Qualifying Results : Daytona International Speedway
Coke Zero Sugar 400
Daytona International Speedway , Daytona Beach, FL
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- Daytona International Speedway
- Coke Zero Sugar 400
- Busch Pole Award Pole Winner: Ross Chastain
- Age: 33
- Team : No 1 - Wendy's Watermelon Lemonade Chevrolet
- Owner: Justin Marks
- Crew Chief: Brandon McSwain
- Ross Chastain won the Pole Award for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with a lap of 48808 seconds, 184396 mph
- This is his third pole in 285 NASCAR Cup Series races
- This is his first pole and eighth top-10 start in 2026
- This is his first pole in 17 races at Daytona International Speedway
- Chris Buescher (second) posted his 12th top-10 start of 2026 and his fifth in 22 races at Daytona International Speedway
- Austin Hill (third) posted his first top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway It is his second in 16 races this season
- Connor Zilisch (seventh) was the fastest qualifying rookie
- Drivers Entered: 41 (1 drivers will not make the race)
- Laps Scheduled: 160
- Laps Actual: 166 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
- Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds
- Time of Race: 2 Hours 40 Minutes 58 Seconds
- Average Speed: 154.690
- Cautions: 4 for 23 laps
- Lead Changes: 41
- Green Flag Passes: 11,427 (79.9 passes per green flag lap)
- Daytona International Speedway
- Coke Zero Sugar 400
- Race Winner: Ryan Preece
- Age: 35
- Team : No 60 - Kroger/OIKOS Ford
- Owner: John Henry
- Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
- Ryan Preece won the Coke Zero Sugar 400, his first victory in 249 Cup Series races
- This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2026
- This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 14 races at Daytona International Speedway
- Daniel Suarez (second) posted his third top-10 finish in 19 races at Daytona International Speedway It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2026
- Tyler Reddick (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in 15 races at Daytona International Speedway
- Connor Zilisch (25th) was the highest finishing rookie
- Denny Hamlin leads the point standings by 89 points over Ryan Blaney
Qualifying Round 1
Round 1 of NASCAR Cup Series qualifying splits drivers into two groups, with the fastest five from each advancing to the pole round. This initial round is critical as it determines the drivers competing for the top 10 starting positions.
Qualifying Round 2
In Round 2 of qualifying, the ten fastest drivers from the first round battle for the pole position, where the best time secures the top start. This final round is pivotal in setting the top positions for the race, with track conditions influencing the outcomes.