DAYTONA BEACH, FL – The field is set for the 68th Daytona 500, NASCAR’s season-opening showcase, following Thursday night’s qualifying Duel races at Daytona International Speedway. Forty-one drivers will compete for the win in “The Great American Race” on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with Kyle Busch starting from the pole position. The starting lineup was determined by the results of Wednesday’s qualifying and Thursday’s Duel races, which solidified the positions for drivers who didn’t automatically qualify.
The Daytona 500 marks the beginning of a new era for NASCAR’s championship format. The series has moved away from the elimination-style playoffs used for the past 13 seasons, reinstating “The Chase,” a 10-race run for the championship. While a victory in the Daytona 500 is celebrated with the Harley J. Earl Trophy, it no longer guarantees a spot in the championship battle. The top 16 drivers after the 26-race regular season will qualify for The Chase and the driver with the most points over the final 10 races will be crowned champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway, according to NBC Sports.
The race is scheduled to start around 2:13 p.m. ET, an hour earlier than originally planned due to the threat of rain, which has impacted several recent season openers. Fans can watch the action on Fox, with pre-race coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. ET, and listen on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio Channel 90. Here’s a look at the full starting lineup for Sunday’s race:
Daytona 500 Starting Lineup – February 15, 2026
Row 1
- 1. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- 2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Row 2
- 3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- 4. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Row 3
- 5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
- 6. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Row 4
- 7. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- 8. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Row 5
- 9. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- 10. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Row 6
- 11. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- 12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Row 7
- 13. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- 14. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Row 8
- 15. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- 16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Row 9
- 17. Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford (open entry)
- 18. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Row 10
- 19. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
- 20. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Row 11
- 21. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- 22. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Row 12
- 23. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
- 24. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Row 13
- 25. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- 26. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Row 14
- 27. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
- 28. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Row 15
- 29. Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota (open entry locked into 500 field on qualifying time)
- 30. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Row 16
- 31. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (open exemption provisional)
- 32. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Row 17
- 33. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
- 34. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Row 18
- 35. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- 36. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Row 19
- 37. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- 38. BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Speedy Motorsports Chevrolet (open entry)
Row 20
- 39. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (will go to backup car)
- 40. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (open entry locked in on qualifying time)
Row 21
- 41. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron will start the race from the rear of the field after having to switch to a backup car, USA Today reported.
The Daytona 500 remains a cornerstone event in motorsports, drawing a massive audience and setting the stage for the NASCAR Cup Series season. The focus now shifts to Sunday, where drivers will battle for a historic victory and a strong start to the championship chase.
What storylines will emerge during the 68th running of the Daytona 500? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below.
