The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season is concluding where it began, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. With two playoff spots still undecided ahead of the 160-lap race on Saturday night, the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona Qualifying session played a critical role in setting the lineup for this pivotal event.
The last two positions in the 16-driver playoff field are expected to belong to Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing and Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports, as no other drivers have enough points to overtake them. Unless an unexpected winner emerges from outside the current cutoff, the playoff participants are effectively locked in.
Overview of Qualifying Format and New Selection Formula
Qualifying followed the familiar superspeedway format, with each of the 40 drivers making a single-lap timed run in the opening round; group qualifying was not used. The top 10 fastest drivers then advanced to a second round to compete for the pole position in a shootout setting.
For this event, the qualifying order was established using a new NASCAR formula designed to replace the previous one applied from 2020 to 2024. This updated metric simplifies the ranking process by reducing variables from four to two, making it clearer and more straightforward for participants and fans alike.
Complete Starting Lineup and Broadcast Details
The full lineup determined by this qualification process is now set for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, which will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 23. NBC will provide live coverage at the renowned Daytona International Speedway, also known as the World Center of Racing. This race marks the definitive end to the regular season, setting the stage for the playoff battles to come.