Venue | Daytona International Speedway |
---|---|
Location | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States |
Corporate sponsor |
Coca-Cola Zero The Coca-Cola Company |
First race | 1959 |
Distance | 400 miles (640 km) |
Laps | 160 |
Previous names |
Firecracker 250 (1959–1962) Firecracker 400 (1963–1968, 1970, 1972, 1974–1984, 1986) Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (1969, 1971, 1973) Pepsi Firecracker 400 (1985, 1987–1988) Pepsi 400 (1989–2007) Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola (2008–present) |
Most wins (driver) | David Pearson (5) |
Most wins (team) | Wood Brothers Racing (9) |
Most wins (manufacturer) |
Chevrolet Ford (18) |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
Turns | 4 |
The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola is an annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway. First held in 1959, the event consists of 160 laps, 400-mile (640 km), and is the second of two major stock car events held at Daytona on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit, the other being the Daytona 500. Since its inception, it has been traditionally held on or around United States' Independence Day. Since 1988, the race has been scheduled for the first Saturday of July closest to July 4. In 1998, it became the first restrictor plate and Daytona race to be held at night.
A ten-year contract, starting in 2008, between Atlanta-based Coca-Cola and International Speedway Corporation (ISC), made Coke the official soft drink, official sparkling beverage and official water for ten of ISC's operated motorsports facilities and the Daytona 500. The company replaced Pepsi-Cola, a 19-year race sponsorship, to showcase Coke Zero as the race's title brand through 2018.
The event is recently known for its close finishes, posting a (.154 ds) margin of victory in its last 21 races including the T-4th closest margin of victory in NASCAR Cup Series history at (.005 ms); high speed high-density crashes under the lights, and a broad display of fireworks during post-race celebrations.
Brad Keselowski is the defending winner of the race.
Following two separate fatal accidents to drivers Marshall Teague (February test) and George Amick during the inaugural USAC Championship (Indy Car) events at Daytona International Speedway in April 1959, speedway officials announced that extremely high speeds would prompt them to conclude any scheduled events at the track, including a 300-mile race scheduled on July 4. William France Sr., the Daytona superspeedway owner at the time, announced plans to hold a 250-mile stock car race instead, which would take 100 laps, scheduled for the same day.