2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 18: Coke-Zero 400 @ Daytona

NASCAR returned to the "World Center of Racing", Daytona International Speedway for the annual Fourth of July weekend race under the lights. The race underwent a new name, the Coke-Zero 400, known as the Firecracker 400 and the Pepsi 400 in years past. It was the second week straight for first time pole winners. This time Paul Menard got it with his DEI teammate Mark Martin starting alongside in 2nd. Also, in pre-practice inspections, Martin Truex's primary car failed inspection and held onto by NASCAR. So he had to use a backup car in quals and the race. At one point about 70 laps into the race, Tony Stewart had to vacate the racecar due to being ill. It was expected that Tony might have to leave the car so they had J.J. Yeley on standby to take over the #20 car. J.J. ran well in that car but had some bad luck with getting caught up in a couple wrecks. There was a late caution that set up a green white checker run to the finish. As the field accelerated, Jeff Gordon running in the Top Five was spun out but the caution didn't fly. It looked to be a repeat of 2007 with Kyle Busch fighting on the inside lane for the race win. As the field came to the final lap, cars were getting loose midpack and appeared ready to wreck at any time. It was up to Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards to fight it out side by side for the win. However, not long into the final lap that wreck did finally break loose and drawing the caution to end the race with the #18 and #99 left wondering who won. NASCAR declared Busch the winner as the video tape was the determining factor for the finish. That became Kyle's sixth win of the season and his second restrictor plate win of the year. Like Dover, Kyle was the only Toyota in the Top 10 and just so happened to be the winner haha. The rest of the Top 10 was an even split of Chevys, Fords, and Dodges, three cars apiece. Announced in the coming week, Martin Truex's team got a 150 point penalty following the pre-practice penalty.

The Top 10:
1. #18 Kyle Busch (Toyota)
2. #99 Carl Edwards (Ford)
3. #17 Matt Kenseth (Ford)
4. #2 Kurt Busch (Dodge)
5. #6 David Ragan (Ford)
6. #7 Robby Gordon (Dodge)
7. #9 Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
8. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevrolet)
9. #07 Clint Bowyer (Chevrolet)
10. #8 Mark Martin (Chevrolet)

It was off to Chicagoland for the next race, the first night race there.