Mother Nature Forces Coke Zero Sugar 400 To Sunday Morning

By Jerry Jordan, Editor

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Mother Nature won out over the NASCAR track drying crews as continuous rain made it impossible to prepare the track for Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400. NASCAR officials called the race at 8:10 p.m. EST, announcing to the thousands in attendance that gates will open Sunday at 8 a.m. EST. The parking lots will open at 7 a.m. EST.

Asked about the differences of racing Saturday night or Sunday morning because of rain, Kyle Larson said, “Yeah, good question, I am not sure. This place, the handling will be more of a factor for sure during the day than at night. I mean just the whole track is slicker, but I feel like turn four gets really tight. So, I don’t know and I don’t remember us being on track earlier this year with the sun out.  In Talladega, handling is not a big deal there. The cars drove really good there gripped up. So, yeah, I am sure it will play a factor as it always does. As far as the race, I am not really sure.”

When the green flag falls Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. will be battling each other for the final two spots in the NASCAR Playoffs, If Blaney wins, then Truex gets in the playoffs. Likewise, if Truex wins then Blaney is also in the playoffs. However, the curveball is if one of the 13 drivers in the Top 30 who hasn’t won yet wins the race, then Truex would be out unless he can make up a 25-point deficit over Blaney.

“We’re here to race and excited and two scenarios, one we get in on points, or we win the race,” Truex said. “That will be optimum because of the points situations.”

The CNBC Network will broadcast the race live at 10 a.m. EST. Radio coverage will be provided by MRN and broadcast on its affiliates, as well as, on SIRIUSXM NASCAR.

• Grandstand tickets for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will be honored.
• Parking lots will open Sunday at 7 a.m. ET with Free Parking available in Lots 3 and 6 (Lot 7 will not be open). All Saturday parking passes will be honored tomorrow.
• Grandstand admission gates and the UNOH Fanzone open at 8 a.m.
• Great tickets are still available for the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
• The race will be shown LIVE on CNBC.

Starting Lineup For The Coke Zero Sugar 400 At Daytona