NASCAR
Daytona International Speedway Winners Not Locked into 2023 Playoffs
Across 2023’s first 25 NASCAR Cup Series races, 15 of 16 Playoff berths have been set. Heading into Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 from Daytona, Bubba Wallace holds the final provisional spot by 32 points. Outside of the current top 16 in the standings are five past Daytona winners. All of these drivers are facing must-win scenarios to make another Playoff appearance. See a list of these previous Daytona winners below, with each of their chances at repeating former glory.
Austin Dillon
Twelve months ago, Austin Dillon stunned the NASCAR world with an upset Daytona win. Dillon’s second Daytona triumph knocked Martin Truex Jr. out of the 2022 Playoffs. Aside from last year’s victory and the 2018 Daytona 500, the 3 has nine top-10s in 20 starts on the superspeedway. Dillon’s surprise path to the 2022 Playoffs was nothing short of a miraculous parting of the seas. Dillon was the biggest beneficiary of the sudden rain that hit turn one, wiping out over a dozen cars.
“There’s nothing quite like going to Daytona,” Dillon said. “I enjoy the sunshine and fast racetrack. There’s nothing like drafting around that place. Obviously, I’ve got two big career wins there. The Daytona 500 and we won the August race to walk off win and make our way into the NASCAR Playoffs last year. It’s shaping up for us to have the opportunity to try and do it again. I love drafting, getting in there and mixing it up. We’ll see what it takes to put the No.3 Chevy back in the NASCAR Playoffs, hopefully.”
Dillon’s led more laps at Daytona than any other track (85). Currently 29th in points, Dillon will need a similar miracle effort for another Daytona victory.
Austin Cindric
2022’s Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric has quietly put together a great young career at The World Center of Racing. Cindric was on track to finish well in 2021’s Daytona 500 before the last lap crash. The Deuce went on to win The Great American Race last year and finished third in August. Cindric came far short of repeating his winning performance, crashing out early this past February.
“I’ve had success on superspeedways and that definitely comes down to decision making and being able to maximize an opportunity,” Cindric said. “Track position is important with everything that we do. So you have to get there and earn the spot at the end of the race to be able to make something happen or execute an opportunity. The meat and potatoes of the race is still very important, but from a confidence standpoint I get confidence in my preparation. I would say my preparation tells me that things have changed a lot since the first superspeedway race we did that I won. I am very open-minded to how things have evolved with this car throughout races. The one thing that’s probably stayed the same is the tire and the aero package and that’s about it. From a racing standpoint, I think your competitors are a lot closer than what they were to start. Trying to differentiate yourself and make high percentage moves is key to being able to find success at the end of the day.”
Penske Fords are always some of the fastest cars in Florida, with only Cindric still needing to make the Playoffs. He will certainly have teammate help from other strong Mustangs. Don’t be surprised to see Cindric in the mix late again.
Erik Jones
Five years ago the Daytona summer race was career win number one for Erik Jones. Driver 43 now finds himself 28th in the standings and needing another walk off win for a Playoff appearance. Jones was top-10 in two of the four superspeedway races earlier this season. The 43 was also within sight of taking the checkers first at Talladega last spring.
“Daytona is always exciting, especially with it being the last race of the year leading into the Playoffs,” Jones said. “It’s always a pretty wild race. I was able to win that summer race a few years ago for my first Cup win and I really hope to add on there and grab a win to get ourselves into the Playoffs. I am excited to get there always, and I enjoy superspeedway racing. I feel like we have been really close and just need to close one of these speedway races out. Hopefully this is the one.”
Chevrolet definitely has strength in numbers when it comes to drafting help. Jones could easily find the front of the pack again and pick up a second Daytona win.
Aric Almirola
Hometown hero Aric Almirola is seemingly always a threat at Daytona, having won his Duel race the last two years. Almirola’s maiden victory also came on the high banks, in the rain-shortened 2014 July race. Currently in what could be his final season of racing, Almirola wants nothing more than to leave Daytona one trophy richer. A victory by the 10 would also put another Stewart-Haas car into title contention.
Justin Haley
The seas parting for Austin Dillon last year was almost as unlikely as the Daytona summer race four years ago. Dillon was coincidentally leading in 2019 and threw a big block. A major crash ensued, causing a weather delay that never let up. Thanks to persistent lightning in the area, Justin Haley was the big upset winner.
Haley’s Daytona prowess also has more recent highlights. The 31 was one of the leaders when the pack came flying into the rain last summer. Trying once again to pull off the astonishing Playoff breakthrough victory, Haley hopes to finish the job this year. Kaulig Racing and Justin Haley in particular are always proficient on superspeedways. One final time around Daytona together could end in victory lane.
Just about anyone in the field is capable of winning Saturday night. These five drivers all have the confidence and knowledge of past experience winning on racing’s biggest stage. Close to half of the drivers in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 are searching for the elusive and improbable regular season buzzer-beater. The green flag will fly in Florida Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET, with one of the most unknown, unpredictable and wild races of the season on full display.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
