Just one race remains between NASCAR’s best and the postseason. 14 winners punched their playoff ticket, with Austin Dillon adding his name to the list at Richmond. The regular season finale comes in the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where anyone can find Victory Lane.
Just two spots remain up for grabs. Can a new winner find their way to the finish line first, or will one of the previous winners from this season improve their playoff hopes courtesy of a momentum-capturing win in the final race of the regular season?
2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Entry List
NASCAR has a full lineup of 40 cars for this weekend. Xfinity Series regular Austin Hill will pilot the #33 for Richard Childress Racing. In the #44 car, Joey Gase will be behind the wheel. For the second time this season, Casey Mears makes a start as he pilots the #66, and finally, BJ McLeod makes another appearance in the #78.
The rest of the field remains unchanged from the usual lineup.
He was a winner on the high banks at @DAYTONA in 2018.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 22, 2025
A victory Saturday would send @Erik_Jones to the #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/yTqmfiYXTJ
The drafting tracks of Daytona and Talladega have seen a fuel mileage-dependent racing style that leads to packs of cars riding around the track at less than full throttle. Expect to see a relatively calm race up until the end of the race. Some drivers may push for more stage points, but I don’t think it’ll get too aggressive until the very end.
Playoff Picture Heading Into Daytona
As mentioned above, Austin Dillon won at Richmond for the second year in a row. This time, the win came without controversy, and Dillon finds himself in the postseason. The win pushed Chris Buescher below the cutline and put the #17 in a must-win position if he hopes to make the NASCAR playoffs.
- Denny Hamlin – Four Wins
- Shane Van Gisbergen – Four Wins
- Christopher Bell – Three Wins
- Kyle Larson – Three Wins
- William Byron – Two Wins
- Chase Elliott – One Win
- Ryan Blaney – One Win
- Chase Briscoe – One Win
- Bubba Wallace – One Win
- Joey Logano – One Win
- Ross Chastain – One Win
- Austin Cindric – One Win
- Josh Berry – One Win
- Austin Dillon – One Win
- Tyler Reddick +89
- Alex Bowman +60
The points as they run mean Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick are both in, should we get a repeat winner at Daytona. However, if the race ends with someone below the cutline in Victory Lane, that 29-point gap between Reddick and Bowman becomes massively important. I don’t think Bowman makes up that gap over the course of the race, so I’m penciling in Reddick for a guaranteed spot.
2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Race Predictions
The unpredictability of the drafting-style tracks has lessened a bit courtesy of the fuel mileage strategy. Expect the Penske and Hendrick teams to compete for the win when all is said and done.
All four of his career Cup Series victories have come on drafting tracks.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 21, 2025
A fifth Saturday would be at the perfect time for @StenhouseJr. pic.twitter.com/Vgk759riTM
Of the drivers below the cutline, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Michael McDowell strike me as the best at this style of track with the chance to win and get in the postseason. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a wild desperation move from someone like Carson Hocevar.
Ultimately, though, I think Penske gets it done at Daytona. I’m taking Joey Logano to win on Sunday and improve his spot in the NASCAR playoffs.
Check out the schedule below so you don’t miss any on-track action this weekend.
Friday 08/22
NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying – 2:00 p.m. CT on the CW App
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – 4:05 p.m. CT on TruTV
Wawa 250 (NASCAR Xfinity Series) – 6:30 p.m. CT on the CW
Saturday 08/23
Coke Zero Sugar 400 (NASCAR Cup Series) – 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC and HBO Max
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