NASCAR, Daytona, and the Fourth of July – a match made in heaven. While it doesn’t rival the motorsports buffet fans receive during Memorial Day weekend, this one hot night that many NASCAR fans wait for each year. And, for the first time since the days of Earnhardt, Petty, and Pearson, the race will be run on a Sunday night.
Here are your four to follow, the key storylines heading into the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
Speed, speed, speed!
The pure and unfiltered speed of NASCAR racing is always key in any weekend, but at no track is it more important than the restrictor plate tracks, Daytona and Talladega. Bring a fast car off the hauler on Friday to Daytona, and it will be an easy weekend. If the car is off even a hair though, you could be playing catch-up all the way to the checkered flag.
Desperation vs. Power
We’re halfway through the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, but more importantly only ten races to go before the playoffs – the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Ten drivers are locked into the Chase so far, which leaves only six spots remaining up for grabs among the desperate few. Where does the line cross at Daytona, where the desperate push the envelope, and make a move to secure their spot?
The Wild Cards
You cannot talk about Daytona and restrictor plate racing without talking about upset winners. Names like David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, Ward Burton, Aric Almirola, and Trevor Bayne come to mind when you think of surprise winners. Could someone else etch their name alongside these surprise winners at Daytona? Could it be a weekend to remember for a driver like David Gilliland, Alex Bowman, or Danica Patrick? They will need not only a fast car, but a little bit of luck.
The Return of NASCAR on NBC
While it may have no bearing on the action that unfolds on the track, the return of NASCAR racing to NBC Sports is worth mentioning. Racing fans will be keeping a watchful eye on the race this weekend, to see how the NBC family stacks up against the Fox Sports team, arguably the team that sets the bar for NASCAR coverage.
Be sure to watch this weekend’s NASCAR action, starting with live practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday on NBCSN. Then, catch the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the Subway Firecracker 250, Saturday night at 6:30 pm ET on NBCSN. And last but not least, the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona can be seen Sunday, July 5 at 7 pm ET on your local NBC station.
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