NASCAR Daytona Race Delivers Closest Four-Car Finish, Boosts Next Gen Performance

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has seen a significant turnaround in racing excitement, particularly at superspeedways like Daytona, where the Next Gen cars faced criticism for fuel-saving strategies and single-file racing. This change is largely credited to Goodyear's introduction of new tires with different grip levels on the right and left sides, which increased tire degradation and forced more aggressive racing and pit strategies. The recent Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona delivered a thrilling race with 44 lead changes among 19 drivers and a historic four-wide finish, culminating in Ryan Blaney narrowly edging out Daniel Suárez by 0.031 seconds, the closest top-four finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. Fans and drivers alike praised the race for its intensity and competitiveness, marking a turning point in the perception of the Next Gen car, which had struggled to deliver the pack racing fans desired. The improved tire performance and racing dynamics have helped overcome issues with dirty air and aero dependency that previously hampered on-track battles. This resurgence in racing quality has led to renewed enthusiasm among fans and respected figures within NASCAR, signaling a promising future for the series.