The NASCAR Cup Series closes its regular season Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, where the Coke Zero Sugar 400 doubles as the sport’s most unpredictable playoff cutoff race. The green flag flies at 7:47 p.m. ET on NBC, and 40 cars will draft three-wide across the 2.5-mile superspeedway with postseason berths still on the line. Ross Chastain starts from the pole, but that rarely survives the first pack shuffle here. Below we break down the full odds board and lay out our best bets, from the outright winner pick to a pair of long shots.
Last Updated: Saturday, August 29, 2026
2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL |
| When | Saturday, August 29 – 7:47 PM ET |
| TV | NBC |
2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Betting Preview
Daytona is a 2.5-mile superspeedway, and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 runs 160 laps for 400 miles with stage breaks at Lap 35 and Lap 95. The style of racing makes it a handicapping nightmare. Drafting bunches the field nose-to-tail, and one blocking mistake can trigger “the Big One” and collect a dozen contenders at once. Chastain won the pole at 48.808 seconds, with Chris Buescher second and Austin Hill third, but qualifying speed means little once the draft takes over. This finale also sets the 16-driver playoff field, and any driver below the cut line can punch a ticket with a win.
The board is bunched as tightly as the draft. Penske teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney sit atop the market as co-favorites at +1000, with Logano fresh off a Richmond win and Blaney the defending race champion who also won this month at New Hampshire. Our odds preview had Blaney out front when the board opened, and Logano has since drawn even. Six drivers are jammed at +1600, including February’s Daytona 500 winner and two bubble drivers. Bubba Wallace needs only two points to clinch and Austin Cindric is still chasing the cut, so closing action should swirl around drivers who could win and clinch the same night.
2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 — Top Odds to Win
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joey Logano | +1000 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1000 |
| Austin Cindric | +1600 |
| Bubba Wallace | +1600 |
| Chase Elliott | +1600 |
| Chris Buescher | +1600 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1600 |
| William Byron | +1600 |
| Carson Hocevar | +1800 |
| Christopher Bell | +1800 |
Odds accurate as of Saturday, August 29, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NASCAR Odds – Props
2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Best Bets
Tyler Reddick (+1600) is our pick to win, and the handicapping gets us there ahead of the Penske co-favorites. Reddick won the Daytona 500 in February on this exact layout, and he is the most prolific winner in the Cup Series this season, with victories from the Atlanta drafting track to COTA, Darlington, and Kansas. That mix of superspeedway proof and current form is why we take him at +1600 over either Penske Ford at +1000.
The value is the argument. An extra point of price on a driver who has already won at Daytona this year is a real edge in a race that plays close to a coin flip. Reddick does not need to lead early, only to be in the top five when the white flag waves. The case against is the case against any Daytona pick. He rolls off 16th, buried where the Big One erupts, and 23XI cannot marshal the three-car bloc Penske uses to steer the draft. One wreck ends the night, but +1600 pays fairly for that risk.
Coke Zero Sugar 400 Predictions Mid-Tier Value Plays
Ross Chastain (+3000) earns a look off the pole. Starting up front is not decisive at Daytona, but it hands Chastain clean air, first pit selection, and a chance to steer the front rather than fight through it. His Trackhouse Chevrolet has the speed to stay near the point. The risk is his own aggression, which can start a wreck as easily as win a race, and Chevrolet’s drafting help is scattered across teams that do not always cooperate. At 30-1, the pole sitter is a fair swing.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+3300) is a pure superspeedway specialist, and this is the one track type where his price undersells him. Stenhouse won the 2023 Daytona 500 and ran near the front again in February. Plate racing is where his instincts shine, and he knows how to hang in the draft for the closing sprint. The knock is resources. His team is thinner than the Penske and Hendrick blocs, so he needs partners to fall his way late. That help shows up at Daytona more often than 33-1 suggests.
Long Shot Picks for The 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400
Michael McDowell (+4000) is the kind of long shot who wins these races. He captured the 2021 Daytona 500 and remains one of the best qualifiers and racers on the superspeedways. The path is believable: draft forward, stay clean through the wrecks, and pounce when the leaders start blocking. What has to break right is equipment and luck. His cars have run inconsistently week to week, and he must survive a race that historically wipes out half the field. At 40-1, that is a swing worth taking.
Daniel Suarez (+4000) nearly won this exact race a year ago, finishing second in the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400. His Trackhouse Chevrolet drafts well, and a victory here would shock the board while potentially stealing a playoff spot. He has the craft to be there at the end, which is all a long shot needs at Daytona. The reason he sits at 40-1 is form, as Trackhouse has been uneven this season. Give him a clean run to the final 10 laps, though, and he is a genuine threat.
The Last Word on the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400
Everything about the Coke Zero Sugar 400 points to a wild night, which is why the handicapping favors survival and value over the short-priced chalk. Watch the stage breaks, because the bubble drivers will scrap for every point at Lap 35 and Lap 95, and that shapes how aggressively the front races. Watch the drafting alliances, too, since the driver with the best pushing partner over the closing laps usually reaches Victory Lane. The timing of the inevitable Big One does the rest. Tyler Reddick has proven he can win here, and Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell, and Daniel Suarez each offer a different way to attack the board. At Daytona, the last lap matters far more than the first.
NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 FAQ: Saturday August 29, 2026
Who is the favorite to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400?
Penske teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are the co-favorites at +1000 apiece. Blaney is the defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 winner, while Logano arrives off a recent Richmond victory. Six drivers follow at +1600 on the current board.
What time does the Coke Zero Sugar 400 start?
The green flag is scheduled for 7:47 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway. NBC pre-race coverage begins earlier in the evening ahead of the regular-season finale.
What channel is the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on?
The 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 airs on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock. The race caps the NASCAR Cup Series regular season at Daytona on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
How many laps is the Coke Zero Sugar 400?
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is 160 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, totaling 400 miles. The race is split into stages ending on Lap 35 and Lap 95.
Who won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 last year?
Ryan Blaney won the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on August 23, 2025. Daniel Suarez finished second and Justin Haley placed third. Blaney returns in 2026 as the defending champion.
Who is on the pole for the Coke Zero Sugar 400?
Ross Chastain won the pole for the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 with a lap of 48.808 seconds. Chris Buescher qualified second and Austin Hill starts third. Pole position rarely decides a Daytona superspeedway race.