough points to eclipse Shane van Gisbergen for the final spot in the Chase.
Report
Background
The race was held at Daytona International Speedway, a race track located in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, the track is the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. It features multiple layouts including the primary high speed tri-oval, a sports car course, a motorcycle course, and a karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's infield includes the Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998 and today, it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved twice — in 1978 and in 2010. On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5 of that year, ground was broken for a project that would remove the backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway is being worked on by Rossetti Architects. The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, and it cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors") as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations, the track's grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000. The project was completed before the start of Speedweeks.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 35 Harrison Burton (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Ford 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 44 Joey Gase (i) NY Racing Team Chevrolet 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 62 Casey Mears Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 66 Gray Gaulding (i) Garage 66 Ford 67 Corey Heim (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Daniel Dye (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Qualifying Ross Chastain scored the pole for the race with a time of 48.808 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 48.958 48.808 2 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 49.002 48.859 3 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 48.955 48.863 4 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 48.897 48.884 5 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota 48.949 48.976 6 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 49.094 49.019 7 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 49.046 49.020 8 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 49.095 49.071 9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 49.097 49.074 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49.097 49.082 11 67 Corey Heim (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 49.101 — 12 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 49.104 — 13 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49.117 — 14 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 49.123 — 15 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 49.140 — 16 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 49.144 — 17 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 49.145 — 18 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 49.149 — 19 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 49.154 — 20 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49.176 — 21 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 49.204 — 22 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 49.232 — 23 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 49.240 — 24 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 49.282 — 25 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 49.302 — 26 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 49.330 — 27 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 49.335 — 28 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 49.336 — 29 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 49.343 — 30 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 49.360 — 31 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 49.361 — 32 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 49.375 — 33 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 49.388 — 34 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 49.402 — 35 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 49.485 — 36 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 49.485 — 37 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 49.500 — 38 62 Casey Mears Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 49.520 — 39 78 Daniel Dye (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 49.555 — 40 44 Joey Gase (i) NY Racing Team Chevrolet 49.933 — Did Not Qualify 41 66 Gray Gaulding (i) Garage 66 Ford 50.058 —Official qualifying results
Race
Race results
Stage results
Stage One Laps: 35
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 102 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 84 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 75 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 48 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 39 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 210 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 1
Stage Two Laps: 60
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 102 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 93 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 84 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 75 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 66 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 39 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 210 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 0
Final Stage results
Stage Three Laps: 65
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 4 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 166 672 23 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 166 383 17 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 166 344 18 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 166 335 32 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 166 326 8 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 166 327 29 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 166 308 20 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 166 299 24 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Chevrolet 166 2810 16 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 166 2711 30 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 166 2612 5 35 Harrison Burton (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 166 013 12 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 166 3414 21 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 166 2315 27 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 166 2416 11 67 Corey Heim (i) 23XI Racing Toyota 166 017 35 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 166 2018 9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 166 2719 33 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 166 2420 26 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 166 2121 31 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 166 1622 13 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 166 2223 22 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 166 1624 1 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 166 1325 7 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 166 1226 37 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 166 1227 3 33 Austin Hill (i) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 166 028 6 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 166 1929 39 78 Daniel Dye (i) Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 166 030 36 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 166 731 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 166 1632 34 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 165 1333 19 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 165 1434 14 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 165 1235 25 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 165 236 40 44 Joey Gase (i) NY Racing Team Chevrolet 165 037 38 62 Casey Mears Beard Motorsports Chevrolet 165 138 28 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 154 139 15 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 154 140 2 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 151 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 41 among 22 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 4 for 23 Red flags: 0 Time of race: 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 58 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC covered the race on the television side. Leigh Diffey, 2000 Coke Zero 400 winner Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Kim Coon, and Marty Snider handled pit road, while Trevor Bayne provided analysis from the pace car for the television side.
NBCBooth announcersPit reportersPace car Lap-by-lap: Leigh DiffeyColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve Letarte Dave BurnsKim CoonMarty Snider Trevor Bayne
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley, and former championship crew chief Todd Gordon called the action for MRN when the field races thru the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the action for MRN from atop the Sunoco tower outside the exit of turn 2 when the field races thru turns 1 & 2. Kyle Rickey worked the Daytona Backstretch for MRN from a spotter's stand in the inside of the track. Tim Catalfamo worked the action for MRN when the field races thru turns 3 & 4. Pit road was operated by lead pit reporter Steve Post, Alex Weaver, and Chris Wilner.
MRN Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Mike BagleyAnnouncer: Todd Gordon Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyBackstretch: Kurt BeckerTurns 3 & 4: Tim Catalfamo Steve PostAlex WeaverChris Wilner
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings