The Coke Zero Sugar 400 marked the final race of the regular season. (Photo Credit: Daytona International Speedway | Facebook)

Coke Zero Sugar 400

Ross Chastain and Chris Buescher secured the front row for the final race of the regular season. Pre-race, it was announced that Harrison Burton would fill in for Riley Herbst, who was dealing with “lingering effects” following a wreck at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Stage 1

NASCAR legend Mark Martin waved the green flag (which was a pretty MARvelous Move in and of itself!), and within two laps, Kyle Larson was contending for the lead. Shortly after, drivers were taking it three-wide while Chastain worked to block all three lanes. Lap 6 saw RFK Racing drivers swapping the lead.

Larson finally took the lead on Lap 10, but Austin Hill quickly took it from his Chevrolet teammate. At this point, the top six were single file, while the field was two-wide behind them.

The opening stage was short, and with two to go, Buescher worked his way back to the lead. However, coming to the green-white-checkered, the No. 17 was spun, allowing Shane Van Gisbergen to win the stage.

Stage 2

A mixed bag of pit strategy allowed for a shuffling of the field for the start of Stage 2. Joey Logano started out front, then Todd Gilliland stole the lead, followed by Hill doing the same.

Lap 50 saw Chase Briscoe steal the lead, and behind him, the field was two-wide throughout. In typical Daytona fashion, the lead changed shortly after as Chastain reclaimed the lead, and the intensity picked up a bit as drivers took it three-wide.

Zane Smith briefly took the lead, but Chase Elliott made wild moves to jump out front.

With 19 left in the stage, drivers worked to form a third lane. It failed, but in the process, Ryan Blaney worked his way to the lead, with teammate Austin Cindric on his bumper.

Cindric took 11 to go and the lead, but Elliott was working to reinsert himself into the conversation. He was unsuccessful, and it remained the Penske Show out front.

With five to go, the No. 9 was back in the lead, with a madhouse in his mirror. Blaney jumped out front for the final lap and secured the stage win.

Stage 3

Gilliland had the lead to start the final stage. He held his ground until Briscoe took over.

With 50 to go, Brad Keselowski and Cody Ware had made their way to the front. As Ware took the lead, it was a three-wide pack all through the field.

On Lap 121, green flag pit stops began, and with 32 to go, Elliott and William Byron pushed their way out front.

The rest of the field was attempting to make it the rest of the way without stopping. With 24 to go, the first 31 cars were within three seconds of the leader. Chastain, who took to the pits earlier, was running P32, nearly 20 seconds back.

With 17 to go, another group of Chevys made their pit stops, and Tyler Reddick sat P1. Six laps later, Smith staked his claim, but Preece was racing for his (Chase) life and took the lead.

Hocevar made his move with seven to go, but again, Preece took it back to the front. A lap later, Smith was leading when Hocevar crashed, collecting Erik Jones, bringing out the caution.

Following a lengthy clean-up, drivers faced NASCAR Overtime. Smith remained the leader next to Preece.

After taking the white flag, Smith and Preece made contact. This sent the No. 38 spinning and set off a chain reaction, and a caution – affording Preece the win and a spot in The Chase.

Rich MARvelous Move of the Race

The Rich MARvelous Move of the Race is voted on by the Pit Pass Network staff following the NASCAR Cup Series race.

It seemed all but over for the No. 60 team when Ryan Preece went for a spin on Lap 35 as the opening stage came to a close.

Oddly enough, he managed to finish the opening stage in P8 despite the spin.

But the team was truly “in it to win it.”

After leading just four laps throughout the entire race, Preece led one more – the most important one.

That one allowed him to win the race and secure the 16th and final spot in the Chase.

What move from the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will have you talking all week?

As always, we want to extend a huge thank you to Rich Mar Florist for their continued sponsorship of the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Make sure to give them a follow across social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) to stay up-to-date with all the Team Rich Mar NASCAR happenings! And check out their website for all your floral needs, no matter where you are located!