The Coke Zero 400 is one of the most exciting NASCAR races of the year, and it is held at Daytona Beach's famed Daytona International Speedway. Like the more renowned Daytona 500, the Coke Zero 400 has been a fixture on the stock car racing scene since 1959, though it hasn't always had the same name. Between the years of 1959 and 1962, it was shorter in length and was known as the Firecracker 250. From 1963 to 1984, the Coke Zero 400 at the Daytona Speedway was known as the Firecracker 400, and interesting enough, it fell under the Pepsi name between the years of 1985 and 2007. It was in 1963 that the race was extended to 400 miles, which is the distance that drivers are required to cover to this day. That equates to 160 laps around the 2.5 mile track at Daytona International.

The Coke Zero 400 at the Daytona Speedway is held on the first Saturday in July, and it is intended to not only celebrate the race itself, but the country's birthday as well. Should you be planning on attending the race, you're guaranteed fireworks both on and off the track. Daytona Beach is especially alive in early July, thanks to events like the Coke Zero 400 and the Fourth of July celebrations. As such, it's imperative that you arrange your accommodations in advance if you are thinking of dropping into town during this time. Some of the best Daytona Beach hotels can be found right on the beach, and you'll definitely do well to book a stay at a beachfront lodging establishment. In addition to the hotels and motels, the Daytona Beach area also boasts quite a few vacation rentals, and camping is also possible if you want to stay close to nature.

In the past, the Coke Zero 400 was held in the morning. That all changed, however, when in 1997, the Daytona International Speedway undertook a large lighting project. Nowadays, the race is held at night, which makes for better fireworks viewing after the race. Over the couple of days leading up to the Coke Zero 400 at the Daytona Speedway, practice sessions and qualifying races are held. When you buy your Coke Zero 400 tickets, you can purchase multi-day passes that allow you take in these side events in addition to the big race on Saturday. Two actual races take place prior to the Coke Zero 400, and they include the Subway Jalapeno 250 By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race and the Brumos Porsche 250 Grand-Am Rolex Series race.

Daytona Beach Map

When buying your Coke Zero 400 tickets, you can purchase race tickets alone, or look to include others things as well. Various Daytona Beach vacation packages that include tickets to the race are available, and they can also include your hotel room, your transportation between the hotel and the track, and things like pit passes and hospitality tent tickets. If you can't manage to get Coke Zero 400 tickets and you want to see a race in Daytona Beach this year, there's always the Speedweeks races, which include the Daytona 500. The Coke Zero 400 isn't the only race that is held at the Daytona International Speedway, and there are even a few annual motorcycle races that might interest you.