Brad Keselowski showed that if you are ahead of NASCAR‘s “Big One” at Daytona you will have the ability to win as he did in the Coke Zero 400.
Saturday night (7/2) the NASCAR Sprint Cup series took to the Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola for a scheduled 160 laps (4oo miles) of on the Fourth of July weekend. Under the lights of Daytona around half of the field found themselves with damaged cars following wrecks including one that would classify as the “Big One.” The Coke Zero was under the caution flag five times for a total of 28 laps including one late-race caution that added a 161st lap to the race.
Brad Keselowski found his way of avoiding being collected in the wrecks was to be ahead of them when they happened as he led a race-high 115 laps in the Coke Zero 400. Of course, the most important lap to lead is the final lap and Brad achieved that to score his third win of the 2016 Sprint Cup season.
Kyle Busch came across the finish line in second place with Trevor Bayne, Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finishing in third through fifth places respectively. See the complete race results for the Coke Zero 400 here.
Following the July 2nd race at Daytona, Kevin Harvick remains at the top of the point standings while Brad’s win moves him up two spots to second place. Kurth Busch gets pushed back a spot to third with Joey Logano moving up a place to fourth. Carl Edwards falls two spots, but remains in the top five in the point standings. See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.
The biggest change on the Chase Grid is that following his win at Sonoma a week ago, Tony Stewart has moved into the top 30 in points by three points following the Coke Zero 400. That makes his Chase eligible and gives him a spot on the grid in his final Sprint Cup season via his win. As long as Tony remains in the top 30 and there are not more than five new 2016 winners higher than him in the point standings in the final nine races of the regular season, he will have a chance to race for his fourth championship of his NASCAR Sprint Cup career. See the NASCAR Chase Grid here.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series heads to Kentucky Speedway next for another Saturday night under the lights in the Quaker State 400 July 9th.
By: Buck Stevens
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: A general view of the pre race ceremony prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/NASCAR via Getty Images)
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 Ford EcoBoost Ford, leads the grid past the green flag at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/NASCAR via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Greg Biffle
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 Ford EcoBoost Ford, and Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Subway Toyota, lead the field to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Greg Biffle;Carl Edwards
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, and Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch;Kurt Busch
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/NASCAR via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joey Logano
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: A general view of Daytona International Speedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/NASCAR via Getty Images)
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, leads the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, race in front of a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski;Kyle Busch
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/NASCAR via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, celebrates with a burnout after taking the checkered flag in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after taking the checkered flag in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski
- DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JULY 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Detroit Genuine Parts Ford, poses with the winner’s decal while holding daughter Scarlett in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 2, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Keselowski