Shane van Gisbergen (circled) won Stage 1 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Image: Kayo Sports
The Trackhouse Racing driver started from sixth and stayed among the front-runners until the end of the first 35-lap stage.
The race for the stage win came down to a battle between van Gisbergen and Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and the two RFK Racing drivers of Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece.
The decisive moment came when a logjam coming to the green-chequered flag ended with Larson getting into the back of Buescher.
The #17 RFK Racing Ford Mustang slapped the outside wall before coming across the nose of Larson and Preece.
All three went sliding through the grass while van Gisbergen shot to the lead to take the Stage 1 win and 10 bonus points. Despite spinning, Preece was classified eighth at the end of Stage 1 to win three stage points.
Ty Gibbs was classified second ahead of Joey Logano, Erik Jones, Chase Briscoe, Larson, Bubba Wallace, Preece, John Hunter Nemechek and Austin Cindric
Buescher copped toe link damage from hitting the wall while Larson and Preece also wore some minor wounds.
Buescher was relegated to the pits for repairs and went more than 10 laps down Larson and Preece, meanwhile, dropped to the back of the lead lap after both making an additional pit stop.
After pit stops, van Gisbergen started Stage 2 in second alongside Team Penske’s Logano.
The leaders make contact coming to the green-and-white checkered, and @shanevg97 takes Stage 1! pic.twitter.com/gBHac21qmr
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 30, 2026