Coke Zero Sugar 400: Ryan Blaney wins at Daytona in thrilling regular-season finale

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney went from 13th to first in the final two laps of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 to win the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.

The Team Penske driver led 27 laps (tied for race-high) en route to his second Cup Series victory at the “World Center of Racing,” which was also his second Cup Series victory of the 2025 season and his 15th career victory at NASCAR’s top level.

“It’s nice to be back,” Blaney said. “This is such a cool Victory Lane, looking up and seeing the ‘World Center of Racing.’ It’s something I’ll never forget when we won here in ‘21. It’s just a cool place to be, so it’s really special. When you can win at Daytona, Talladega, you never know what’s gonna happen at these places and you just try to do the best job you can and we did that tonight and was in a spot to win and was able to hang on.”

The No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford won in a four-wide finish, holding off multiple drivers (pictured below: Daniel Suárez, Justin Haley, Cole Custer, Erik Jones and Chris Buescher), who all needed a victory to qualify for a spot in the Cup Series Playoffs. The finish was the closest known top four in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Trackhouse Racing’s Suárez, who is in his final season with the team, finished just .031 seconds away from being the final car to lock into the postseason.

“We just needed one more spot,” Suárez said. “The No. 99 Coca-Cola Chevrolet team did a great job. We just probably needed to be in position a little bit earlier, but our Chevy was strong. We just lost a little bit of control in the final stage and that set us behind a little bit. The No. 12 (Ryan Blaney, race winner) was back there with us at one point. Overall, we had a good car all night, but it was just a little bit too late.”

Earlier in the day, Trackhouse officially announced that its development driver and JR Motorsports Xfinity Series regular Connor Zilisch will replace Suárez in the Cup Series in 2026. At this time, the 33-year-old from Mexico is still without a ride for next season.

Justin Haley, another driver with uncertainty surrounding him and his Cup Series future, finished in third, .036 seconds away from ending a 166-race winless streak and making the playoffs for the first time in his Cup career.

“When the No. 5 (Kyle Larson) put the No. 60 (Ryan Preece) three-wide, the pack lost momentum, and I got too far out,” Haley said. “By the time I realized it, I tried to check up, but then everyone came around me and I was just trying to find a lane. It was pretty tough, and obviously I don’t think the No. 5 wanted to push a new car to the win, so he was doing everything he could to win and that is respectable.”

Haas Factory Team’s Cole Custer was also a part of the four-wide finish, who was .049 seconds from ending an over 120-race winless streak and locking himself into the playoffs despite entering the race 34th in the standings. He ultimately finished fourth.

“Yeah, I mean, you’re definitely going to kick yourself and relive it and see what you could have done different,” Custer said. “I tried to stay with the No. 12 car cause I knew he had the momentum coming to the line from the top, so I wanted to stay with him but the No. 7 was able to get clear and then I had to go around him and get disconnected from the No. 12. Man, I thought we had it.”

This was Custer’s first top-five finish since his victory at Kentucky Speedway on July 12, 2020.

Results from the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway are listed below:

OTHER RACE FACTS

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs field is officially set for the final 10 weeks of the season.

1. Kyle Larson (2,032 points)
2. William Byron (2,032 points)
3. Denny Hamlin (2,029 points)
4. Ryan Blaney (2,026 points)
5. Christopher Bell (2,023 points)
6. Shane van Gisbergen (2,022 points)
7. Chase Elliott (2,013 points)
8. Chase Briscoe (2,010 points)
9. Bubba Wallace (2,008 points)
10. Austin Cindric (2,008 points)
11. Ross Chastain (2,007 points)
12. Joey Logano (2,007 points)
13. Josh Berry (2,006 points)
14. Tyler Reddick (2,006 points)
15. Austin Dillon (2,005 points)
16. Alex Bowman (2,002 points)

An early wreck in Stage 1 ended the day for many drivers.

Rick Ware Racing driver Cody Ware’s No. 51 Arby’s Ford was looking to play spoiler at Daytona International Speedway. Although he ended up 20th, he led 23 laps, which was more than he had ever led in his entire Cup Series career.

Despite an impressive season for RFK Racing lately, Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski all failed to make the Cup Series Playoffs. Both Preece and Buescher finished the regular season inside the top 15 in points. However, with 14 winners and two others making it into the postseason on points, they were left on the outside looking in.

Other notable drivers who missed the 2025 Cup Series Playoffs include Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series Champion, and Ty Gibbs, the 2023 Cup Series Rookie of the Year.

 

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