DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – AUGUST 29: Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 Kroger/OIKOS Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 29, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Ryan Preece storms into the NASCAR Cup Series Chase with his first career win at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday in the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Short on fuel in the late going, but with no dearth of tenacity, Ryan Preece won Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in overtime to force his way into the NASCAR Cup Series Chase.
Daytona Drama: Five Drivers, Three Spots, One Last Chance—Who races into the 2026 Chase in the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale?
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway to end its regular season, the Chase picture is nearly complete with five drivers fighting for three spots in the 16-car field.
LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – AUGUST 23: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on August 23, 2026, in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Ryan Blaney goes back-to-back with a NASCAR Cup Series win at New Hampshire; Denny Hamlin secures No. 1 Chase seedin the Dollar Tree 301.
LOUDON, N.H. – Under varying weather conditions, a rain delay, 40 laps driving on wet weather tires and then the race slowed nine times for caution flags before the bright sun emerged for the final run to the checkered flag, Ryan Blaney proved himself best again at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, hoisting his second consecutive giant lobster in Victory Lane and just as importantly making a bold statement about his Penske team’s intent to surge into the Chase an absolute championship favorite.