The 68th running of the Daytona 500 will officially launch the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season this Sunday. The legendary event will take place at the 2.5-mile oval track in Daytona Beach, Florida, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET—an hour earlier than originally scheduled due to anticipated weather—and will be broadcast live on Fox.
Here’s what fans need to know before the race, especially considering the major changes NASCAR has made to its championship format this year.
Can William Byron Make History with Three Consecutive Wins?
William Byron is aiming to become the first driver ever to claim three straight Daytona 500 victories. Only six drivers in history have won the Daytona 500 at least three times, and none have done so in three consecutive years. Of those six, only Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Denny Hamlin have managed back-to-back wins. Byron, with two Daytona 500 trophies, has earned them by skillfully avoiding late-race crashes and capitalizing on clutch moments during late restarts. In 2024, he dodged a massive 23-car pileup with fewer than 10 laps remaining and led the final four laps to clinch the win—the only laps he led all race. Last year, a crash just five laps from the finish resulted in a green-white-checkered restart, where Byron impressively maneuvered from seventh place to cross the finish line first as leaders crashed behind him. Can Byron’s luck and talent deliver an unprecedented third consecutive Daytona 500 triumph?
Daytona 500 Victory No Longer Guarantees a Playoff Spot
NASCAR has reinstated its cumulative 10-race playoff format. This system, initially introduced in 2004, sees the top 16 drivers in points after 26 races qualify for the playoffs, seeded according to their standings. The champion is then determined based on points accumulated over the final 10 races, culminating at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This contrasts with the multi-round elimination playoff system used from 2014 through 2024, where race winners in the regular season were nearly guaranteed playoff berths. In the 2025 finale at Phoenix, strategic pit stops during a late caution shook up the outcome, allowing Kyle Larson to edge out Denny Hamlin for his second Cup Series championship.
Can Denny Hamlin Secure a Fourth Daytona 500 Win?
At 45, Hamlin stands on the verge of tying Cale Yarborough for the second-most Daytona 500 wins with four. He is among only four drivers with three victories in the history of the race and, alongside Byron, one of just two active full-time drivers with multiple Daytona 500 wins. The past few months have been challenging for Hamlin—from narrowly missing the championship last November to a legal battle involving his 23XI Racing team and NASCAR, which ended in a settlement securing permanent charters for teams. Personal tragedy also struck when a fire destroyed his family home, resulting in the death of his father and serious injuries to his mother. Hamlin recently re-injured his right shoulder at the site but plans to delay surgery until after the season. With 60 career wins, Hamlin remains the most successful driver who has yet to claim a Cup Series championship—is 2026 finally his year?
Notable Drivers Still Chasing Their First Daytona 500 Win
Besides Byron and Hamlin, only five other full-time drivers have won the Daytona 500: Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Michael McDowell, Austijn Cindric, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Many top stars, including Kyle Larson, 2023 champion Ryan Blaney, 2020 champ Chase Elliott, and two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch, remain in pursuit of their inaugural Daytona 500 victory. Busch, in particular, has faced a prolonged drought—the 2026 race marks his 21st attempt with only one win in 41 Daytona starts. A win this Sunday for Busch, who starts on the pole, would break a streak even longer than Dale Earnhardt’s; Earnhardt won his first Daytona 500 in his 20th start. Busch’s pole position also sets the stage for a rare win from the front starting spot, something last achieved by Dale Jarrett in 2000.
Rookie Spotlight: Connor Zilisch
At just 19 years old, Connor Zilisch will be the only rookie competing full-time for Rookie of the Year in 2026. Moving up to the Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing after 36 starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Zilisch had a strong 2025 with 10 wins and 23 top-10 finishes in 32 races for JR Motorsports, though he finished third in the championship. Already excelling on road courses, he is positioned to be a key challenger to teammate Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated road races in 2025.
Jimmie Johnson Makes Another Daytona 500 Appearance
Legendary seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson continues his part-time NASCAR schedule with another Daytona 500 start. After stepping away from full-time Cup racing in 2021 and 2022 to focus on IndyCar, Johnson has raced the last three Daytona 500s for Legacy Motor Club, including a third-place finish last year. Thanks to a NASCAR exemption granted to veteran part-timers, Johnson is guaranteed a spot in the race this time, expanding the starting field to 41 cars. With 45 entrants vying for spots, four drivers will fail to qualify.
Who Earned Their Spot in the Daytona 500?
Casey Mears and BJ McLeod earned their Daytona 500 berths through Thursday’s Duel qualifying races but in very different ways. Mears recovered from a pit road spin and last-lap chaos caused by a crash involving Corey LaJoie to cross the line safely ahead of Chandler Smith. McLeod, initially convinced he had missed out, secured his entry when Anthony Alfredo’s car failed post-race inspection, leading to Alfredo’s disqualification and McLeod’s inclusion.
Fan Take: This upcoming Daytona 500 is more than just a season opener — it’s a pivotal moment loaded with history-making potential and emotional storylines that remind fans why NASCAR resonates deeply. With the return to an old playoff format and heartwarming comebacks, this race could redefine competitive dynamics and set the tone for an unforgettable 2026 season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
