Friday night lights racing is back at Daytona International Speedway on August 28, 2026
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2026) – Daytona International Speedway announced today a new entitlement sponsor for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series regular season finale race. On August 28th, Friday night racing returns to Daytona with the Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.
“Bringing Winn-Dixie and Coca-Cola back together as entitlement sponsors is a blast from the past that works so well as we set up the return of The Chase,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “Together, this weekend will be a memorable hit of nostalgia as fans watch their favorite drivers make the final push to the postseason.”
Winn-Dixie is headquartered just up the road from Daytona International Speedway in Jacksonville and has served local southeastern communities as the hometown grocer for over a century. With similar long-standing roots in southern culture, the relationship between Winn-Dixie and NASCAR spans many years, including numerous race sponsorships and driver partnerships.
After six years serving in the role, 2008 was the most recent year in which Winn-Dixie was the entitlement sponsor for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series summer race at Daytona International Speedway. Eighteen years ago, fans celebrated their Fourth of July with an up-and-coming Coca-Cola Racing Family driver by the name of Denny Hamlin winning the 2008 Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola. It marked Hamlin’s first career win at the World Center of Racing.
“NASCAR has long been part of the fabric of many communities we serve, and few traditions bring people together like race weekend at Daytona,” said Gayle Shields, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer for The Winn-Dixie Company. “The Winn-Dixie 250 has created memorable moments for generations of racing fans, and now alongside Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, we’re proud to build on that legacy through experiences that bring customers, communities and fans together.”
“As longtime partners serving communities across Florida, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and The Winn-Dixie Company are proud to come together around an event that celebrates connection, camaraderie and community,” said Meena Sen, Vice-President, Marketing, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. “The Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola creates memorable experiences for customers while showcasing the energy and tradition of NASCAR.”
Last year, Parker Kligerman relieved an injured Connor Zilisch during the race and took the car to victory – giving Zilisch the win in the record books. The victory added to Zilisch’s incredible season and allowed him to collect seven wins in eight races. While Zilisch ended with a staggering 10 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series last season, Justin Allgaier is nearly matching that pace and currently holds a commanding lead on the field in the points standings. In his way, though, stands the superspeedway savant and winner of the 2026 United Rentals 300 earlier this year at DIS – Austin Hill. Since 2022, Hill has conquered Daytona International Speedway four times – but has yet to do so in the summer race.
The race weekend will feature the regular season finales for the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Action kicks off on Friday, August 28th at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Winn-Dixie 250 Powered by Coca-Cola taking the track. Then, on Saturday, August 29th, the stars of the Cup Series battle in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at 7:30 p.m. ET for the final opportunity to earn their spot in The Chase.
To purchase tickets or for more information regarding the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend, log onto daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts such as Welcome to Rockville, sporting events including CLASH DAYTONA, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
About The Winn-Dixie Company
The Winn-Dixie Company, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a trusted neighborhood grocer with deep roots across Florida and southern Georgia. Building on more than a century of legacy, the company is shaping the future of neighborhood grocery through continued store investments, innovative formats and a seamless omnichannel experience that delivers exceptional value both in stores and online. Guided by its purpose to feed and enrich the communities it serves, The Winn-Dixie Company is known for exceptional service and locally authentic stores. The grocer is committed to offering fresh, high-quality products and meaningful value through its nationally recognized Winn-Dixie Rewards program.
For more information and updates, visit WinnDixie.com and follow @WinnDixie on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Winn-Dixie
Founded in 1925, Winn-Dixie is a trusted neighborhood grocer serving communities across Florida and southern Georgia. A subsidiary of The Winn-Dixie Company, Winn-Dixie operates locally authentic neighborhood grocery and liquor stores, complemented by convenient online grocery delivery. To learn more, visit WinnDixie.com.
About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is a strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company and a growth-focused consumer packaged goods company. We are one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States with an exclusive territory that covers forty-seven counties in Florida. Coke Florida makes, sells, and distributes a portfolio of beverages for every occasion including sparkling soft drinks, waters, teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, and value-added dairy drinks. We drive positive economic impact in the communities we serve through employing over 5,000 associates and operating four GreenCircle Certified production facilities and eighteen distribution centers. Our investments in sustainability, education, and economic empowerment are the foundation of our commitment to helping build stronger communities. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is also one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. The company has been recognized as a US Best Managed Company Gold Standard Winner by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
