As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series heads into its 26th and final regular season race, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, 14 of the 16 playoff positions have been secured. These spots have been claimed by drivers who have won races between the season opener at Daytona and the recent Richmond Raceway event, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the regular season.
Currently, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing and Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports hold the provisional playoff positions based on points. Both are expected to advance as long as no new winners emerge during Saturday’s 160-lap event on the 2.5-mile high-banked oval. However, if a new winner does arise, the playoff spot will go to the higher-ranked driver between Reddick and Bowman, with Reddick entering the race 29 points ahead.
Starting Lineup and Race Conditions
Ryan Blaney from Team Penske earned the pole position for the race through the qualifying metric system after a weather cancellation of Friday’s qualifying session. Alex Bowman will start alongside Blaney on the front row. The entire starting lineup was adjusted accordingly to these circumstances, adding to the anticipation for the night’s competition.
Live Race Coverage and Future Events
Fans can follow real-time updates of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 as the event unfolds. Looking ahead, USA Network will broadcast the playoff opener, the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, scheduled for Sunday, August 31, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET. Viewers are encouraged to begin a free trial of FuboTV to catch this race along with the full postseason schedule of nine events.
