Get out your checkered flags. The Daytona 500 returns for one of the most exciting race weekends of the year. Racing fans will flock to Florida this Sunday for the Great American Race. With more than 100,000 fans ready to pack the speedway, many are hoping to watch history…or just another win from a driver who has dominated time and time again. Let’s dive into everything you need to know for the 2026 Daytona 500.
The Basics
The Daytona 500 features 41 drivers who will race around the 2.5-mile tri-oval in Florida for a chance at glory. With the season just getting underway, this is a huge weekend to pick up big points and pave the path to being one of the 16 drivers that makes the postseason, a change that goes based off points and not win-and-in eligibility.
The Guy Who Has Dominated
Other drivers and racing fans alike might be sick of hearing the name William Byron when it comes to the Daytona 500. He is currently the fourth ranked driver in NASCAR, but he has back-to-back wins at Daytona. He is chasing down history this weekend. There has never been a driver to win three straight Daytona 500s. Eight of the last 11 winners won the Daytona 500 for the first time. The odds that a new winner is crowned this year are high but you can never count out Byron who clearly loves this track. He also has a pole win dating back to 2019.
Can These Guys Finally Get a Win?
Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, crowning himself as the best driver in the sport for the entire year. Now, he is trying to take home one very elusive trophy. Larson has never won the Daytona 500. He has no Top-5 finishes but does have six Top-10 finishes. He’s led in just 39 laps in his 23 starts in Daytona, but the win has been so elusive. For one of the best drivers in the sport, you know he wants a win.
In addition to Larson, another name that has never claimed a win at the Daytona 500…Chase Elliott. He has 23 starts at the iconic racetrack. He has three Top-5 finishes and six in the Top-10. He’s even led 174 laps in the race but has never brought home a trophy.
Two other guys that haven’t won and might surprise you? Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch. Put simply, there is a world where a legend gets their first win.
Dark Horses?
In racing, there is nothing better than a Dark Horse who creeps up and steals away the checkered flag. This weekend, there are a couple of drivers who make compelling cases to steal a win and a boatload of points at the start of the season. The guy I like to make some noise on the track is Bubba Wallace. Currently the 11th ranked driver, he has won a qualifier at Daytona 500 showing his familiarity on the track and picked up a win in the 2025 season.
Prediction
I like a legend to bring it home this year. My bet is on Chase Elliott to win his first and prevent Byron from a third straight.