This Sunday, the Daytona 500 will see Kyle Busch take the pole position, steering the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Chase Briscoe will accompany him on the front row as both drivers excelled during Wednesday’s qualifying rounds for the iconic race.
Following the qualifying Duels held on Thursday, where Joey Logano and Chase Elliott emerged victorious, the complete starting lineup has been finalized. Notably, Corey LaJoie, Chandler Smith, JJ Yeley, and Anthony Alfredo were unable to secure a spot, with Alfredo’s disqualification affecting his eligibility. Ultimately, 41 drivers will compete in the highly anticipated season opener this weekend.
Below is a detailed list of the starting grid, complete with images of each contender:
- Kyle Busch — #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Chase Briscoe — #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Joey Logano — #22 Team Penske Ford
- Chase Elliott — #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Ryan Blaney — #12 Team Penske Ford
- Carson Hocevar — #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon — #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Kyle Larson — #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski — #6 RFK Racing Ford
- Michael McDowell — #71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- John-Hunter Nemechek — #42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Christopher Bell — #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Shane van Gisbergen — #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Josh Berry — #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Daniel Suarez — #7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (Backup car)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — #47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
- Casey Mears — #66 Garage 66 Ford
- Todd Gilliland — #34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Ryan Preece — #60 RFK Racing Ford
- Ty Gibbs — #54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Alex Bowman — #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Denny Hamlin — #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Cole Custer — #41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet
- Erik Jones — #43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Noah Gragson — #4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Tyler Reddick — #45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Bubba Wallace — #23 23XI Racing Toyota
- Riley Herbst — #35 23XI Racing Toyota
- Corey Heim — #67 23XI Racing Toyota
- Zane Smith — #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Jimmie Johnson — #84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Connor Zilisch — #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Cody Ware — #51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
- Ty Dillon — #10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- AJ Allmendinger — #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric — #2 Team Penske Ford
- Ross Chastain — #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (Backup car)
- BJ McLeod — #78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
- William Byron — #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (Backup car)
- Justin Allgaier — #40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher — #17 RFK Racing Ford (Backup car)
Drivers who did not qualify include Corey LaJoie (#99 RFK Racing Ford), Anthony Alfredo (#62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet), JJ Yeley (#44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet), and Chandler Smith (#36 Front Row Motorsports Ford).
The anticipation builds as fans prepare for what promises to be an exhilarating race. With such a competitive lineup, the 2026 Daytona 500 is set to deliver thrilling moments and fierce rivalries on the track.
As the green flag waves, each of the 41 competitors will strive to secure a victory in this prestigious event. The race not only marks the beginning of the NASCAR season but also serves as a platform for drivers to showcase their skills and determination.
Fans will be eagerly watching how the front row drivers perform, especially Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe, who have shown remarkable speed and skill leading up to this race. Each contender will need to execute their strategies flawlessly to navigate the challenges of the Daytona track.
