Coke Zero 400 /

The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap, 400 miles (640 km) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on the first Saturday night of July, usually around Independence Day weekend, at Daytona International Speedway. Starting in 2008, an agreement is in place for Coca-Cola to become the official soft drink provider of ISC facilities. Coca-Cola chose to use their Coke Zero brand to title the race. In 1959, the race was originally scheduled to be a USAC Championship (Indy) Car event. However, after a crash-filled event in April, open wheel racing on the oval was permanently canceled. NASCAR quickly stepped in and replaced the schedule with a stock car race. The race was developed to provide a second major Cup-level racing event for the Daytona International Speedway which would not detract from the legendary status of the Daytona 500. At its creation in 1959, the race was 100 laps, for 250 miles, and owing to the scheduling on the July 4th, was nicknamed the Firecracker 250. In 1963 the race was expanded from 100 laps to 160 laps, for a distance of 400 miles, and became known as the Firecracker 400. In 1985, the race became known as the Pepsi Firecracker 400,