Coke Zero Sugar 400 NASCAR Race Odds, Schedule, and Forecast
Get ready for the electrifying finale of the regular season in the NASCAR Cup Series - the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400! This race, held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on August 27, serves as the last chance for some elite drivers to snatch a ticket to the NASCAR Playoffs.
Only 16 drivers will make it to the postseason, so the outcome could potentially see some NASCAR legends like Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, and Austin Cindric miss out on the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs.
Coke Zero Sugar 400 Odds
Odds here are derived from FanDuel on August 23, 2023:
When, Where, and How to Watch?
Day: Sunday, August 27Place: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FloridaTime: 3:00 PMBroadcast: USA Network
Chase Elliott Must Win to Secure Playoffs Spot
The winner of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, Elliott, had ambitious plans for the 2023 season, but it didn't start as swimmingly as anticipated. His poor performance in the inaugural race of the season, unfortunately, took place at Daytona - the very same location of the upcoming race. A crash at Stage 2 knocked him, along with Erik Jones and Tyer Reddick, out of the race.
Eliott swiftly redeemed himself, finishing second in the second race, but he had to sit out the following six races due to suspension and injury. He missed another race later in the season, which explains why he hasn't yet bought a ticket to the playoffs.
However, there's still hope for him. He can secure a place in the postseason if he pulls off a victory on August 27.
Potential Spoilers for Elliott's Playoffs Dream
Bookies view Elliott as the No. 1 favorite to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400, with NASCAR odds of +1100. Four other drivers also have relatively comparable odds. Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney each have odds of +1200 as they all aim to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Then there's Martin Truex Jr., who has already claimed a spot in the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs. He could potentially be a significant obstacle for Elliott as he's arguably the best driver this year, piloting what seems to be the best car in the Cup Series.
Predictions for the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400
This race is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling races of the entire NASCAR season. Every driver will be pushing to the limit to secure a prominant position in the standings. There's a pretty good chance we'll see some surprise winners in this race.
Elliott, despite being the favorite, hasn't claimed a win this season yet, and we're not confident he will change that at the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Instead, we could see Joey Logano taking the checkered flag. Logano, too, is in need of a good result, but unlike Elliott, he tends to perform well at Daytona, having an edge due to his skillset and his recent championship victory.
Pick: Joey Logano to win
Disappointingly for Chase Elliott, his poor performance at Daytona International Speedway earlier in the season might hinder his chances at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the race that serves as the last opportunity for some drivers to secure a ticket to the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs. Despite being the bookies' favorite with odds of +1100, we anticipate a different winner in the race. The skillful Joey Logano, who has a penchant for success at Daytona, could potentially take the checkered flag, although he doesn't yet have a win this season.
