page_title: Coke Zero Sugar 400
section_title: 1970s
hierarchical_section_title: Coke Zero Sugar 400 / History / 1970s
caption_attribution_description: English: The 1996 Pepsi 400 at Daytona
context_page_description: The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is an annual NASCAR Cup Series stock car race at Daytona International Speedway. First held in 1959, the event consists of 160 laps, 400-mile, and is the second of two major stock car events held at Daytona on the Cup Series circuit, the other being the Daytona 500. From its inception to 2019, it was traditionally held on or around United States' Independence Day. From 1988 until 2019, the race has been scheduled for the first Saturday of July – that closest to July 4. In 1998, it became the first restrictor plate and Daytona race to be held at night. Since 2020, the race was moved to late August and is the final race of the Cup Series' regular season.
  From 1984 to 2007, the race was sponsored by PepsiCo, and for many years was known as the Pepsi 400. In 2008, as part of a multi-year deal between ISC and The Coca-Cola Company which made it the exclusive beverage supplier of ISC's tracks, including Daytona, Coca-Cola was granted the title sponsorship rights for the race. It was subsequently named the Coke Zero 400 for the Coca-Cola Zero brand. With Coke Zero becoming Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in 2018, the race will now be known as the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
context_section_description: In 1974, the maneuver used by David Pearson to win his third straight Firecracker race would be talked about well after he crossed the stripe. After collecting the white flag Pearson slowed his Wood Brothers 73' Mercury to allow Richard Petty to jump out to a seven-car lead. Following the race Pearson was quoted saying "I thought Petty might be able to slingshot and draft past me on that last lap and that's why I didn't want to be leading..." Using the draft Pearson was able to close on Petty into the final turn and eventually passed him coming to the tri-oval for the win. Eight seconds behind the Pearson-Petty duel, Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough seemed to have crossed the finish line at the same time. After two hours of deliberation officials announced a dead heat for third place, the only tie recorded in NASCAR history. During the race nine different drivers exchanged the lead 49 times, a race record that stood until it was broken with 57 between 25 different drivers in 2011.
  After the 1974 Firecracker 400 David Pearson became the first and only driver to win three consecutive races and first to win four July events. Before the 1975 race he would try to extend his streak to five wins. However, with 19 laps remaining Pearson ended up having oil line complications and finished the race in the 20th position. Instead five time winning Daytona 500 driver Richard Petty, finally won the Daytona July race by edging out Buddy Baker, after 17 years of trying.
  In 1977 Richard Petty collected his second win at Daytona in July, and it took almost four hours as the Firecracker witnessed its first rain-delayed race. Among the lineup were three female drivers; Lella Lombardi, Christine Beckers, and Janet Guthrie, who finished 31st, 37th, and 40th respectively. The following year, 1978, Pearson collected his final win at the track, becoming the only driver to win five July Daytona races, and became the most-winning driver at Daytona International Speedway with five wins, until Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 the following year.
caption: The 1996 Pepsi 400 at Daytona
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