Harrison Burton survived throughout the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway to be there at the end to score a historic win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
When the Cup Series races at the super speedways like Daytona, there is always pack racing in the draft and wondering when the “big one” will happen. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 had both of those along with a lot of exciting racing.
There were 16 drivers that exchanged the lead of the 40 times. Josh Berry was able to claim the win in stage one. Joey Logano led the most laps during the race (34) and was able to win stage two.
There were seven caution periods during the race including the two for ends of the first two stages. Two of those cautions would classify as a “big one” where the total of cars involved were in the double digits. In fact, near the end of the race the TV commentators observed there were only six cars that had NOT been involved in some kind of crash.
When the seventh and final caution flag waived, it sent the race into a NASCAR overtime of a green-white-checkered finish. Kyle Busch was the control car for the restart on the inside of the front row with Harrison Burton on the outside next to him. Kyle was able to race out to the lead when the green flag waived and hold that lead for most of the final two laps of the race.
However, the front of the field remained side-by-side, two-wide through the first five or six rows during those laps. Parker Retzlaff pushed Harrison Burton out to the lead going down the backstretch on the last lap of the race. Harrison was able to drop down and block Kyle Busch as they race through the final turns of the race. Harrison held the lead to cross the finish line as the leader of the race on the only lap he led (and the only lap that really mattered in the race).
This was Harrison Burton’s first win in the NASCAR Cup Series. It also gave Wood Brothers Racing their 100th win in NASCAR’s top division. The team has been a part of NASCAR from the very beginning and is one of the legendary racing teams and families. See the complete race results for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 here.
The win does two things for Harrison. First, it puts him in the playoffs with a chance to win the championship. Second, it puts a spotlight on himself as he looks for a ride for the 2025 season. It was announced earlier this season that Josh Berry would be taking over the #21 car for Wood Brothers Racing in 2025.
Following the race at Daytona, Tyler Reddick remains the leader in the point standings. Kyle Larson moves up a spot at second-place. Chase Elliott slips back a spot to third. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
There is only one race remaining before the NASCAR Playoffs begin. There are 13 of the 16 spots for the playoffs filled by drivers without at least one win. That leaves three spots currently filled based on points. Those three drivers above the cut line are Martin Truex Jr. (+58), Ty Gibs (+39) and Chris Buescher (+21). Just below the cut line are Bubba Wallace (-21) and Ros Chastain (-27).
The last race to gain enough points to make the playoffs or “win to get in” will be this Sunday, September 1st. That race is the Cook Out Southern 500. Drivers will have 500 miles (367 laps) around Darlington Raceway, also known as “The Lady in Black” to earn the points or the win to make the playoffs.
By: Buck Stevens
