CONCORD, N.C. - As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs draw near, one drafting track remains in the regular season. This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports will travel back to Daytona International Speedway to take on the 2.5-mile circuit.
RELATED: See the colors Hendrick Motorsports will run in Florida
Just a stone's throw from the ocean, the Florida facility has hosted Cup Series racing dating all the way back to 1959. With 31 degrees of banking, the track provides extremely tight racing as drivers fight for position throughout the field.
Yet, a second race in the summer was never the original plan. The date, which was held on July 4th from 1959-1987 and on July 4th weekend from 1988 until 2020, was originally supposed to host an IndyCar event. However, after two fatal crashes, the race was canceled due to safety concerns surrounding high speeds and NASCAR founder Bill France announced a second NASCAR race to fill the gap.
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 William Byron each winning once. Byron's victory in 2020 was the first of his career.
DID YOU SEE? HEYDUDE releases shoes inspired by Larson, Elliott
KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW FOR DAYTONA
Data provided by Racing Insights
Larson, No. 5 team
After issues at Michigan International Raceway last weekend, Larson enters 32 points back of the regular season lead. While a drafting track may not be his best chance to close the gap, Larson has been at the front of the pack several times this season. He's lead laps at both Daytona and Atlanta Motor Speedway this season. The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com entry will aim to avoid the carnage and score a solid finish this Saturday night.
Elliott, No. 9 team
Now 10 markers back of points leader Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott will aim to win at Daytona for the first time in his career in the Cup Series. A victory this weekend would check off all drafting tracks on his resume having already claimed both Talladega Superspeedway and Atlanta. A win would also be the first for crew chief Alan Gustafson at his home track on the oval.
Byron, No. 24 team
Coming into the weekend, Byron is the only repeat winner at Daytona in the last 10 races. In the last seven events on a drafting track, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native is tied for or holds the outright lead in wins (two), top fives (three), top-10 finishes (six) and average finish (6.14). Watch for Byron to be in the mix.
Bowman, No. 48 team
While Alex Bowman has yet to break through on a drafting track, his stats suggest an elusive victory could be close. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Racing Chevrolet came up just short in this year's DAYTONA 500 to teammate Byron and has another runner-up finish to his name at Talladega in 2019. Add that to the longest active streak of top 10s in the Cup Series at Daytona (three) and Bowman should be considered a threat for victory lane on Saturday night.
Hendrick Motorsports
While the Next Gen car has made racing on drafting tracks much different than before, Hendrick Motorsports has found ways to consistently find the front of the field. In the Next Gen era, the team has not gone more than three races on a drafting track without finding victory lane. They'll aim to continue this streak with a win this weekend.
DID YOU KNOW?
Rick Hendrick's group accounts for 16 victories at the 2.5-mile circuit, the most of any team in the Cup Series.
NASCAR TV SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
Friday, August 23
5:05 p.m. Qualifying - USA Network
All cars will make a single-car run to record a qualifying time. From there, the top 10 cars will run in the final round to set the top-10 starting spots. Larson will go out 22nd, Bowman will be 28th to qualify, Elliott will be 33rd and Byron will be 39th to take to the track in qualifying.
Saturday, August 24
7:30 p.m. Coke Zero Sugar 400 - NBC
STAGE LENGTHS
Stage 1: Lap 35
Stage 2: Lap 95
End of Race: Lap 160
WILL THE RACE BE ON THE RADIO?
Yes, listeners can find both events on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
CAN I STREAM ONLINE?
Yes. Download the NBC Sports App for online coverage. Fans can also keep up with the action on X by following @TeamHendrick.