Daytona 500 Starting Lineup and Qualifying Results (2026)

In-Depth Analysis

The Daytona 500 starting lineup was determined through a combination of qualifying rounds and the Daytona Duels. Wednesday's single-lap qualifying runs set the front row, while Thursday night's Duels finalized the remaining positions.

**Qualifying Highlights:** - Alex Bowman led Hendrick Motorsports with the sixth-best lap. - Kyle Larson followed closely behind Bowman. - Chase Elliott also secured a spot in the top 10.

**Duel at Daytona:** The Duel races determined the order for the rest of the field, setting the stage for an exciting race.

**Starting Grid:** The final starting grid includes a mix of seasoned veterans and open entries, all vying for a chance to win the prestigious Daytona 500. For a detailed list of the starting lineup, see below:

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 Fast 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

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FAQ

Takeaways

• Kyle Busch starts in pole position, giving him an early advantage.
• Hendrick Motorsports showcased strong qualifying performance, positioning their drivers for a competitive race.
• The Daytona Duels played a crucial role in shaping the starting lineup, adding excitement and unpredictability to the race.
• Keep an eye on open entries and provisional starters, as they could be potential underdogs to watch.

Discussion

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