2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400

Background

The race was held at Daytona International Speedway, a race track located in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, the track is the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. It features multiple layouts including the primary 2.5 miles (4.0 km) high speed tri-oval, a 3.56 miles (5.73 km) sports car course, a 2.95 miles (4.75 km) motorcycle course, and a .25 miles (0.40 km) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France, Sr. to host racing held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998 and today, it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved twice — in 1978 and in 2010. On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5 of that year, ground was broken for a project that would remove the backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway is being worked on by Rossetti Architects. The project, named "Daytona Rising", was completed in January 2016, and it cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors") as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations, the track's grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000.^[4][5] The project was completed before the start of Speedweeks.

Television

NBC Sports will cover the race on the television side. Leigh Diffey, 2000 Coke Zero 400 winner Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will call the race from the broadcast booth. Reporters TBA will handle the pit road duties from pit lane.

Radio

MRN will have the radio call for the race, which will also be simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley, and former championship crew chief Todd Gordon will call the action for MRN when the field races thru the front straightaway. Dave Moody will call the action for MRN from atop the Sunoco tower outside the exit of turn 2 when the field races thru turns 1 & 2. Kyle Rickey will work the Daytona Backstretch for MRN from a spotter's stand in the inside of the track. Tim Catalfamo will work the action for MRN when the field races thru turns 3 & 4. Pit road will be operated by lead pit reporter Steve Post, Brienne Pedigo, and Chris Wilner.