The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway with a packed track for the running of this week’s Coke Zero Sugar 400. A total of 40 drivers will navigate the course for 160 laps looking to capture the checkered flag in the final race ahead of NASCAR’s version of a playoff.
A new champion will be crowned with last year’s winner Harrison Burton now driving full time in the Xfinity Series. That opens the field with several drivers looking as threats according to the NASCAR odds. A total of 11 drivers boast opening odds of between 10/1 and 18/1. The green flag drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 23 with NBC providing television coverage.
NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Preview
Based on his recent performances on superspeedways Austin Cindric stands out as the early betting favorite. Since 2022 Cindric has two wins among six top 10s on a superspeedway. William Byron, also listed among the favorites, has a pair of superspeedway wins in the same time frame.
Byron won the Daytona 500 back in February, the first of two victories this season that elevated him to No. 1 in the NCS standings. Also among the favorites are Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski.
Coke Zero Sugar 400 Betting Odds
- Austin Cindric +1022
- Joey Logano +1023
- Chase Elliott +1126
- William Byron +1229
- Ryan Blaney +1394
- Kyle Busch +1512
- Brad Keselowski +1567
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr +1637
- Christopher Bell +1739
- Kyle Larson +1739
- Denny Hamlin +1771
- Tyler Reddick +2047
- Daniel Suarez +2047
- Chris Buescher +2175
- Bubba Wallace +2250
- Ryan Preece +2382
- Ross Chastain +2557
- Alex Bowman +2688
- Chase Briscoe +2864
- Josh Berry +3069
- Carson Hocevar +3580
- TY Gibbs +3825
- Michael McDowell +3902
All other drivers +4000 or higher
NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Top Contenders
Austin Cindric +1022
- Two of three career wins on super speedways, including 2022 Daytona 500.
- Currently 15th in the NCS standings.
- Fifth last week in Richmond, his best finish since winning at Talladega Superspeedway in April.
Ryan Blaney +1394
- Currently 5th in the NCS standings.
- Has four wins and 16 top 10s in his career on a superspeedway.
- Fifth last week in Richmond, his best finish since winning at Talladega Superspeedway in April.
- Won the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Denny Hamlin +1771
- Three-time Daytona 500 winner.
- Leads all active drivers with 11 top 5 finishes and has led the most laps on the Daytona track.
- Has a season-high four Cup Series wins.
- Currently five behinds out of second place in the NCS standings.
Austin Dillon +4089
- Two of six career wins at Daytona International Speedway.
- Had not finished higher than 7th in any race before winning last week in Richmond. Starting in the 11th position he led for 107 laps.
- Good value pick at his current price.
NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Predictions
There is pressure on drivers like Ty Gibbs, A.J. Allmendinger and Brad Keselowski to finish strong and crack the top 16 for the playoffs; also on Cindric and Kyle Busch to stay there. Byron and Hamlin are beasts on super speedway tracks and I can see Hamlin rebounding from last week’s late collision that dropped him into 10th place. If you’re looking for other ways to bet NASCAR other than the outright winner, check out this betting guide for more details.
