Kyle Busch is aiming to finally win the Daytona 500, starting strong by securing the pole position for Sunday’s race. On Wednesday night, Busch earned the front-row spot by reaching a speed of 183.925 mph during the second round of qualifying, surpassing Chase Briscoe—last year’s pole sitter—in the final round.
Busch will be competing in his 21st Daytona 500, still seeking his first victory in NASCAR’s marquee event. Despite being a seven-time champion, he holds the longest winless streak among active drivers, even longer than Dale Earnhardt’s. Earnhardt, who won the 1998 Daytona 500 in his 20th attempt, did so driving for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), the same team Busch now represents. Busch will enter his fourth season with RCR in 2026 after moving from Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and hopes to regain the form he showed during his JGR tenure.
At 40 years old, Busch has competed in 750 Cup Series races and claimed 63 wins. After three victories in his first year with RCR in 2023, he hasn’t won in the last two seasons. During his time at JGR in the 2010s, Busch won 40 races and secured Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Notably, he missed the 2015 Daytona 500 due to a foot injury sustained in the Xfinity Series but bounced back to win five races afterward and clinch his first championship.
Daytona has historically been a challenging track for Busch in the Cup Series. Over 41 races, he has only one win and 13 top-10 finishes, with his lone victory coming in the 2008 summer race. Of the current top-10 drivers at this track, only five have ever won the Daytona 500.
Wednesday’s qualifying also decided which non-chartered teams would participate in the race. Corey Heim, driving the fourth car for 23XI Racing (owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan), posted the fastest time among open teams and secured his spot. Justin Allgaier, racing for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports, clocked the second-fastest time, also guaranteeing a place in the race.
Thanks to NASCAR’s provisional rules, Jimmie Johnson is assured a spot, rounding out the 41-driver field. Six drivers will vie for the last two positions during Thursday’s Duel races. In the first Duel, the highest finisher among Corey Lajoie, Chandler Smith, and Casey Mears will advance to the Daytona 500. Meanwhile, the top finisher among Anthony Alfredo, BJ McLeod, and JJ Yeley will move on from the second Duel.
The two Duel races will split drivers by inside-row odd-numbered starters and outside-row even-numbered starters. The first Duel includes Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, and Alex Bowman among others, while the second Duel features Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson, among others.
—
Fan Take: Kyle Busch’s performance at Daytona is pivotal not only for his career but for NASCAR fans eager to see a seasoned champion break through in the sport’s biggest race. His pursuit of the elusive Daytona 500 win symbolizes the competitive spirit and unpredictability that make NASCAR thrilling year after year.
