The History of the Coke Zero Sugar 400: Daytona’s Summer Spectacle
From Firecracker Starts to Beachfront Savings
When engines thunder through Daytona Beach in the heat of summer, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 transforms the city into a festival of speed, fireworks, and ocean air. Fans pack the stands and infield under bright Florida skies, taking home stories they'll replay long after the final lap.
And there's no better place to keep that race-day rush going than right here at Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, your hub for ocean views, boardwalk strolls, and an easy drive to all the Speedway thrills.
Book your Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend and enjoy $100 Sunday nights just steps from the Speedway and the beach. View Offer →
How the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Roared to Life
Back in 1959, Daytona International Speedway hosted its first summer race, known then as the Firecracker 400, a nod to the Fourth of July and the fireworks that lit up the beach that night. Fans would roll up with picnic baskets and lawn chairs to watch stock cars howl past at breakneck speeds, then head for the sand to catch the evening show.
As the decades rolled on, this iconic race picked up plenty of nicknames - the Daytona 400, the Coke 400, and the Coca Cola 400 Daytona among them - but the thrill stayed the same. Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts, and Cale Yarborough left their tire tracks on Daytona's high banks, while the Earnhardt family added their own chapter to the story. Dale Earnhardt Sr., “The Intimidator,” took the checkered flag here twice, and his son Dale Jr. carried that legacy forward with an emotional win in 2001. A moment that still gives longtime fans chills. And who could forget the 2007 finish, when Jamie McMurray edged out Kyle Busch by a blink 0.005 seconds! The Coke Zero Sugar 400 may have dropped the “Firecracker” name, but the sparks still fly every year.
Today, fans know they'll get all the speed they crave plus the Florida summer magic: tailgates in the infield, fireworks bursting over the Speedway, and sea air ready to cool you off back at the Boardwalk. It's the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at full throttle: thunder on the track, crowds on their feet, and salty breezes carrying it all home.
What Keeps Daytona's Grandstands Buzzing
These days, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 keeps that old-school glory alive while cranking up the stakes. Now held in August, it's the final showdown before the NASCAR playoffs, making every lap count that much more. Fans come for the racing but stay for the atmosphere: the edge-of-your-seat energy, the pulse of the stadium, the charge of 40 stock cars pushing 200 mph around the tri-oval.
When the final flag waves, you want to be close enough to switch from the Speedway's rush to laid-back coastal flavors, the sound of the surf, and a seat by the shore.
That's where we come in. Plan your high-octane weekend now and unwind oceanfront. Book your $100 Sunday night stay.
Your Pit Stop by the Beach
At Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, you're right at the center of it all. The sand, the sea, the Boardwalk, and yes, the Speedway too. It's a prime spot for race fans looking to soak up every moment without spending half the weekend stuck in traffic.
Spend your days in the high-octane action of the Coke Zero Sugar 400, then drift back for poolside cocktails, a stroll along Ocean Walk Shoppes, or a nightcap under the stars. Our seven on-site dining venues mean you don't have to go far to keep the momentum going, or to wind down when you're ready to relax.
Want to watch the sunrise over the water after a day of cheering on your favorite driver? We've got you. Need a family-friendly spot where the kids can splash while you swap race stories at the bar? We've got that too. Here, your race weekend keeps rolling with soft sand, sunny decks, and space to breathe when the engines go quiet.
One Last Lap Before You Head Home
This summer, don't just pack up when the race ends. Stretch out that victory lap right here by the beach. For the Coke Zero Sugar 400, we're making it easy to trade the Speedway's roar for the ocean's hush with our special race weekend offer: book a three-night stay (Friday through Sunday), and your Sunday night is just $100. That's 400 quarters for 400 miles of the race.
Chase every lap on Friday and Saturday, then claim Sunday for sunshine, rolling waves, and one last round of beachside cheers, all while staying just minutes from Daytona International Speedway. It's the perfect way to cap off a race weekend that feels as classic as Daytona itself.
Book your stay, pack that need for speed, and discover why the Coke Zero Sugar 400 is better when the ocean's just steps away. After all, your Sunday night victory lap deserves the sand between your toes. And at Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, we'll have it ready for you!
See you by the sand… and at the Speedway!
🏁 Ready to race into savings? Have one more sunrise by the ocean. Book your race weekend with $100 Sunday nights now.