WHY IS NASCAR AT DAYTONA TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY? SHIFT FROM SUNDAY EXPLAINED
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona on Saturday, with just two weeks left of the 2024 regular season.
Twelve drivers have booked their place in the playoffs this year with race wins: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, and Austin Cindric.
Austin Dillon had his playoff birth stripped from him last week following a controversial finish to the Auto Parts 400, where he took out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on his way to taking the chequered flag.
The 2024 season now heads back to Daytona International Speedway - where it started the season - for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and it'll be a Saturday race.
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Why is Sunday's race on Saturday?
The reason for this weekend's race at Daytona being held on Saturday is to give the Cup Series race a Prime Time evening slot. It is expected that Saturday's race will draw a larger television audience than it would on a typical Sunday schedule.
What time is the Coke Zero Sugar 400?
- Friday qualifying - 5:05 p.m.: Qualifying for Coke Zero Sugar 400 Cup Series race (TV: USA).
- Saturday race - 7:30 p.m.: Coke Zero Sugar 400 (TV: USA).
Who's still in playoff contention?
Only 16 drivers will make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. With two races to go, the below top three will currently make the playoffs should nobody outside of the 12 automatically-qualified, win.
Wild Card playoff points standings:
- 13. Martin Truex Jr. (+77 ahead of Wallace)
- 14. Ty Gibbs (+39)
- 15. Chris Buescher (+16)
- 16. Ross Chastain (+1)
- 17. Bubba Wallace (-1 behind Chastain)
- 18. Kyle Busch (-93)
- 19. Chase Briscoe (-115)
- 20. Todd Gilliland (-151)
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Who won last time?
Tyler Reddick took the chequered flag in Michigan for the FireKeepers Casino 400. It was the 23XI Racing driver's second win of the 2024 season and he now sits top of the regular season charts.
The team is co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and his Cup Series rival, Denny Hamlin. "It's been a really fun year from that aspect this year, watching us climb up through the rankings and the points standings, if you will, continue to have really solid races," Reddick said.
"I think we've done just a good job of taking what the days will give us and getting good finishes out of it, not making critical mistakes," he added. "Over his career, what he brings to the table to motivate us, something that you can't buy. It's a great asset for us to have," Reddick said of Jordan.
Cup Series standings - 24/26 races
- Kyle Larson - (4 wins, 782)
- Denny Hamlin - (3 wins, 786)
- William Byron - (3 wins, 728)
- Christopher Bell - (3 wins, 703)
- Tyler Reddick - (2 wins, 814)
- Ryan Blaney - (2 wins, 732)
- Chase Elliott - (1 win, 804)
- Brad Keselowski - (1 win, 677)
- Alex Bowman - (1 win, 627)
- Joey Logano - (1 win, 561)
- Daniel Suarez - (1 win, 526)
- Austin Cindric - (1 win, 460)
- Martin Truex Jr. - 682
- Ty Gibbs - 644
- Chris Buescher - 621
- Ross Chastain - 606 (NASCAR Cup Series playoffs cut-off)
- Bubba Wallace - 605
- Kyle Busch - 513
- Chase Briscoe - 491
- Todd Gilliland - 455
- Michael McDowell - 449
- Carson Hocevar - 441
- Josh Berry - 427
- Noah Gragson - 425
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - 400
- Ryan Preece - 367
- Erik Jones - 361
- Justin Haley - 346
- Austin Dillon - 345
- Daniel Hemric - 337
- Corey LaJoie - 332
- John Hunter Nemechek - 321
- Zane Smith - 292
- Harrison Burton - 266
- Kaz Grala - 166
- Cody Ware - 65
- Joey Hand - 43
- Jimmie Johnson - 39
- Derek Kraus - 32
- David Ragan - 17