CONCORD, N.C. - Sure, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway is 100 miles shorter than the season-opening DAYTONA 500.
And maybe presence in the national sports conscience is a little smaller.
But as for the stakes? Well, with the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs looming just two weeks away, they couldn't be much higher.
Luckily for the Hendrick Motorsports contingent, a playoff berth isn't a worry with all four drivers -- Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman -- already locked into the field with wins. And yet, any victory at the World Center of Racing is a big one and a few playoff points and a little momentum entering the postseason could only be beneficial.
The grand vision of NASCAR founder Bill France, Daytona is among the most storied race tracks in the world. Its 2.5-mile layout with 31-degree banks have been the stage for some of auto racing's most memorable moments since 1959, both of the triumphant and tragic variety. The DAYTONA 500 and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 are in their 65th year and Saturday's race will mark the 66th edition of the summer event.
Hendrick Motorsports has won seven Daytona summer races, second most all-time. Hall of Famer and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman, Jeff Gordon, leads the organization with three victories in the event with Tim Richmond, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Byron each winning once. Byron's victory in 2020 was the first of his career.
RELATED: See every angle of Larson's No. 5 paint scheme
Leading the Cup Series with four victories and 28 playoff points, Larson will look to continue to build his postseason cushion over the next two races. Larson will wheel the HendrickCars.com colors on his No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in pursuit of his sixth top 10 at Daytona.
PHOTOS: It's NAPA white under the lights for Elliott
Piloting the white NAPA Auto Parts colors this week, Elliott will enter Saturday night in second place, just 10 points back of the regular season points lead. Elliott has a trio of top-five showings at Daytona including a fourth-place finish last summer.
GALLERY: A look at Byron's Liberty University scheme
Byron will look for the Daytona season sweep, hoping to follow up February's DAYTONA 500 victory with his second win in the summer race, this time sporting the Liberty University colors on the No. 24 Chevy. Byron is coming off a second-place finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.
SEE THE SCHEME: Bowman's No. 48 Ally Racing Chevy
Ranked fourth among active drivers with more than one start at Daytona in terms of average finish (15.2), Bowman will look to put his No. 48 Ally Racing Team Chevy in victory lane for the first time at a superspeedway. He will try and add to his total of five playoff points, earned via victory at the Chicago Street Course in July.
Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
