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The NASCAR Cup Series regular season is coming to an end, and all eyes will be on Daytona with just one driver playoff spot remaining.
Any driver currently in the top 30 in points without a win can lock up that last spot by taking the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday. Should a playoff driver or a driver not eligible for the playoffs claim first place, then two drivers could grab the final spot on points: Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon.
The two Richard Childress Racing teammates are neck and neck in the standings, with Reddick holding the slight edge, 677-652. If the race comes down to the wire, expect to see these drivers battle it out with the stakes so high.
Sporting News is tracking live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from NASCAR’s race at Daytona on Saturday night. Follow below for complete results from the Coke Zero Sugar 400
MORE: Watch today’s NASCAR race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NASCAR at Daytona live updates, highlights from Coke Zero Sugar 400
7:33 p.m.: Drivers have started their engines.
7:26 p.m.: Time for the singing of the national anthem.
7:14 p.m.: The cars are lined up on the grid. Just under a half hour until the start of the race.
7:08 p.m.: The final list of cars moving to the rear after inspections tonight. Add Kaz Grala to that list.
No last-minute cars to the rear from engine checks … Larson McDowel Alfredo Gase LaJoie Allmendinger to the rear.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 28, 2021
7:04 p.m.: A lot on the line tonight for Tyler Reddick, who is feeling ready for the big race.
6:45 p.m.: Three drivers, including NASCAR Cup Series leader Kyle Larson, will start in the back of the race after their cars failed pre-race inspection. Larson is still credited as the polesitter for the race.
Kyle Larson, Anthony Alfredo, and Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell are moving to the rear of the field for tonight’s race.
All three cars failed inspection. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/fA9cyVGuj6
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 28, 2021
NASCAR start time today
- Time: 7 p.m. ET (TV time)
- TV channel: NBC (TSN5 in Canada)
- Live stream: NBCSports.com | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
The green flag for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race on Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval is scheduled to drop at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Because it’s Daytona in the summer, there is a chance that weather will be a factor. The National Weather Service’s forecast for Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla., is for partly sunny skies and a high temperature near 90 degrees during the day, followed by cloudy skies and a low temperature in the high 70s at night. There is the usual chance for showers and thunderstorms. The weather service puts the chances for precipitation at 30 percent during the day and 20 percent at night.
MORE: How the final playoff spot will be decided at Daytona
NASCAR starting lineup at Daytona
Here is the complete NASCAR starting lineup for Saturday’s race at Daytona International Speedway, the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Start pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
1 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
2 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
3 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
4 | Kyle Busch | 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
5 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
6 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
8 | Kurt Busch | 1 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
9 | Matt DiBenedetto | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
10 | Brad Keselowski | 2 | Team Penske |
11 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
12 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
13 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Racing |
14 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
15 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
16 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
17 | Tyler Reddick | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
18 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
19 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
20 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
21 | Erik Jones | 43 | Richard Petty Motorsports |
22 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
23 | Ryan Newman | 6 | Roush Fenway Racing |
24 | Ryan Preece | 37 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
25 | Cole Custer | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
26 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing |
27 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
28 | Justin Haley | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
29 | Ross Chastain | 42 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
30 | BJ McLeod | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports |
31 | Cody Ware | 51 | Petty Ware Racing |
32 | Anthony Alfredo | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
33 | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
34 | Garrett Smithley | 53 | Rick Ware Racing |
35 | Quin Houff | 00 | StarCom Racing |
36 | Josh Bilicki | 52 | Rick Ware Racing |
37 | Joey Gase | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
38 | Kaz Grala | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
39 | Landon Cassill | 96 | Gaunt Brothers Racing |
40 | David Starr | 66 | Motorsports Business Management |