William Byron started the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Saturday night (8/29) at Daytona International Speedway with the goal of making the NASCAR post-season. He could do it by points alone, but winning would be a slam dunk.
Before the green flag dropped William, Jimmie Johnson and Matt DiBenedetto were all within nine points of each other on the bubble for the Playoffs. Two of the three could make the post-season without winning provided there was a repeat winner or a driver already clinched by points won the race.
The first two stages of the race were pretty tame as far as on track incidents. The only caution periods were the competition caution and the caution periods at the end of each stage. Joey Logano appeared to be the car to beat winning both the first and second stages of the race. He also led a race high 36 laps. There was plenty of hard racing action as 16 drivers exchanged the lead 34 times.
The third and final stage of the race was the most eventful having three caution periods to double the race total. The final two cautions were versions of the “Big One.” The fifth caution involved 10 cars and an 00:10:13 red flag. The sixth and final caution involved 11 cars, a 00:05:34 red flag and put the race in the NASCAR green-white-checkered finish.
When the green flag waived to restart the race William Byron got pushed to lead. He held that lead for the last lap and a half to claim his first career NASCAR Cup Series win. He didn’t have to win the make the playoffs, but the win was the strongest way he could clinch his berth in the post-season.
Chase Elliott took home a runner-up finish. Denny Hamlin finished in third place. Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five respectively. See the complete race results for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 here.
Matt DiBenedetto claimed the final spot in the NASCAR post-season. Jimmie Johnson just missed the Playoffs by a handful of points in his final full-time season. You can see the complete NASCAR Cup Series point standings heading to the Playoffs here.
Next week the 16 drivers in the post-season begin their quest for the championship in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway Sunday, September 6th.
By: Buck Stevens
