The exhilarating conclusion of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway has set the stage for the last race in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. Harrison Burton, driving for Wood Brothers Racing in his final season with the team, surged past Kyle Busch following an overtime restart to secure his first NASCAR Cup victory and earn a spot in the playoffs. With only the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington on September 1 remaining in the regular season, Burton’s triumph marks him as the 13th race winner of the 2024 season.
There were notable performances and disappointments during the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Among the winners was Christopher Bell, who was involved in a major crash on Lap 61, one of two significant wrecks during the race. Despite being one of 17 drivers caught in the wreck that eliminated seven cars, Bell managed to rebound and finished in third place, achieving his eighth top-five finish of the season.
Harrison Burton, 23, who has been with Wood Brothers Racing since 2022, learned earlier this month that Josh Berry would take over his seat in 2025. However, his dramatic win at Daytona, which was also the 100th victory for Wood Brothers, could spark interest from other teams in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Another standout was Parker Retzlaff, who played a crucial role in Burton’s victory by providing a strong push that enabled Burton to overtake Busch. Retzlaff moved into second place after helping Burton secure the lead before eventually finishing seventh in his No. 62 Chevy. At just 21, Retzlaff is an Xfinity Series driver and made his second Cup Series start with Beard Motorsports.
On the other hand, there were some significant losers in the race. Josh Berry was in a strong position but crashed into the wall and flipped his car with two laps remaining. Despite being second behind Austin Cindric, Berry’s car became airborne before sliding into the infield wall. He downplayed the crash, stating it was not as severe as it appeared.
Kyle Busch, aiming to end a 45-race winless streak, led in overtime but ultimately allowed Burton to pass him for the win. Despite avoiding the earlier wrecks and remaining competitive, Busch couldn’t regain the lead as Burton defended his position.
Corey LaJoie also faced consequences from a crash he inadvertently caused. While running well in 16th, LaJoie’s push to Noah Gragson resulted in Gragson crashing into the wall, triggering a massive 17-car pileup that ended their races, along with several other key competitors.
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