Starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500

NASCAR has set the starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500, which pole-sitter Kyle Busch will lead to the green flag in search of his first victory in the Cup Series season opener.

Chase Briscoe will start second.

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After a win in each of Thursday night’s qualifying races, Joey Logano (starting third) and Chase Elliott (fourth) will comprise the second row.

William Byron, who is trying to become the first driver with three consecutive Daytona 500 victories, will start 39th in the 41-car field.

Here’s the NASCAR starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500:

ROW 1

1. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota

ROW 2

3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
4, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet

ROW 3

5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
6, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet

ROW 4

7. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
8. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet

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ROW 5

9. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
10. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet

ROW 6

11. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota

ROW 7

13. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 97 Chevrolet
14. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford

ROW 8

15. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Chevrolet
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet

ROW 9

17. Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford
18 Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford

ROW 10

19. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
20. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota

ROW 11

21. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
22. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota

ROW 12

23. Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet
24. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota

ROW 13

25. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
26. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota

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ROW 14

27. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
28. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota

ROW 15

29. Corey Heim, No. 67 Toyota
30. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford

ROW 16

31. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Toyota
32. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet

ROW 17

33. Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet
34. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet

ROW 18

35. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
36. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford

ROW 19

37. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
38. Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Chevrolet

ROW 20

39. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
40. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 Chevrolet

ROW 21

41. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford

Failed to qualify: Chandler Smith (No. 36 Ford), JJ Yeley (No. 44 Chevrolet), BJ McLeod (No. 78 Chevrolet), Corey LaJoie (No. 99 Ford)