Listen Now! NASCAR returns to Daytona with Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night

Few races have been moved around in recent times like the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

It was first run in 1959, and until 2019, it was held on or around the Fourth of July.

There was a time it was held in the morning.

In 1998, it became the first stock car race at Daytona to be held at night under the lights.

From 2020-23, it was held on the final week of the regular season. Chris Buescher won this race last year.

This year, it’s the second-to-last race before the 10-race playoff.

On the latest episode of “The *State* of Florida Sports Podcast,” powered by the USA Today Network, Ken Willis of the Daytona Beach News-Journal joins me to talk about this year's Coke Zero 400.

Like the Coke Zero 400, Ken has experienced several changes over the past few years.

He used to come on this podcast with News-Journal sports editor editor Zach Dean. Then Zach left and Ryan Pritt took over.

Ryan recently departed to work for Hendrick Motorsports, so now it’s just Ken again.

We’ll hopefully fill that open role soon.

Regardless, it doesn’t change the fact Ken is one of the foremost experts on NASCAR for more than four decades.

On this week’s podcast, Ken will break down the Coke Zero 400 field and who he likes to take the checkered flag.

He'll give us his thoughts on this past weekend’s race in Michigan.

He’ll talk about the tight race for the final playoff spot.

He’ll give his thoughts on how this race has changed, and whether it’s good or bad.

And he’ll give us his top 5 Coke Zero 400s that he’s seen during his long and illustrious career.

Plus so much more.

If you want to be fully prepared for Saturday night’s race, then this is the podcast for you.

Find out why so many fans have checked us out and why our guests and journalists give you the best sports breakdowns in the state.

We can be downloaded wherever you listen to podcasts, or simply type in “The *State* of Florida Sports Podcast” into your favorite search engine. We also can be found on any of the 17 USA TODAY-Network Florida websites.

If you like it, you can check out previous shows, which feature current and former professional athletes and coaches, as well as our stable of journalists who cover beats and write columns, all of whom have a tie to the Sunshine State.

Walters can be reached at twalters@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Listen Now! NASCAR returns to Daytona with Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night