The 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 28, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Contested over 165 laps—extended from 160 laps due to an overtime finish, on the superspeedway, it was the 26th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the final race of the regular season before the playoffs.
Ryan Blaney won an incident-filled race in overtime, while Tyler Reddick, who finished in fifth place, secured the final spot in the playoffs.
Report
Background
The race was held at Daytona International Speedway, a race track located in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since its opening in 1959, the track has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross races. It features multiple layouts including the primary high speed tri-oval, a sports car course, a motorcycle course, and a karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's infield includes the Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998 and today, it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved twice — in 1978 and in 2010.
On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5 of that year, ground was broken for a project that would remove the backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway was done by Rossetti Architects. The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, at a cost of US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors") as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations, the track's grandstands included 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000. The project was completed before the start of Speedweeks.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 16 Kaz Grala (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 66 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Ford 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 96 Landon Cassill (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team ChevroletOfficial entry list
Qualifying Kyle Larson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 7 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 9 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 10 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 12 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 13 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 14 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 16 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 17 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 18 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 20 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 21 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 22 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 24 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 25 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 26 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 27 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 28 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 29 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 30 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 31 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 32 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 33 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 34 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 35 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 36 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 37 15 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 38 16 Kaz Grala (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 39 96 Landon Cassill (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 40 66 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports FordOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 102 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 93 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 75 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 66 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 57 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 48 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 39 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 210 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 50
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 102 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 93 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 75 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 66 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 57 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 39 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 210 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 60
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 6 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 165 452 20 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 165 373 23 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 165 344 24 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 165 355 17 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 165 396 28 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 165 07 15 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 165 308 5 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 165 399 30 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 165 010 36 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 165 2711 21 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 165 2612 8 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 165 2513 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 165 3314 19 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 165 2315 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 165 2216 33 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 164 2517 27 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 164 3418 29 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 164 2619 26 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 164 1820 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 164 2321 16 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 164 1622 12 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 164 1923 22 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 164 2724 25 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 164 1325 9 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 164 1226 32 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 163 1127 40 66 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Ford 163 028 31 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 163 029 7 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 163 1430 34 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 163 031 37 15 Joey Gase (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 162 032 14 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 157 733 10 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 156 434 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 156 1435 38 16 Kaz Grala (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 156 036 39 96 Landon Cassill (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 146 037 2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 146 938 35 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 136 139 18 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 23 1DSQ 13 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 165 1Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 45 among 15 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 8 for 31 Red flags: 1 for 14 minutes and 51 seconds Time of race: 2 hours, 54 minutes and 3 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, 2000 Coke Zero 400 winner Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and two-time Coke Zero 400 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. called the race from the broadcast booth. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
NBCBooth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Rick AllenColor-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve LetarteColor-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dave BurnsParker KligermanMarty Snider
Radio MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.
MRN RadioBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Jeff Striegle Turns 1 & 2: Dave MoodyBackstretch: Mike BagleyTurns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey Steve PostHannah Newhouse
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings after Playoffs reset Pos Driver Points 1 Kyle Larson 2,052 5 2 Ryan Blaney 2,024 (–28) 3 3 Martin Truex Jr. 2,024 (–28) 1 4 Kyle Busch 2,022 (–30) 5 Chase Elliott 2,021 (–31) 6 6 Alex Bowman 2,015 (–37) 5 7 Denny Hamlin 2,015 (–37) 4 8 William Byron 2,014 (–38) 1 9 Joey Logano 2,013 (–39) 10 Brad Keselowski 2,008 (–44) 3 11 Kurt Busch 2,008 (–44) 3 12 Christopher Bell 2,005 (–47) 6 13 Michael McDowell 2,005 (–47) 9 14 Aric Almirola 2,005 (–47) 4 15 Tyler Reddick 2,003 (–49) 7 16 Kevin Harvick 2,002 (–50)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 960 2 Ford 902 (–58) 3 Toyota 880 (–80)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes
References