NASCAR returns to the World’s Center of Racing in Daytona Beach, Florida, for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. A historic event makes its final run on the Fourth of July weekend. Next Season this event moves to later in the schedule so, the race should be a historic event on Saturday night. Ford has pretty much dominated this event over the last few seasons, winning five of the last 10 races at Daytona. Rain could play a big factor come Saturday, as qualifying was washed out, which sends Joey Logano to the pole for the race. Which could play a big role in the race, as Logano and teammate Brad Keselowski enter as the favorites Saturday night. This race has been pretty unpredictable in the last few years, and that is why it will be a must-see event. Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500, and teammate Erik Jones went to victory lane in this race last season, which gives Toyota some strong momentum heading into this race. Let’s dive into the NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Free Racing Picks for this Saturday
Five Drivers to Back in Daytona
Joey Logano +700
Joey Logano is one of the co-favorites and for good reason, as he has had a strong history of success at Superspeedways. The 2015 Daytona 500 champion, however, has never won the July race at Daytona. That also includes two 35th or worse place finishes in the last two July Daytona races. Regardless of his recent struggles in this event, Logano is still a driver to watch, as are both of his teammates. Add in that Ford has won five of the last 10 races at Daytona, and Joey having the pole for the race and he is looking good for Saturday Night.
Brad Keselowski +700
Like teammate Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski is a strong Superspeedway racer. His success has mainly been at Talladega, but he is a former winner of this race. Keselowski has had some bad luck recently at Daytona having crashed out of four of the last five races there. He was able to drive to victory lane in the July race back in 2016. If Brad can avoid any trouble on Saturday Night then he definitely will be a driver to watch. The only thing that makes Brad a tough call is the fact that the best finish in his last five starts at Daytona was 12th in this season’s Daytona 500.
Chase Elliott +1100
Chase Elliott hasn’t really shown any strong performances at Daytona so far in his career, as his best finish at the track is 14th. He has had strong qualifying efforts in his seven starts so far at the track, but he has been caught up in accidents in most of those races. Elliott has found his way to the front of the field in five of his seven starts at Daytona, including leading 39 laps in the 2017 Daytona 500. Elliott crashed out in each of his last three starts at the track. Chase may not have a strong value in this one, but regardless he is a driver to keep an eye on.
Kurt Busch +1400
Kurt Busch has been racing at the World’s Center of Racing for quite a long time with 36 starts at Daytona. He has finished near the front but has also been caught up in incidents in that span. Kurt is a bit of a longshot for Saturday Nights’ race, but he is still a driver to watch as he is a former winner at Daytona. Busch has also posted 13 career top-five finishes at the track as well. His last four starts haven’t been very strong with a best finish of 25th in this season’s Daytona 500 in that span. Chevy’s were able to break through to victory lane at Talladega early this season but has struggled in the last 10 races at Daytona with only two victories for the bowties. Kurt’s lone Daytona victory came in the Daytona 500 back in 2017.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr +1800
Ricky Stenhouse Jr has two career victories in the cup series. Both of those victories came at Superspeedways. That includes a win in the July Daytona race in 2017. Last season’s Daytona races for Stenhouse were full of issues, as he was involved in a few accidents that knocked out many of the top drivers in those races. Especially in last July’s race, that Erik Jones was able to survive and collect his first career win. Jones was a big longshot in that race, much like Stenhouse Jr is a longshot for Saturday Night. Roush Fenway Racing hasn’t won since Stenhouse’s victory at this same track back in 2017. Ricky has passed a lot of cars in his career, but none more than the number of cars he has passed when racing at Daytona. He only has three career top 10 finishes, but that doesn’t mean isn’t a driver that could steal a win at Daytona. Stenhouse has led over 10 laps in each of the last four Daytona races. Keep an eye on this longshot.
