The final race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season has arrived, and when looking at the prime Coke Zero Sugar 400 contenders at Daytona International Speedway, there are some specific names that stand out due to their track history, team strength, or in some cases, absolute desperation for a trip to victory lane since Daytona is their best opportunity. With only a few remaining playoff spots up for grabs, the pressure cooker of superspeedway drafting is set to explode under the lights.
Coke Zero Sugar 400 Contenders
Ryan Blaney: The Defending Race Winner
For Saturday night, Ryan Blaney sits at the absolute top of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 contenders list. The Team Penske driver is the defending summer race winner at Daytona, and his program is peaking at the perfect moment. Blaney just secured a thrilling victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, proving that his No. 12 Ford Mustang has elite speed.
Blaney has evolved into one of the most calculated drafters in the sport, knowing exactly when to form alliances and when to drop to the bottom line to block a run. With his strong position in the standings secure, Blaney can race with total freedom, making him an incredibly dangerous threat to go back-to-back at the World Center of Racing. Look for him and his Penske teammates to work together and be at the front of the field by the end of the night if they can survive “The Big One.”
Bubba Wallace: The Superspeedway Specialist
Bubba Wallace enters Daytona with massive momentum after pushing Blaney to the brink in a second-place finish at New Hampshire. Wallace is historically one of the cleanest, most efficient drivers on drafting tracks. He knows how to navigate the draft seamlessly, pulling his 23XI Racing Toyota into position whenever the pack thins out late.
Wallace holds a comfortable points cushion above the playoff cutline, needing just a couple of stage points to mathematically lock his spot in the postseason. However, Wallace does not play for safety at Daytona. He will be hunting for a checkered flag to carry some serious momentum into The Chase.
Tyler Reddick: The 2026 Daytona 500 Champ
As a frontrunner in the overall driver standings, Tyler Reddick has already punched his ticket into the postseason. Driving the No. 45 for 23XI Racing, Reddick has showcased blazing fast speed all season long, including taking the pole position just last week.
While Reddick suffered an early spin in his last outing, his superspeedway package remains incredibly strong. He can rely on the drafting help of his teammate Wallace, alongside his manufacturer alliances, to dictate the pace of the high-speed chess match. Reddick’s aggressive style suits the wide-open racing expected under this year’s technical rules package. Reddick will be looking for the Daytona sweep and is easily one of the top Coke Zero Sugar 400 contenders on Saturday night.
Chris Buescher: The Consistent Veteran
RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher officially locked up his spot in the 16-driver postseason field, taking the weight of point-racing off his shoulders. Buescher has an exceptional resume when it comes to pack racing, frequently surviving “The Big One” by executing precise lane choices and relying on the heavy, efficient blocking style of his team owner, Brad Keselowski.
With the postseason secured, Buescher can focus entirely on doing whatever it takes to win this race. RFK Racing needs a big performance this weekend, especially out of Ryan Preece, who is the first driver out of The Chase currently, so expect them to bring fast cars and try to collect as many stage points as they can all night. If all three RFK cars are near the front at the end, Buescher is the one that I trust to come out on top.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: The Wildcard Threat
No list of top Coke Zero Sugar 400 contenders is complete without Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who is a past Daytona 500 champion. Stenhouse is widely recognized as one of the most aggressive, fearless plate-track racers in NASCAR. He is fully willing to force three-wide windows and bump-draft through the corners where other drivers lift.
Because Daytona represents a true equalizer where smaller teams can out-maneuver powerhouse organizations, Stenhouse will be treating Saturday night like an all-or-nothing event. If he can survive the inevitable mid-race attrition, his car will be an absolute rocket ship in a green-white-checkered shootout.
Main Image: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
