As reported by Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal, Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 generated a 1.76 rating and averaged 3.297 million viewers for NBC. That is a dip from the 3.5 million viewers and 1.95 rating from last season’s Saturday night race at Daytona.

Ryan Blaney — He went from 13th to first in the final two laps to win. He gained five playoff points for the victory. By vaulting from fifth to second in the season standings at the end of the regular season, he gained four additional playoff points. So, he scored nine playoff points Saturday night. A big night for Blaney.

NASCAR got just what it wanted Saturday at Daytona as several underdogs had great shots at the playoffs. Also, Truck Series playoffs start this week.