The ICL King of Daytona Series is headed into one of its most intense style shifts yet as the Gen 4 Cup Cars take over Daytona International Speedway for the next round. In a championship where every race is a different division — and the overall title comes down to who stacks the most points across the full slate — the Gen 4 night is a huge swing round. The cars are faster, the runs are bigger, and the margin for error gets smaller when the draft starts building lanes.
If you’re looking for what “King of Daytona” is really about, this is the round. Gen 4 rewards drivers who can balance aggression with patience: you’ve got to keep your nose clean, protect your track position, and still be ready to make a move when the line forms at the right time. It’s also the type of round where a driver who’s been quietly consistent can suddenly jump into contention with one strong finish — especially with points being so valuable in a multi-division format.
The past two seasons show just how different this round can look year-to-year. In Season 2, Brayden E Carter was the class of the field, scoring the Gen 4 win over Lucas Gonzalez7 and Seth Gregory, with Aidan Strawberry right there in the top five as well. In Season 1, it was Josh Kelleher grabbing the victory in a Gen 4 field that leaned heavily into new names up front early, with John Engel and Chase Grier completing the podium. Two seasons, two different winners — and a reminder that this round doesn’t belong to one “specialist.” If you execute, you can win.
There are also a couple of repeat storylines worth circling. Colton Zimmer has already shown Gen 4 speed with a top-five in Season 1, and Aidan Strawberry has been a consistent presence near the front across divisions at Daytona. Seth Gregory also popped up with a podium in Season 2, and names like Doug Welch and Carson Southern have proven they can land strong finishes here too. In a points-based championship, those “always around” results are often what decide the title once the final division wraps up.
Bottom line: Gen 4 is a pressure round. The draft creates opportunity, but it also creates risk — and the drivers who leave this one with a clean, high-point score will put themselves in a powerful position for the remaining divisions. If you’re chasing the championship, this is the night to stop thinking about “just getting through it” and start thinking about making a statement.
PAST GEN 4 RESULTS (King of Daytona):
Season 1:
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Josh Kelleher, 2) John Engel, 3) Chase Grier, 4) Colton Zimmer, 5) Félix Roy2, 6) Jeremiah Johnson, 7) Paul Ripley, 8) Randolph Richard, 9) Scout Neff, 10) Isaiah Frith2, 11) Keaton Holder, 12) Hunter McDougall, 13) Daniel Gray11, 14) Steve Therriault
Season 2:
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Brayden E Carter, 2) Lucas Gonzalez7, 3) Seth Gregory, 4) Aidan Strawberry, 5) Sean Kilgore, 6) Doug Welch, 7) Carson Southern, 8) Casey Wynn, 9) Bryan Brewer, 10) Jackson Franklin
