The NASCAR Cup Series Chase comes into full focus this Saturday, when drivers will jockey to clinch the final three remaining spots and lock-in their seeding at the Coke Zero Sugar 400.Anything can happen at Daytona International Speedway, so let’s run through which drivers are hoping to be on the right side of that “anything,” plus get more insights and predictions from NASCAR reporters Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi.Coke Zero Sugar 400Entering this race, Shane van Gisbergen is in the last playoff spot and Ryan Preece is out and 31 points behind. Do you think there will be any changes to the top 16 after this race?Jeff: It’s hard to see it happening, honestly. Preece knows he has to go all out to get stage points and the win while also likely needing van Gisbergen to crash. Which … hey, it’s all certainly possible! But at a superspeedway where drivers don’t necessarily control their own destiny — and one where Preece has crashed in seven of his 13 career starts? It’s a tall order, and winning his way into the Chase in a last-gasp effort would create one of NASCAR’s more memorable moments in recent years. SVG has the edge, but there’s no guarantee.Jordan: It’s Daytona, which brings with it the likelihood of at least one big wreck, if not multiple. If van Gisbergen were to be swept into one of these accidents while Preece escaped, then there is a strong shot that Preece then jumps ahead of van Gisbergen for the final Chase spot. But the points deficit being what it is means Preece effectively doesn’t control his fate — even if he were to score max stage points and win the race. Preece’s Chase hopes hinge on something bad happening to van Gisbergen, otherwise he’s out. From van Gisbergen’s perspective, he has to be feeling somewhat safe as 31 points provides him with a bit of a safety net should misfortune befall him.
NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona odds, predictions: What’s at stake for Cup Series Chase
Will Shane van Gisbergen hold onto the last playoff spot? Who has the best shot at winning the final regular-season race?












