Start your engines! One of Daytona Beach’s most exciting summer traditions returns when the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Weekend takes over Daytona International Speedway on August 28–29, 2026.
This year’s race weekend brings an additional element of excitement. NASCAR has announced significant changes to the Cup Series superspeedway package that will debut during the Coke Zero Sugar 400. The updates are designed to create more opportunities for passing, reduce fuel-saving strategies and give drivers more freedom to make moves through the field.
Combine these changes with the pressure of the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Finale, and fans could be in for one of the most thrilling races of the year.
Friday Night: Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola
The weekend begins Friday, August 28, with the Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will take on Daytona’s legendary high banks beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Fans can expect tightly packed racing, dramatic lead changes and plenty of unpredictability as rising stars and experienced drivers battle under the lights at the World Center of Racing.
New NASCAR Rules Could Change the Racing at Daytona
When NASCAR Cup Series drivers take the green flag Saturday night, their cars will feature a revised superspeedway package created specifically to improve the competition at Daytona.
The rear spoiler will be shortened from seven inches to four inches, reducing aerodynamic drag and making it easier for a driver to build momentum and attempt a pass. Horsepower will also be adjusted from 510 to 465 to compensate for the reduction in downforce.
Although the reduction in horsepower may sound as though it would make the cars slower, NASCAR anticipates that a car running by itself could be approximately three miles per hour faster because of the reduced drag. Speeds within the tightly grouped racing pack are expected to remain relatively similar.
The most noticeable change for fans may be how the drivers race one another. NASCAR hopes the revised package will allow drivers to create more runs, move through traffic and compete for positions instead of relying as heavily on fuel-saving strategies.
Three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin was part of the working group that helped develop the updates. Hamlin explained that the goal is to bring some of the constant movement and aggressive racing seen at Atlanta to the larger Daytona and Talladega superspeedways.
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will be the first race to use the new package. NASCAR will evaluate the results before determining whether the changes will also be used at future superspeedway races. That makes this year’s event a particularly intriguing one for race fans: no one knows exactly how the new rules will affect the action until the cars take to Daytona’s high banks.
Learn more about the changes from the official NASCAR announcement.
Saturday Night: Coke Zero Sugar 400
The main event begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, when the NASCAR Cup Series returns for the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Drivers will compete for 400 miles around Daytona International Speedway’s famous 2.5-mile superspeedway. As the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, it represents the last opportunity for drivers to secure their place in the NASCAR Playoffs.
With playoff hopes on the line and a new racing package making its debut, every lap will matter. Drivers still searching for a postseason berth may have no choice but to make bold moves, creating the potential for an unforgettable finish.
The atmosphere will begin building well before the green flag. Fans who purchase Hard Rock Bet Fanzone and Pre-Race Access can get closer to the action and enjoy a live pre-race concert featuring country music duo LOCASH.
2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Weekend Schedule
Friday, August 28
Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Race begins at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 29
Coke Zero Sugar 400
NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Finale
Race begins at 7:30 p.m.
Event times and activities are subject to change. Visit the official Daytona International Speedway website for tickets and the latest schedule.
Turn Race Weekend Into a Daytona Beach Getaway
There is nothing quite like hearing the roar of the engines at Daytona International Speedway—and race weekend is even better when you can pair it with time at the beach.
Max Beach Resort offers spacious condo-style accommodations with full kitchens, private terraces, washers and dryers and plenty of room to relax. Guests can also enjoy direct beach access, an oceanfront pool, Venn Bar Beachside Eatery and beautiful Atlantic Ocean views before and after the races.
Our two-bedroom residences sleep up to six guests, while our three-bedroom residences accommodate up to eight, making Max Beach Resort a comfortable home base for families and groups of race fans.
Pack your race gear, bring your beachwear and prepare for two thrilling nights at the World Center of Racing. With new rules, potential for more passing and the final playoff spots on the line, the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Weekend could deliver some of Daytona’s most exciting racing yet.
Photo courtesy of Daytona International Speedway
