DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After a week of penalties and an appeal, the focus now turns to the race at Daytona International Speedway.

Tonight’s race (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock) is the penultimate event of the regular season.

There are still four playoff spots left. Ross Chastain occupies the last spot. He is one point ahead of Bubba Wallace.

Tyler Reddick goes into the race as the points leader after winning Monday’s race in Michigan.

Here are three things to look out for in Daytona:

1. Expectation of help?

This is a common concept on race tracks when it comes to drafting. Cars from the same manufacturer are encouraged to help each other as much as possible.

Chris Buescher is the only Ford driver who could secure a playoff spot without winning. Ross Chastain is the only Chevrolet driver who could secure a playoff spot without winning.

So how much help do they expect from their manufacturing teammates?

“It’s a bigger challenge when you get the opportunity to help a manufacturer’s car rather than a competitor,” said Buescher. “I think the challenge would be to imagine that scenario from some of our teammates in the Ford camp, but no, I don’t think you can expect that from others.”

“We’re all competitors. We obviously have a very unified goal in mind, we’re all striving for the same thing, and you’re not going to get there by helping those you’re competing with at the end of the day.”

Chastain said: “I think some of my Chevy teammates will ask some things of me. But I don’t expect it.”

“If I’m making a move or lining up and need a Chevy teammate to go with me or help me, I want them to go with me because it was the right move, not because they feel like they need to help me. If I make the right decisions while drafting, they’ll go with me, push me and help me for the right reasons.”

2. Race for stage points

So many positions can change in the season standings that the race at the end of the first and second stages could be almost as chaotic as the final laps of the race.

Last year’s Daytona race featured a crash involving 12 cars at the end of Stage 2. The incident began when Christopher Bell tried to push his teammate Ty Gibbs to the lead on the outside line. The crash eliminated Gibbs and ended his playoff hopes.

At Daytona, a lot of emphasis is placed on stage points because of the likelihood of being involved in an accident at the end of the race. Earning stage points helps limit the potential loss in the final laps.

Watch as the riders try to get into positions in the final laps of each stage.

3. Last real chance for many

Yes, there is one race left in the regular season after Saturday night. But that is the Southern 500 at Darlington and it is not as much of a wildcard race as Daytona.

While drivers are hopeful in most races, many of them know this is their best chance to win and make the playoffs, which can mean more risks.

Drivers who must win at either Daytona or Darlington to make the playoffs include two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch and former Daytona 500 winners Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.