The NASCAR Cup Series will see several key adjustments in its lineup for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway this Saturday, as Austin Hill is set to return and three other teams add new entries. Fans eager to track Austin Hill‘s NASCAR Cup Daytona lineup will notice significant shake-ups aimed at clinching a spot in the regular season finale.
A Full Field Returns for the Daytona Finale
This weekend’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 marks just the fifth event in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season featuring a complete 40-car field. The last time the Cup Series boasted a non-Daytona 500 event without a full field was the Chicago Street Course in early July, making Daytona’s full roster a welcome sight. While the Daytona 500 in February managed 41 cars, last week at Richmond Raceway only 38 cars competed, with two of those as part-time open entries. For Daytona, one part-time entrant from Richmond will not return, and another team will feature a new driver.
Key Changes Among Notable Teams and Drivers
23XI Racing has opted not to enter the No. 67 Toyota, which Corey Heim recently drove at Richmond, into Saturday’s 160-lap contest on the famous Daytona Beach, Florida circuit. Meanwhile, Richard Childress Racing is bringing the No. 33 Chevrolet back to the track. After Jesse Love took the wheel at Richmond, Austin Hill now makes his first Cup start since his strong performance on the Chicago streets, where he delivered the car’s best finish since 2011.
Part-Time Teams Expand Their Daytona Presence
Three additional part-time teams—NY Racing Team, Garage 66, and Live Fast Motorsports—are entering the Daytona field, each offering intriguing storylines. NY Racing Team will have Joey Gase behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet, marking his first start for the team this season after a recent race with Garage 66 at Iowa Speedway. Garage 66 is entering Casey Mears in the No. 66 Ford; Mears previously made his season return in March at Martinsville Speedway, his first since 2019. Live Fast Motorsports, enjoying their strongest season yet in just their second year part-time, will have team owner B.J. McLeod driving the No. 78 Chevrolet. McLeod’s notable 16th place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in June marked the team’s third-best result in its history.
Entry List Secured for the Regular Season Wrap-Up
This year’s Daytona field stands at 40 cars, not the 41 seen at the Daytona 500, ensuring all open entries, including those from full-time teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, are locked into Saturday’s race. The high banks of Daytona International Speedway will challenge both established drivers and newcomers as the Cup Series regular season culminates.
Fans Set for Saturday Night Spectacle
Viewers can catch the Coke Zero Sugar 400 live on NBC, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 23, from Daytona International Speedway. The race represents a crucial juncture for those vying for postseason contention, with Austin Hill’s NASCAR Cup Daytona lineup opportunity and lineup shifts from teams such as NY Racing Team, Garage 66, and Live Fast Motorsports promising a dynamic showdown at the World Center of Racing.
