Ryan Blaney captures his third NASCAR Cup Series win of the season surviving the Saturday Night Melee at Daytona.
DAYTONA – August 29, 2021 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK
NASCAR Cup Series traveled to World Center of Racing for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and final quest to earn a playoff ticket on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.
Coke Zero Sugar 400
Recap:
NASCAR fan favorite Chase Elliott set his sight to the front under 3 Laps remaining. Elliott would be challenged by Matt DiBenedetto as the final episode unveils. Denny Hamlin’s chrome horn would allow Matt DiBenedetto to battle Elliott’s post position rolling into Turn 3.
Consciously, Elliott moved up to throw the block leading to contact between his No. 9 Chevy and the No. 21 Ford of DiBenedetto, A massive domino crash coming off turn four, will be the outcome, gathering up Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Brad Keselowski, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.
Ryan Blaney edges to the front by hooking up with Corey Lajoie, accelerating the Penske power to the lead for final restart finale.
As the Superstretch welcomed drivers on the decisive final laps, aggression for fronted as race contender’s jockey for the win.
Contact between Kevin Harvick and Daniel Suarez set off a massive multi-car crash, gathering up the cars of Austin Dillon, Ross Chastain, Corie LaJoie, Erik Jones and Kyle Larson.
Ryan Blaney prevails after smoke cleared in Overtime, collecting the checkers and seventh Trophy of his NASCAR Cup Series Career, his first at Daytona and second straight victory for Blaney after winning last weekend at Michigan.
Austion Dillon came into the final regular season race shooting for a win or a stronger run than his teammate, Tyler Reddick. Dillon was running in the top five going into final restart, but was gathered up in the final crash with half a lap to go. Reddick survived the melee to finish fifth and make the cut to the Playoffs.
Despite being gathered up in the final crash of the night, Kyle Larson drives away as the regular season champion, giving him 15 bonus points and the top seed going into the Playoffs. With Reddick snagging the final transfer spot, the Playoffs are now set to open with the Round of 16 next weekend with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Playoff Standings: 1. Kyle Larson – 2052 (5 Wins); 2. Ryan Blaney – 2024 (3 Wins); 3. Martin Truex, Jr. – 2024 (3 Wins); 4. Kyle Busch – 2022 (2 Wins); 5. Chase Elliott – 2021 (2 Wins); 6. Alex Bowman – 2015 (3 Wins); 7. Denny Hamlin – 2015; 8. William Byron – 2014 (1 Win); 9. Joey Logano – 2013 (1 Win); 10. Brad Keselowski – 2008 (1 Win); 11. Kurt Busch – 2008 (1 Win); 12. Christopher Bell – 2005 (1 Win); 13. Michael McDowell – 2005 (1 Win); 14. Aric Almirola – 2005 (1 Win); 15. Tyler Reddick – 2003; 16. Kevin Harvick – 2002.
NASCAR Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, FL
Coke Zero Sugar 400 – August 28, 2021
1. (6) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 165.
2. (20) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 165.
3. (23) Ryan Newman, Ford, 165.
4. (24) Ryan Preece, Chevrolet, 165.
5. (17) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 165.
6. (28) Justin Haley(i), Chevrolet, 165.
7. (15) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 165.
8. (5) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 165.
9. (30) B.J. McLeod(i), Ford, 165.
10. (36) Josh Bilicki, Ford, 165.
11. (21) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 165.
12. (8) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 165.
13. (3) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 165.
14. (19) Aric Almirola, Ford, 165.
15. (11) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 165.
16. (33) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, Accident, 164.
17. (27) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 164.
18. (29) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, Accident, 164.
19. (26) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, Accident, 164.
20. (1) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Accident, 164.
21. (16) Chase Briscoe #, Ford, Accident, 164.
22. (12) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Chevrolet, 164.
23. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 164.
24. (25) Cole Custer, Ford, 164.
25. (9) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 164.
26. (32) Anthony Alfredo #, Ford, 163.
27. (40) David Starr(i), Ford, 163.
28. (31) Cody Ware(i), Chevrolet, 163.
29. (7) Martin Truex, Jr., Toyota, 163.
30. (34) Garrett Smithley(i), Chevrolet, 163.
31. (37) Joey Gase(i), Ford, 162.
32. (14) Christopher Bell, Toyota, Accident, 157.
33. (10) Brad Keselowski, Ford, Accident, 156.
34. (4) Kyle Busch, Toyota, Accident, 156.
35. (38) Kaz Grala(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 156.
36. (39) Landon Cassill(i), Toyota, Accident, 146.
37. (2) William Byron, Chevrolet, Accident, 146.
38. (35) Quin Houff, Chevrolet, 136.
39. (18) Michael McDowell, Ford, Engine, 23.
DQ: (13) Chris Buescher, Ford, 165.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 9,11,18,42,19,3,7,22,37,20
Stage #2 Top Ten: 22,3,24,8,5,12,47,18,23,20
Average Speed of Race Winner: 142.201 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 54 Mins, 3 Secs. Margin of Victory: Under Caution
Caution Flags: 8 for 31 laps.
Lead Changes: 45 among 15 drivers.
Leaders Summary: (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led) Joey Logano 5 times for 37 laps; Chase Elliott 5 times for 36 laps; Ross Chastain 5 times for 14 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 2 times for 13 laps; William Byron 5 times for 12 laps; Christopher Bell 2 times for 8 laps; Bubba Wallace 4 times for 8 laps; Chris Buescher 2 times for 8 laps; Denny Hamlin 3 times for 7 laps; Ryan Blaney 3 times for 7 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 5 laps; Kevin Harvick 3 times for 4 laps; Austin Dillon 2 times for 3 laps; Ryan Newman 2 times for 2 laps; Corey LaJoie 1 time for 1 lap.
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs open Sunday, Sept. 5 2021 for the Cook Out Southern 500 hosted by Darlington Raceway 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET NBCSN Sirius XM / NASCAR 90