2024 daytona 500

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2026 daytona speedweek

Friday Daytona Notebook

Notebook Items:

NASCAR OEM representatives discuss hopes for 2026 season
Chase Elliott hopes to add a champion’s name to DAYTONA 500 winners list
Joey Logano says ‘Driver beware’ in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500
Chase Briscoe says virtual bald look will become reality soon enough
NASCAR, POET Biofuels announce official partnership
FOX’s Mike Joy receives prestigious NMPA Myers Brothers Award

February 13, 2026

By Holly Cain and Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

NASCAR OEM representatives discuss hopes for 2026 season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After watching Thursday night’s America 250 Florida Duels at Daytona, Dr. Eric Warren, vice president of global motorsports competition for General Motors, was impressed with the drivability of the new Chevrolet body style.

The NASCAR Cup car’s ability to push and bump-draft? Let’s just say the jury is still out.

“Excited to see how the 3 (Austin Dillon) was able to move through there (in the first Duel),” said Warren during a Friday press conference that included representatives from all four NASCAR manufacturers. “But the second Duel (won by Chevrolet driver Chase Elliott), I was really excited about to see our cars really be able to get to the front and watching Carson (Hocevar) and Chase run together there a little bit.

“We watched (Ford drivers) Ryan (Blaney) and (Joey) Logano really make that two-car bump really kind of work. We haven't been able to do that. They were certainly able to do that last year.”

The proof will come when all 41 cars race together in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“When you get all the cars there, the momentum is a little different with the full field versus the Duels, so I've learned over the years that whatever you take from those Duels is not necessarily what happens when everybody is there,” Warren said.

“But certainly, promising for what we intended coming into Daytona with the new car.”

Kevin Kidd, North American Motorsports competition director for Stellantis, affirmed the Ram brand’s readiness to compete in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series as well as adding the assurance that Dodge intends to race in the NASCAR Cup Series in the future.

“Don't have anything ready to announce on that today, but it's certainly part of the discussion internally,” Kidd said. “It's looking at what the future brings for us. We have not made any qualms about it. We aim to get back in the Cup Series. It's really a matter of what the right timing is and what that looks like.

“You're racing against the best in the world here, so we have to build an incredible amount of infrastructure to go Cup racing. It's one thing to go Truck racing. It's a whole different can of worms to go Cup racing. For us, there is a strategy that we're currently developing to figure out what all that looks like and what the timing looks like behind that.

“Again, nothing ready to announce today, but I can tell you that we are working towards it.”

Pat DiMarco, NASCAR program manager for Ford Racing, acknowledged the Blue Oval teams expect to do better in 2026.

“I'd say '25 was a miss for us,” DiMarco said. “Anytime you don't win, you reflect on that. Not having anybody in the final four at Phoenix was a miss.

“There were some highlights, though. Ryan Blaney was consistent and one of the best drivers all year long, and the way the playoff format plays out, he just didn't make it…

“But looking forward to a great '26 and more consistency across the board, which I think with the RFK (Roush Fenway Keselowski) cars running up front (Thursday) night, Ryan Preece with the win at the Clash. I think there's some upside for '26 for the Ford Motor Company.”

In the Toyota camp, Toyota Racing Development president Tyler Gibbs was pleased with the manufacturer’s effort during the 2025 season, a campaign that could have been even better had a late caution not deprived Denny Hamlin of a chance to win the Cup Series title.

“We were 90 seconds from a great year,” Gibbs said. “A lot of fun over the course of the season, worked hard in the off-season getting ready for this year, and kind of building on what we had last year. We've only got one new crew chief this year, same drivers as last year.

“So, building on what we had last year and coming out one spot better this year is really the goal and what we are looking for.” –Reid Spencer

Chase Elliott hopes to add a champion’s name to DAYTONA 500 winners list

Chase Elliott, winner of Thursday’s night’s second Duel, met with reporters Friday morning for a candid discussion about the sport and his expectations for the weekend’s season-opening DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

It’s a race that only two of the seven NASCAR Cup Series champions entered this weekend have ever won.

The short list of champs who have won the DAYTONA 500 includes Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2015) and Legacy Motor Club’s Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013). And although Logano now owns three season titles, when he scored his Daytona victory 11 years ago, he wasn’t a season champion yet.

“It’s always been kind of a lottery in some capacity and you have to have a lot of things go your way," Elliott said of scoring a win in the sport’s grandest race.

“And there’s positives and negatives to that. It’s produced a lot of great underdog stories that you wouldn’t have if it wasn’t that way. I think it’s just the nature of the race, and honestly it’s been that way since I’ve been around.

“There’s just not a lot once the race gets going that’s in your hands, but there are some things, and it’s important to try and execute those things, whatever they are—no matter how big or how small they are—to the best of your ability.”

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will be starting the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet from pole position for the first time in his career, hoping his 21st DAYTONA 500 start will be the charm.

Elliott, the 2020 series champion will start the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports on the second row alongside Logano in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford. Logano’s teammate, 2023 champ Ryan Blaney will roll off fifth in the No. 12 Penske Ford.

Two-time and reigning series champion Kyle Larson starts eighth, and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski lines up ninth on the starting grid—both also racing for their first trophy.

“You’re just hedging your bet, doing everything you can to put the numbers as much in your favor as you can, and from there you have to have some things go your way," Elliott said. “From our standpoint, that’s all we can do.

“Unfortunately, that hasn’t worked out to this point but also really fortunate to have another opportunity with HMS and come down to my 11th DAYTONA 500, and every time I’ve driven through the tunnel I know I have a shot. I know I have a shot when I get here, so what else can I ask for." – Holly Cain

Joey Logano says ‘Driver beware’ in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500

Joey Logano believes Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio) is likely to be a wild affair—and that’s from the guy who won Thursday night’s first America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona qualifying race.

In other words, drivers can bump-draft at their own peril, even on the straightaways.

“I think the whole field has learned that pushing each other is pretty sketchy,” Logano said after taking the checkered flag. “I was thinking about it driving over here (to the media center). The DAYTONA 500 could be a total wreck-fest, 'cause if you think about the Duels, it's a heat race, and everyone is like, ‘Don't tear up your car, get what you can out of it, but don't crash.’

“We wrecked a lot of stuff (in the first Duel). That's everyone not racing for the DAYTONA 500, so... Say a prayer. It's going to be crazy.”

Even though Logano and Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney worked well together to finish 1-2, Logano was concerned about drivers’ ability to push each other, particularly when they’re not driving the same manufacturer’s cars.

“Everyone's ‘push-ability’ seems awful,” said Logano, the 2015 DAYTONA 500 winner. “I didn't see any car that was taking a push that was, like, comfortable on the straightaways. A lot of cars were just squirrelly, right? I haven't watched replays yet, but all the wrecks happened on the straightaways. I'm assuming that's from pushes more times than not. I'm assuming everyone's push-ability is weak.” –-Reid Spencer

Chase Briscoe says virtual bald look will become reality soon enough

During the offseason, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe took to social media and AI to present himself with a freshly shaved head, a la Joey Logano.

In Briscoe’s case, the bald head wasn’t real, though it created quite a stir on the internet.

To be fair, and as Briscoe freely admits, he doesn’t have a lot of hair to start with.

“I have social media in an uproar normally every single week, because TV shows me during the National Anthem, and people roast me for how bad my hair is—and lack of hair,” Briscoe said.

Accordingly, he decided to take the next step—virtually.

“I felt like I was giving the fans what they wanted,” said Briscoe, who will start from the outside of the front row in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). I was kind of dipping my toe into the bald community. It’s going to happen at some point. It’s inevitable. I’ve been going bald forever, it’s going to happen. I just was trying to dip my toe in and see what the reaction would be.

“I might do it over the offseason. I might randomly show up one week this summer with it all cut off. But it’s going to happen at some point, I can assure you.”

Briscoe acknowledges that the real thing won’t match the AI-generated image.

“The problem is, with the AI thing it looks good, but my head is not that shape,” Briscoe said. “So, it’s going to look totally different when I actually do it. And it’s going to be like the brightest white thing—you’re going to need sunglasses when I take my hat off.” --Reid Spencer

Yates family honored with Ford Motor Company’s highest award

Ford Motor Company presented renowned NASCAR engine builder Doug Yates and his father, the late Robert Yates with the prestigious Spirit of Ford Award on Friday at Daytona. The honor has only been bestowed 30 times in history and goes to those who have “made a significant contribution to the sport of auto racing on and off the race track.

In its nine seasons competing in NASCAR, Robert Yates Racing (1988-2007) earned 57 wins, three DAYTONA 500 trophies and the 1999 championship with Dale Jarrett. Doug has since carried on the family tradition of success after joining forces with team owner Jack Roush.

Roush Yates Engines have accounted for 449 victories combined in the NASCAR Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

“There are very few people in the world who love Ford Motor Company as much as Doug Yates," said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford Motor Company’s board of directors said in presenting the award. “Doug, and his father Robert, symbolize what’s right with the Ford Racing program, but also what is right about the sport of motor racing itself.” — Holly Cain

NASCAR, POET Biofuels announce official partnership

NASCAR announced Friday that POET, the world’s largest biofuels producer, will now serve as the “official bioethanol partner” of the sport.

The company’s plant-based bioethanol serves as a “cleaner-burning higher-octane alternative to traditional gasoline” with zero life cycle carbon emissions.

“Obviously, this is something that will be subject to great testing and working across the industry," said NASCAR’s Chief Impact Officer Eric Nyquist. “Ethanol has a nice benefit of bringing higher octane benefits to our fuel.

“Obviously, it's a cleaner burning element as well that we can bring forward to making important improvements to the efficiency of our fuel and what it brings to the environment.”

NASCAR is the first major motorsports series to use this zero-carbon bioethanol and the company’s visibility in the sport also includes the naming of the POET Restart Zone on all NASCAR-owned tracks. — Holly Cain

FOX’s Mike Joy receives prestigious NMPA Myers Brothers Award

Long-tenured race announcer Mike Joy was presented with the legendary NMPA Myers Brothers Award Friday at Daytona. The FOX Sports NASCAR race announcer follows in the footsteps of other great honorees, including the late Greg Biffle.

Joy will be covering his 47th Daytona 500 and has been an announcer in the sport in various capacities for 57 years. He started and spent 14 years with MRN before anchoring the first live race telecasts on ESPN (1981) and then TNN (1991).

He has been a pit reporter, worked on both radio and television and since 2001 been the lead announcer on FOX Sports NASCAR. Sunday’s race will be his 24th straight in the FOX Sports booth.

The Myers Brothers award honors individuals or groups for “outstanding contributions” to the sport and is decided by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) membership. — Holly Cain

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 2 days to go

February 13, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The number two is not typically a beloved numeral in racing largely because it means a driver took the checkered flag second and did not win. However, when it comes to the DAYTONA 500 at least starting the race second has been a good omen that a driver may finish the race first. Eight times the second-place starter has taken the big trophy, but the last time that happened was more than 30 years ago - 1993 (Dale Jarrett). And while the overall odds (almost 40 percent) remain favorable for a front row starter to claim the win, none has since pole-winner Jarrett in 2000. Only two Daytona 500 winners since 2020 even started among the top-10 on the grid reflecting what a wide-open competitive event it truly has become.

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

--30--

Mears Races In, McLeod Awarded Final Daytona 500 Berth After Inspection

February 12, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – High drama and long-shot endings once again proved the narrative of the night in Thursday’s America 250 Florida Duels at DAYTONA with Casey Mears and B.J. McLeod claiming the final two “open” positions for the 41-car field for Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

They will join 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who secured their Open car starting spots in Wednesday night’s Busch Light Pole Qualifying session. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Jimmie Johnson, owner-driver of Legacy Motor Club, is using an Open Exemption Provisional and raced his way up to a 31st starting spot for Sunday.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano (Duel 1) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (Duel 2) were Thursday’s race winners.

Mears, a former longtime fulltime NASCAR Cup Series driver and race winner for the legendary Hendrick Motorsports Team – and nephew of Indianapolis 500 great Rick Mears – turned in a video game move on the final half lap of the opening Duel finishing eighth and earning an unlikely ticket into Sunday’s race – his first DAYTONA 500 start since 2019.

“This is just one of those places where there are enough random things happen and stuff that happens that’s out of your control and sometimes you’re on the right side of it and sometimes you’re not and fortunately today, we were on the right side," said an emotional 47-year-old Mears.

“It was a big range of emotions, but the one thing that’s interesting this time around is this is all a bonus round for me. My career pretty much ended back in 2017-2018 and to come back and just have the opportunity to do this again is a big deal so I’m kind of soaking it all in and enjoying every moment."

His Carl Long-owned Garage 66 Ford team only has 10 members and even brought a back-up car – not necessarily for Daytona – but to try again at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway next week in case he didn’t end up qualifying for Sunday’s race.

At one point a miscue coming to pit road left his No. 66 Ford Dark Horse Mustang stuck in the grass by pit road, but he got out and crucially lost only one lap, which ultimately made all the difference. He made it up on a later caution.

For all but that final overtime lap, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s “fourth car” driven by Corey LaJoie ran among the front-runners – consistently best among the three open cars in that first Duel. And he seemed easily poised to take the position transferring him into the race. Until the final lap.

Unfortunately for LaJoie, that’s when he spun and collected multiple cars in the melee while Mears was able to zig and zag forward from the back of the field and move into a position on the DAYTONA 500 grid.

“It's been incredible to work with these guys, and didn't see this opportunity coming about," LaJoie said from the track’s Infield Care Center. “Didn't see it, you know, ending like this, but, I mean, at the end of the day, God's so good, even in the valley. It sucks. It sucks.”

McLeod, 42, finished 19th in the second – caution-free – Duel race but was awarded the DAYTONA 500 transfer spot after post-race inspection found a rules violation on the 18th-place Beard Motorsports car driven by Anthony Alfredo.

This will be the sixth DAYTONA 500 start – and first since 2023 - for the Floridian, McLeod, who owns and drives the No. 78 Life Fast Motorsports Chevrolet. His best career finish in the 500 is 19th and came in his 2019 debut in the race. He does have a pair of top-10 finishes in the Daytona summer 400-miler.

During post-race inspection, inspectors noticed a transmission transaxle cooling hose in Alfredo’s car that was supposed to be attached but instead was disconnected. NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Moran noted that all hoses are checked post-race and “if anything is found like this during the season it would be a DQ during the race” and noted it is not an “appeal-able” violation because it came in a qualifying race not a race.

“First of all, unfortunate to be here," Moran said. “Any small open team we don't like to have these problems, but we do have to do our job, make sure there's parity amongst the field and also parity amongst people trying to make the 500.

“During inspection, we noticed this hose, which is a transmission cooling transaxle cooling hose. Comes off of the right side quarter window, and it's supposed to go into the transaxle cooler. It needs to be airtight, needs to be fastened.

“We have many rules, as you all know, that no parts can fall off the car for obvious reasons. We don't say what the intent is, but these parts have to be fastened properly. Unfortunately, this one piece wasn't on the right side. There was also another hose disconnected for driving cooling, which affects airflow.”

As for Mears, Sunday will mark his 495th start in the NASCAR Cup Series with the goal of getting to 500 starts this season. He said he’s targeting superspeedways and road courses on the 2026 schedule for the best chance of qualifying into the field as an open team.

“I just can’t believe we’re sitting here right now, everything was just completely stacked against us from top to bottom," Mears said, adding with a smile. “Thank God we were just in the right place at the right time and we were able to get it home. …Feels good to be here. Haven’t been here in a while."

Joey Logano, Chase Elliott win 150-mile Duels as DAYTONA 500 field is set

James Gilbert/Getty Images

February 12, 2026

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Joey Logano won the fourth America 250 Florida Duel of his career on Thursday night to secure a third-place starting spot in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

In a second Duel that ran caution free, Chase Elliott took control of the race on Lap 53 of 60 and held off Carson Hocevar by 0.065 seconds to win his third 150-mile qualifying race and earn the fourth starting position for the DAYTONA 500.

With an earnest push from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, Logano was at the front of the field when NASCAR called the third caution of the first Duel on Lap 63, three laps into overtime.

Both Logano and Blaney are among the favorites to win Sunday’s 68th edition of the Great American Race. Blaney ran second and will start fifth in NASCAR’s biggest race.

“Just a lot of teamwork all the way through,” Logano said of the win. “I think about the 22 team in particular. Nick Hensley, our gas man, did a fantastic job getting us in position out of pit road. (Spotter) Coleman Pressley up on the roof giving us great information. My teammate Ryan Blaney being committed and working together.

“It's nice when everything works out the way it's supposed to.”

Logano has finished ninth or better in 12 straight Daytona Duels.

Former DAYTONA 500 winner Austin Dillon ran third, followed by Brad Keselowski—recovering from a broken right femur—and John Hunter Nemechek. Shane van Gisbergen, Daniel Suarez, Casey Mears, Ryan Preece and Alex Bowman completed the top 10.

Mears came from a lap down to earn the one Open position in the DAYTONA 500 available from the first Duel. Mears advanced when fellow Open competitor Corey LaJoie—running in the top five at the time—turned into the outside wall in a chain-reaction collision on the final lap of overtime.

Anthony Alfredo had a relatively stress-free run to claim the DAYTONA 500 spot available to Open cars in the second Duel, or so he thought. Though Alfredo finished 18th, 23 seconds ahead of BJ McLeod—the next-best Open driver—his finish was disallowed after post-race inspection, and McLeod will compete in the Great American Race on Sunday.

According to NASCAR Cup Series director Brad Moran, a transmission cooling hose on Alfredo's No. 62 Chevrolet was not fastened properly, and another hose was disconnected, affecting both cooling and airflow.

The complexion of the first race changed dramatically after Mears slid into the Ford of Noah Gragson coming to pit road on Lap 46. Preece had led 38 laps to that point but needed more fuel on his stop and fell back after the subsequent restart on Lap 50.

Mears lost a lap because of his spin into the infield grass but regained it as the beneficiary under caution under the second caution for a five-car accident on Lap 56 that eliminated the No. 24 Chevrolet of William Byron, the two-time defending winner of the DAYTONA 500.

Byron will start Sunday’s race from the rear of the field in a backup car.

In the final wreck on Lap 63, Mears’ No. 66 Ford nosed into the Chevrolet of Daniel Suarez after passing Lajoie’s spinning Ford for the critical position. Mears had the leading Open car when NASCAR called the caution that froze the field.

“I hit somebody square,” Mears said, unsure whether his Carl Long-owned car could be repaired or if a backup would be required. “And I knew when I hit him flat it didn't tear up the car too much and I was going to be able to get back (to the checkered flag).

“But I didn't know who was in front of me still, whether or not we made it. All the guys started going nuts on the radio.”

Sensing danger as the first Duel barreled toward a frenetic conclusion, DAYTONA 500 pole winner Kyle Busch dropped to the rear of the field after the Lap 50 restart to preserve his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet for Sunday’s race. He finished 18th in the 23-car field.

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, already locked into the 500 on an Open Exemption Provisional, ran a conservative race and finished 15th.

In the second Duel, Elliott led twice for nine laps and became the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to win three or more Duels. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the organization with five.

“A great way to get the blood pumping for sure on a Thursday night,” said Elliott, who is seeking his first win in the Great American Race. “There was a lot going on those last handful (of laps). Really, ever since we came off of pit road after the cycle, we were getting after it. It was a lot of fun.

“Had some great support there. Carson did a great job helping me control those lanes, helping get Team Chevy for Victory Lane tonight. Certainly, owe him an appreciation for just kind of sticking with it, also pushing me well. It's real easy to get people out of control. Appreciate that.”

Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson ran third, followed by former DAYTONA 500 winner Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell. Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin claimed positions six through 10, respectively.

Chase Briscoe, who locked into the second starting position during Wednesday night’s time trials, led a race-high 38 laps but fell victim to a lengthy green-flag pit stop on Lap 45, lost the draft and finished 20th.

NASCAR Cup Series Race - America 250 Florida Duel 1 at DAYTONA

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

Thursday, February 12, 2026

1. (6) Joey Logano, Ford, 63.

2. (11) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 63.

3. (7) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 63.

4. (10) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 63.

5. (9) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 63.

6. (19) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 63.

7. (20) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 63.

8. (22) Casey Mears, Ford, 63.

9. (2) Ryan Preece, Ford, 63.

10. (4) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 63.

11. (13) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 63.

12. (23) Noah Gragson, Ford, 63.

13. (16) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 63.

14. (3) Corey Heim(i), Toyota, 63.

15. (15) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota, 63.

16. (21) Chandler Smith(i), Ford, 63.

17. (14) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 63.

18. (1) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 63.

19. (8) Corey LaJoie, Ford, Accident, 62.

20. (17) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 62.

21. (18) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, Accident, 62.

22. (12) William Byron, Chevrolet, Accident, 55.

23. (5) Chris Buescher, Ford, Accident, 55.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 153.867 mph.

Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 1 Mins, 25 Secs. Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds.

Caution Flags: 3 for 9 laps.

Lead Changes: 9 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders: K. Busch 0;R. Preece 1-3;A. Dillon 4;J. Nemechek 5-7;A. Dillon 8-9;R. Preece 10-44;C. Custer 45-47;J. Logano 48-49;C. Buescher 50;J. Logano 51-63.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Ryan Preece 2 times for 38 laps; Joey Logano 2 times for 15 laps; Austin Dillon 2 times for 3 laps; Cole Custer 1 time for 3 laps; John Hunter Nemechek 1 time for 3 laps; Chris Buescher 1 time for 1 lap.

NASCAR Cup Series Race - America 250 Florida Duel at DAYTONA

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

Thursday, February 12, 2026

1. (4) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 60.

2. (14) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 60.

3. (3) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 60.

4. (10) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 60.

5. (6) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 60.

6. (13) Josh Berry, Ford, 60.

7. (19) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 60.

8. (16) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 60.

9. (5) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 60.

10. (2) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 60.

11. (12) Erik Jones, Toyota, 60.

12. (20) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 60.

13. (15) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 60.

14. (9) Zane Smith, Ford, 60.

15. (11) Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 60.

16. (18) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 60.

17. (8) Austin Cindric, Ford, 60.

18. (17) Anthony Alfredo(i), Chevrolet, 60.

19. (21) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 60.

20. (1) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 60.

21. (7) Justin Allgaier(i), Chevrolet, 60.

22. (22) JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, 57.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 183.237 mph.

Time of Race: 0 Hrs, 49 Mins, 7 Secs. Margin of Victory: .065 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 0 for laps.

Lead Changes: 12 among 10 drivers.

Lap Leaders: C. Briscoe 1-31;T. Dillon 32;C. Briscoe 33-39;T. Dillon 40-41;M. McDowell 42-44;*. Alfredo(i) 45;C. Zilisch # 46;R. Herbst 47;*. Allgaier(i) 48-49;T. Reddick 50;C. Elliott 51;C. Hocevar 52;C. Elliott 53-60.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Chase Briscoe 2 times for 38 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 9 laps; Ty Dillon 2 times for 3 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 3 laps; * Justin Allgaier(i) 1 time for 2 laps; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 1 lap; * Anthony Alfredo(i) 1 time for 1 lap; Riley Herbst 1 time for 1 lap; Carson Hocevar 1 time for 1 lap; Connor Zilisch # 1 time for 1 lap.

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 3 days to go

February 12, 2026

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Denny Hamlin won the DAYTONA 500 three times within a span of five races from 2016 through 2020. Teamwork carried Hamlin to his 2016 win in the Great American Race, as Joe Gibbs Racing drivers finished 1-2-3-5, with Hamlin beating Martin Truex Jr. to the finish line by 0.010 seconds. In 2019, JGR Toyotas once again swept the top three spots as Hamlin edged Kyle Busch by 0.138 seconds, and Erik Jones ran third. In a 2020 race that featured nine laps of overtime, Hamlin led the final 12 circuits as Ford drivers Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, David Ragan and Kevin Harvick claimed the next four spots. With three wins in the Great American Race, Hamlin is tied with Bobby Allison, Dale Jarret and Jeff Gordon for third-most all-time.

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Weekend Preview: DAYTONA 500

February 12, 2026

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

William Byron ready to try for unprecedented DAYTONA 500 three-peat

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron doesn’t think he’s the best driver in the NASCAR Cup Series garage at drafting on superspeedways.

That said, the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has been good enough to win consecutive DAYTONA 500s. He’ll try for an unprecedent third straight victory in the Great American Race on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Byron has five career victories at drafting tracks—two at Atlanta Motor Speedway and three at Daytona International Speedway, including a win in the 2020 summer race. At Talladega Superspeedway, Byron has posted five top-five results in 16 starts.

“I don’t know if I’ve figured it out,” Byron said of his past success on superspeedways. “I feel like we’ve had some things go our way, and then we’ve been good at the speedways. Really, it started at Talladega. I think we were better at Talladega for a while.

“We weren’t finishing at Daytona, and once we figured out a way to finish the races at Daytona, it seemed like it started to go the other way. You just try to do the best job you can, learning the little nuances of the draft. I don’t think I’m the best at drafting at the moment. I think there’s still more to learn.”

Byron’s crew chief, Rudy Fugle is acutely aware of what’s on the line in Sunday’s race.

“Everybody understands how cool it would be, how historic it would be to win three in a row,” Fugle said. "We know a lot of that’s out of our control, but you’re still putting forth that amazing effort in every corner of the shop.”

Byron isn’t the only competitor driven by numbers. Veteran Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin is trying to win his fourth DAYTONA 500, a feat that would tie him with Cale Yarborough for the second-most all-time victories in NASCAR’s biggest race.

Only seven-time winner Richard Petty has more.

“Every win that you get here puts you in a certain list,” Hamlin said. “The list is so small at that four number, it certainly was on my mind on the last lap last year when we were leading, that we are going to get another one.

“I’ve just been really lucky to have the opportunities I’ve had to win these races, but also been very unfortunate in the NextGen era (starting in 2022) to not have won more. I feel as though the opportunity will be there, and hopefully we can put ourselves in position to move ourselves up that Daytona 500 winners board.”

Kyle Busch, who won the pole position for Sunday’s race in Wednesday night’s qualifying session, will have to overcome a couple of statistical challenges to claim his first Harley J. Earl trophy.

Busch is racing in his 21st DAYTONA 500. No driver has ever won the race for the first time in more than 20 attempts, the number it took the late Dale Earnhardt to add that elusive victory to his resume (1998).

“Yeah, it's a box we’ve got to check,” said Busch, who ran second to Hamlin in 2019. “Here we are. This is an opportunity to be able to do that. I've come down here a lot of years. I think I finished in about every position possible. It would be nice to close out 2026 with a victory here in the Daytona 500.”

No driver has won the DAYTONA 500 from a front-row starting position since Dale Jarrett won from the pole in 2000.

Austin Hill looks to rebound in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts season opener

Austin Hill comes to Daytona with the same confident attitude that carried him to three straight season-opening victories from 2022 through 2024—a streak that ended last year because of a rear end gear failure.

The pre-eminent superspeedway racer in the newly-entitled NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Hill will try for his 11th career drafting track victory in Saturday’s United Auto Rentals 300 at 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway (5 p.m. ET on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Hill succeeds at Daytona in part because he enjoys the inevitable close-quarters racing.

“I actually have a lot of fun with it,” said Hill, who is embarking on his fifth full-time season in the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. “Everyone talks about pressure and questions if the pressure is going to get to you. But for me, I just go into Daytona weekends with the same mindset that I always do.

“We try to run up front, do our thing, stay out of wrecks, and hope that it’s enough at the end.”

Hill didn’t win last year’s Daytona opener. RCR teammate Jesse Love did. Love went on to claim the series title at Phoenix Raceway, providing perfect bookends to a season otherwise dominated by rookie phenom Connor Zilisch, who won 10 of his 32 starts.

Zilisch has moved on to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, to the delight of Love and his fellow championship contenders.

“Obviously there is a lot of want and desire to go back-to-back at Daytona, a lot of want and desire to start the year off with a win and get RCR's fifth win in a row,” Love said. “Definitely looking forward to it. I'm kind of tired of the offseason. I'm just ready to get back in my swing of things.

“I'm excited, not nervous or anything like that, which is different from past years where I typically feel like I am a little bit nervous to start the season. But now I have my feet under me, I know what to expect and what not to expect, and mostly I am a little bit wiser now to understand similar things that can happen that I don't normally think of."

Zilisch’s departure also should be a boon for JR Motorsports veteran Justin Allgaier, who won the series championship in 2024. Allgaier is running both the DAYTONA 500 and O’Reilly Auto Parts race.

On Wednesday, Allgaier locked into the DAYTONA 500 field in the No. 40 JRM Chevrolet, one of eight Open cars trying to make the race.

Tony Stewart supports Ram brand debut as both return to NASCAR Truck Series

For the first time since 2005, 54-year-old Tony Stewart will take the green flag in a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race in Friday night’s Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The start will be Stewart’s first in a NASCAR national series since the NASCAR Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2016. Since then, the driver of the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram has earned admission into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and embarked on a successful career as a top fuel drag racer.

The truck Stewart will drive is new to the series. Kaulig will field five Ram trucks in the brand’s first NASCAR competition since 2012. Other Kaulig drivers include Justin Haley, Daniel Dye, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Mini Tyrrell, who earned his ride in the No. 14 Ram through Kaulig’s Race for the Seat competition.

“This is Ram’s coming-out party,” Stewart said Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. “So, what better way to support Ram and Dodge and (parent company) Stellantis and to do it in the biggest showcase of the year in the first race at Daytona?

“…It’s fun to do it with a group I’ve never worked with before. It’s fun to do it with a brand I’m passionate about at a track that we’ve had some success at. All in all, it’s nice to be back.”

Last year’s dominant driver and series champion Corey Heim has moved on from the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota after winning a series-record 12 of 25 races in 2025. That leaves an enormous void that such drivers as Kaden Honeycutt (Heim’s successor in the No. 11), Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith of Front Row Motorsports and the Kaulig contingent will be eager to fill.

Kyle Busch wins pole for Sunday's Daytona 500

Feb. 11, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. _ Kyle Busch delivered the best Daytona 500 qualifying effort of his championship NASCAR career Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway, claiming his first ever pole position for the Great American Race (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Busch’s No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was quickest in first round qualifying and answered the work resoundingly with an even faster lap (183.651 mph) in the 10-car final round - besting Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe by only .064-mph to set the front row.

Busch, 40, and Briscoe, 31 – the 2025 Daytona 500 polesitter – locked into the 41-car field along with 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who claimed the two open positions up for grabs Wednesday. The remainder of the field will be settled in Thursday night’s America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona races (7 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with the 500 starting positions based on the Duels’ finishing order.

This will mark Busch’s 21st start in the Daytona 500 – and no previous driver has won the race with more than 20 starts. The late NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt scored his only DAYTONA 500 victory in his 20th start for Busch’s team owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Childress.

“Certainly, here on a Wednesday night, being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that's pretty special.,’’ said a grinning Busch. “I've had one other speedway pole down here in Daytona for the summer race. This feels good. Feels really good for RCR as a group.

“Just a valiant effort by everybody here,’’ the two-time series champion added. “It would be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being No. 1 come Sunday night.”

Briscoe was obviously encouraged by his showing as well, noting with a laugh that more typically it’s the Hendrick Motorsports team that has dominated Daytona 500 front row qualifying in recent years.

“It's cool for sure to be able to consistently two years in a row now,’’ said Briscoe, who drives the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “It's really a testament to the folks back at JGR. We've made so many improvements on our superspeedway program. This race really comes down to, at least in qualifying, attention to detail, just doing every little thing.

“The 19 group has consistently kind of been the best one. That's really exciting for us. Just a lot of pride in that, right? I know for me, every week when I get in the car, I know I'm in arguably the best car every single week. When we come here and do stuff like we've done two years in a row validates that.

“It's the kid in me. .. being in the front row, for two years in a row at the Daytona 500. It's a really big deal.’’

It was certainly a thrilling start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series points season, the qualifying session featured a great battle among all three series manufacturers – with four Chevrolets, three Fords and three Toyotas making up the final round. Nine of the 10 cars that advanced bettered the pole speed from a year ago.

Last week’s Clash preseason-opening race winner Ryan Preece was third fastest in the No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford with three-time Daytona 500 winner, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin fourth quickest followed by Heim, the only one of eight “open” cars to make the 10-car final round.

“Just kind of nerve-wracking for sure to say the least,’’ the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Heim conceded of earning his first ever Daytona 500 start in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota.

“But as soon as we knew all cars would be out in the second round except for us, that's kind of the final solidifying factor. I thought for a minute, three of us were going to be in the final round and we were going to have to race it out.

“So impressed and thank you for 23XI Racing and Toyota coming here with an open car and a fourth team at 23XI. To be able to do that is pretty impressive even from my eyes. I feel like that's a very big accomplishment from those guys. Just blessed to be a part of the team.”

The veteran Allgaier – the 2024 champion and a current fulltime competitor in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series - is making his second consecutive start in the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, owned by two-time DAYTONA 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller. Allgaier’s qualifying time bettered the open car driven by Corey LaJoie by only a slight .004-second to claim that second guaranteed entry.

“I thought there would be less stress but I felt like for me, the stress level actually went up compared to last year with what we are able to accomplish,’’ said Allgaier, who finished ninth last year in the team’s inaugural DAYTONA start.

“You feel like you’ll come back in a lot better capacity and we did, that was a great qualifying effort, just short of the top-10,’’ he said of the car’s 14th place showing Wednesday night among the 45 car field.

“I think last year we made it so exciting on Thursday, it was really cool and it was special,’’ Allgaier said of having to race for a position in the 2025 DAYTONA 500 in the Duels. “But I feel like this year, I can go through the Duels and work on the car in a far different capacity and allows us to go to the 500 and really feel like we’re competing for a win and competing for a great position. It’s just different and I’m really proud of this team.’’

His grinning team owner Earnhardt conceded, “It is stressful but that’s the best part about it.”

Of note, Front Row Motorsports driver Noah Gragson had his qualifying lap disallowed after he used his hand to affect airflow, violating a new NASCAR rule that took effect this year. He’ll start last in his Duel race.

“I completely forgot about that rule,’’ Gragson said, “That one’s on me.’’

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 4 days to go

February 11, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The No. 4 has left a spirited DAYTONA 500 legacy – adorning the car of winners and record-setters. Ernie Irvan was the first to drive the No. 4 into Daytona International Speedway’s famed Victory Lane – claiming the 1991 DAYTONA 500 in the Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet. Only three years later, Sterling Marlin would claim his very first career win in the 1994 DAYTONA 500 driving that team’s No. 4 and he answered it with his second career win in the 1995 DAYTONA 500 – becoming only the third driver (of five now) to win NASCAR’s grand race consecutively. Front Row Motorsports driver Noah Gragson would love to contribute to that No. 4’s storied history at Daytona this Sunday in the 2026 season-opening DAYTONA 500.

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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DAYTONA 500 Media Day Notebook

Notebook Items:

Denny Hamlin is working his way into 2026 NASCAR Cup season
Connor Zilisch aware of high expectations in DAYTONA 500 debut
Chase Elliott: New NASCAR championship format is aptly named
Kyle Busch ready for challenge in 21st DAYTONA 500 start
So far, so good for Brad Keselowski’s return from broken leg
Shane van Gisbergen cites progress on oval tracks as top priority

February 11, 2026

By Holly Cain and Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

Denny Hamlin is working his way into 2026 NASCAR Cup season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Denny Hamlin hasn’t lost his competitive edge. Simply put, it has been dormant for a few months—and understandably so.

In 2025, Hamlin, 45, made a wholehearted effort to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship. His preparation was superb, and so was his performance in the title event at Phoenix Raceway.

Hamlin led 208 of 319 laps, won the second stage and was three laps away from a dominant victory when the championship was snatched from his grasp by an untimely caution.

After that disappointment came heartache, when Hamlin’s father, Dennis Hamlin, died from injuries suffered in a housefire on Dec. 28. His mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, was severely injured in the blaze.

As a consequence, Hamlin is working his way into the current season, but he’s confident he’ll be ready by the time the new 10-race Chase championship format arrives in September.

“We're kind of getting back into the swing of things,” Hamlin said Wednesday during DAYTONA 500 Media Day interviews at Daytona International Speedway. “Certainly, would be lying if I said I was as highly motivated as I have been in years past, but I think that—I said it last week—it would just take some time.

“And I think that every day at the race track is certainly getting there. I know I'm way too competitive to just go through the motions. So, as we get on the racetrack, go through practices and qualifying, we're slowly getting there.”

Recently, Hamlin has leaned heavily on team owner Joe Gibbs—never more so than the night his father died.

“I mean, Joe beat me to the hospital the night of,” Hamlin said. “The guy is just unbelievable in how he is as a leader, and obviously he has been through it (with the loss of sons J.D. Gibbs and Coy Gibbs).

“So, my connection really on that personal level is more so with Joe, and it's always been that way since he kind of took over as my at-track dad.”

No doubt Hamlin’s competitive nature will kick in on Sunday when he tries to win his fourth DAYTONA 500, a number only Richard Petty (seven victories) and Cale Yarborough (four victories) have accomplished. —Reid Spencer

Connor Zilisch aware of high expectations in DAYTONA 500 debut

Connor Zilisch has won in every kind of car he’s competed in—a road racing phenom who hoisted a 24 Hour of Daytona class winner’s trophy before he could get his legal driver’s license.

Last year he transitioned to fulltime NASCAR racer and won a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series-best 10 races and set a record with 18 consecutive top-five finishes, capping the season with Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors as the championship runner-up.

It's quite a lead-in to 2026, when Zilisch will now contend in his rookie NASCAR Cup Series season driving the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. He makes his full-time debut in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway, a place he recalls coming four years ago as a fan, not even knowing anyone in the garage area well enough to secure a pit pass.

A generational-talent, Zilisch faces not only the challenge of competing in the sport’s greatest race against its greatest talents, but he also competes under high and heavy expectation that come with his all his past success.

But the perpetually good-natured 19-year-old Charlotte native smiles gratefully and promises his goal is to finish all the laps and hopefully come away with a top-10 in his debut in the Great American Race. Should he win, Zilisch would become the youngest winner in DAYTONA 500 history.

“I appreciate the excitement, I think it's really cool that there's a lot of people excited to watch how I'm going to do this season, whether it's fans or media," said Zilisch, who finished 27th in the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener at Daytona, after being collected in a late-race multi-car accident.

“I do think it sometimes gets a little outlandish… a lot of people maybe expecting a lot of me in my first year. I don't think people realize how big of a jump it is from Saturday to Sunday. But I try not to pay too much attention to it. I know what my personal goals are throughout the year. I know what I want to accomplish and my long-term goals. I find it cool mostly.”

His approach is unfailingly thoughtful.

“There's a lot of things that can happen out of your control here. And I think for me, I'm just most excited to enjoy it all, whether it's media day today. Usually I dread these things, but I came in with a positive mindset today that I'm going to have fun and I'm going to enjoy it, and I think that goes for the entire weekend.” –Holly Cain

Chase Elliott: New NASCAR championship format is aptly named

Count Chase Elliott among the NASCAR Cup Series drivers who are thrilled by the return to the 10-race Chase to determine the champion—and not because his name happens to match the name of the format.

“Motorsports is just a little different, and I think we've we spent an awful lot of time trying to be like everybody else,” Elliott said on Wednesday during DAYTONA 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. “I'm really proud of leadership of saying, ‘Hey look, let's be us and let’s go do our own thing.’

“The Chase format was really unlike anything else in sports, that I could remember at that time, when it came out. Very genuine, very original. I think it fits. It never felt like a playoff to me, and not because of my name, but ‘The Chase’ does sound good. It sounds like racing. It sounds like a racing term.”

Elliott also believes the 10-race scenario could reward the sort of consistency he has shown in recent years. In both 2024 and 2025, Elliott finished on the lead lap in 32 of 36 points races.

“I like our chances, for sure,” said Elliott, the Cup Series’ perennial Most Popular Driver. “I think that you're going to have to perform at a really high level for 10 weeks. There will be more room in there for you to have, I don't want to say a bad day—you might get away with one bad day—but you're going to have to perform at a really high level.

“That was the case before, but I like the fact that it gives it time for things to come out in the wash. You know, if you have one bad pit stop, it doesn't ruin your championship at Phoenix. That was the part that always was difficult from my perspective. Whether I was a part of it or if I was watching it, (it) was kind of hard.” —Reid Spencer

Kyle Busch ready for challenge in 21st DAYTONA 500 start

Kyle Busch is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who has won more races in the sport’s three national series (232) than any driver in history. But the 40-year-old Las Vegas native lines up for his 21st green flag in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 amazingly still looking for his first win in the Great American Race.

His statistics at the 2.5-mile speedway are certainly good enough. He’s won in all three major series—the NASCAR Cup Series (summer, 2008), the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2007) and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2014).

Of Busch’s 539 laps led in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona, 63 percent of them (342) have come in the DAYTONA 500. Yet his best finish came in his 2019 series championship season, when he finished runner-up to Denny Hamlin – a blink-of-the-eye .138-second behind.

He’s had five top-10 finishes in all, including a third-place showing in 2016—a race also won by his then-Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Hamlin.

“Coming to Daytona, as you’re coming in (to your career) maybe four-five years in, you’re a young guy, you’re pumped up and amped for the DAYTONA 500," Busch said. “As you go on through the years, you’ve got to figure out a way to be in the right ‘mind place’ and figure out how to go out there, excel and be in the right place at the right time (to win).

“We’ve seen it here the last couple years. You can be leading coming off Turn 2 and not make it back to the start-finish line. You can be running fifth, or seventh or 11th and be the one that wins the race. It’s just a matter of having it be your way.

“Being able to win Daytona, that’s obviously sort of the last box to check in my career, and getting that done would be a lot of fun," he added, breaking into a wide grin. “We’d celebrate that really, really big." –Holly Cain

So far, so good for Brad Keselowski’s return from broken leg

Brad Keselowski arrived for his DAYTONA 500 Media Day interviews walking with a cane to support his right leg, which has been healing from a broken femur.

It wasn’t just any cane, mind you. This one bore sponsorship stickers relating to his No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford.

“I knew I was probably going to get picked on a little bit,” said Keselowski, who on Feb. 9 was cleared to race in the DAYTONA 500 after skipping the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. “So, I might as well just at some point own it. I won't say it (the decals) was my idea, but I actually thought it was a good one.”

Keselowski broke his leg by slipping on ice during a family ski vacation in mid-December. He explained that the injury was far more severe than the broken ankle he suffered in a wreck at Road Atlanta in 2011.

As he was lying on the ice after the recent accident, Keselowski was beset with a grim thought.

“When I was laying on the ground and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was like, ‘Oh my God.’ Like, think about the soldiers in the Civil War,” Keselowski said. “Like, they just would cut their leg off right here.

“And I understood why they would do it, because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I've ever went through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was a part of me that was like, that might actually feel better.”

Keselowski expects to be able to drive at Daytona, though David Ragan will stand by as a relief driver. Less certain is whether he can handle the rigors of the Circuit of The Americas road course on Mar. 1.

As a consequence, sports car star Joey Hand already has been enlisted as a backup for that race. —Reid Spencer

Shane van Gisbergen cites progress on oval tracks as top priority

A new car number and a full season of experience capped by a Playoff debut in the NASCAR Cup Series certainly have Trackhouse Racing’s Shane Van Gisbergen feeling optimistic about the 2026 season.

Not surprisingly, the former three-time Australian Supercars champion has spent much of his time in the sport adjusting to the oval racing he hadn’t experienced before. He earned five wins in 2025 (second only to veteran Denny Hamlin)—all on road courses—and claimed the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.

This season, the New Zealander obviously would like to up his oval game to more closely match his road course prowess and seems optimistic about what he learned in his rookie season. His only top-10 finish on an oval was a 10th place run at Kansas last September, but he was strong last week on a short track in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

“You just learn what you want and need from a car," said Van Gisbergen, whose Chevrolet will carry his long-time No. 97 beginning this season. “My driving style was very different to most, I guess. The way I make the car work or want it to work is very different to others.

“We noticed a lot of trends which took a while to get everyone to adjust to. I adjusted a bit, but now we’re sort of coming my way a bit, which has kind of helped me. It’s interesting. The cars are set up so different to what I’m used to, and I’m still trying to understand what I need or want from the car.”

As for racing on the big tracks such as Daytona (2.5 miles) and Talladega Superspeedway (2.66 miles) Van Gisbergen says he enjoys the style but acknowledges it’s a whole different ballgame.

“I'm still learning and trying to make friends, I guess. People leave you for no reason, or you do something wrong and lose the trust of people. It takes a while to understand how to put your car in the right place.”

“You don’t really have an influence on it. You just drive as fast as you can, close to the line as you can. But the preparation is very different. On road courses, I’m more involved in setup with what I want. On the ovals I’m just kind of learning and trying to build a notebook.

“In these races it’s about trying to understand the flow of the race, how to work with people. It’s a completely different style of racing—that’s for sure.” –Holly Cain

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 6 days to go

February 9, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With six days until the drop of the DAYTONA 500 green flag, the number six stands to provide a compelling outcome in NASCAR’s storied season-opener. Should Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Josh Berry (No. 21 Woods Brothers Ford), William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) or rookie Connor Zilisch (No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) prevail in Sunday’s race – it would mark the sixth time one of those car numbers has won in the sport’s grandest race - second most all-time only to the No. 43, which Richard Petty drove to seven Daytona 500 wins.

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 7 days to go

February 8, 2026

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

In the category “Richard Petty’s records that are unlikely to be broken” you can include the King’s seven victories in the DAYTONA 500. In 1964, five years after his father, Lee Petty, won the inaugural running of the Great American Race, Richard Petty was the only driver on the lead lap at the finish as he claimed his first triumph. Over the next 17 years, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion was the dominant force at Daytona, winning six more Harley J. Earl trophies, in 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979 and 1981. Petty’s record 200 career victories, 27 wins in a single season and 10 straight Cup victories might be considered more unassailable, but note that among current full-time Cup drivers, there are only two multiple DAYTONA 500 winners—Denny Hamlin with three and William Byron with two.

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 8 days to go

February 7, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The number eight comes up often in interesting modern DAYTONA 500 historical chapters. The very first overtime race in the storied event’s history featured eight extra laps in 2005 with Jeff Gordon claiming the Harley J. Earl trophy. Dale Earnhardt Jr., drove the No. 8 Chevrolet to his first DAYTONA 500 win in 2004 and “doubled down” claiming his second victory in the No. 88 ten years later. And as an owner-driver entry between 2009-2016, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s best-ever finish in the Great American Race was eighth place (2009).

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 12 days to go

February 3, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The car number 12 has been on DAYTONA 500 winning cars only twice – once with Bobby Allison in 1988 and again with Ryan Newman’s victory in 2008. That win for Newman proved to be among the most celebrated in the race’s history, however, as it came in the 50th running of The Great American Race. It marked the first DAYTONA 500 crown for legendary team owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Roger Penske whose drivers, Newman and Kurt Busch finished first and second that day. And Penske would go on to collect two more Daytona 500 trophies – winning it with Joey Logano in 2015 and Austin Cindric in 2022.

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 13 days to go

February 2, 2026

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

On Feb. 19, 2024, in his 13th start in a points-paying race at Daytona International Speedway, William Byron won his first DAYTONA 500, leading only the final four laps of the Great American Race. The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet already had a victory to his credit at the World Center of Racing, having won the 2020 summer event at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. On Feb. 16, 2025, Byron successfully defended his win in NASCAR’s biggest race, setting up a try for an unprecedented third straight DAYTONA 500 victory on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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Countdown to the DAYTONA 500: 14 days to go

February 1, 2026

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As an owner-driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing entry from 2009-2016, Tony Stewart hoisted a pair of NASCAR Cup Series race trophies at Daytona International Speedway – including a 2009 victory in the summer 400-miler from pole position. But the NASCAR Hall of Famer – who has 16 Daytona trophies – from a combination of victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and IROC - never won the DAYTONA 500. His closest finish in 17 DAYTONA 500 starts was a lone runner-up effort coming in 2004, when he finished .273-second behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ironically, Stewart carried the No. 14 in honor of his racing hero, A.J. Foyt who drove the No. 14 to DAYTONA 500 glory in 1972 – the only time that number has visited Victory Lane in the Great American Race.

Tune-in to the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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