MAIN Sports NASCAR Coke Zero 400 2009

The Daytona venue for one of the "coolest" races of the summer begins at sundown on one of the biggest American holidays of the summer ...

The Coke Zero 400, (formerly known as The Pepsi 400, or more popularly The Firecracker 400) is a 160 lap, 400 mile nightime race run by some of NASCAR's biggest superstars.

One of NASCAR's most prestigious events — and the only other besides the Daytona 500 to be held at Daytona International Raceway — the Coke Zero 400 attracts the sport's most famous stars and cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The race also happens to be scheduled around and American celebration of epic proportions, the 4th of July.

After an afternoon in the backyard barbecue, complete TV coverage started at 6:30 pm ET on cable channel TNT.

This year, millions of NASCAR fans got their red-white-and-blue on for all the action at the 51st annual race day weekend, kicking off with practice races (and the Winn-Dixie 250) followed by the Coke Zero 400 main event on Saturday, July 4, 2009.

The best action? That came near the end of the race, when Tony Stewart emerged the winner following a last lap wreck that caused a huge and spectacular chain reaction pile up!

More about the Coke Zero 400 around the Web:

Elsewhere on the Web, check out more information on driver profiles, stats & photos ...

Daytona Int'l Speedway - The official site with all the latest action, driver profiles, pictures, gallery, complete schedule, track map, 3-D seating charts, online shop and ticket information.

NASCAR.com - All you need to know about the Coke Zero 400 including info on the cars, the drivers, the numbers, the track. Also check out videos, audio and news on the race as the big night draws near.

Coke Zero 400 - Good background on the history of the race & the special lighting used during the nightime race, a listing of all past winners, and related photos, from Wikipedia.

Daytona Race Fans - Daytona area info, racing info, racing photos, driver info - with links to each driver's official Web site - NASCAR links and a busy message board.

also see in Entertaining -> NASCAR & Race Day Party Ideas

also see in Sports Stars -> Jeff Gordon | Jimmie Johnson

Danica Patrick | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Tony Stewart