The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place on February 15th, 2026. The race is one of the most-looked forward to on the NASCAR schedule and is referred to as “The Great American Race.” The 200-lap, 500 mile race is held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. We have all of the info you need to plan out the race this season, and we’ll see if William Byron can repeat as champion or not. The race kicks off at 2:30 PM on FOX, and we have all the info you need to enjoy the race and the NASCAR printable schedule for the season below.
For those planning their season-long bets or printable trackers, don’t miss our full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule, complete with race dates, tracks, TV listings, and more.
2026 Daytona 500: What to Expect on the Track
Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 15, 2026, when the green flag drops at 2:30 PM ET for the 66th running of the Daytona 500. This 200-lap marathon covers the 2.5-mile tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, where speeds routinely top 200 mph in the draft-heavy pack racing that makes superspeedways so unforgiving and fun to watch.
The field is expected to be around 40 cars this season. Key twists for 2026? The Next Gen car’s evolution continues to emphasize strategy over raw power, with fuel mileage gambles and stage points adding layers to the duel. Weather could play a wildcard as it does most years. Daytona’s February forecast often sees rain delays, forcing teams to adapt on the fly. And with the full season ahead, early points hauls here could shape championship contenders. For a bird’s-eye view of the road to the playoffs, grab our free 2026 NASCAR Bracket Printable to jot down your winner picks alongside the complete schedule.
List of Recent Daytona 500 Winners
| Recent Daytona 500 Winners | Year | Driver | Team |
| 2025 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Led final laps in a green-white-checkered thriller |
| 2024 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Pole-to-win dominance amid multi-car wrecks |
| 2023 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Overtime chaos with 20+ lead changes |
| 2022 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Last-lap shove to the win amid controversy |
| 2021 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Massive “Big One” crash handed the upset victory |
How to Watch the 2026 Daytona 500: TV Schedule, Streaming, and More
The 2026 Daytona 500 TV schedule is on FOX this year. Live coverage of the race starts at
2:30 PM ET, with pre-race festivities kicking off at noon on FS1. There are a number of ways to stream the race this year. You can catch it on the FOX Sports app, NASCAR’s digital platforms, or services like YouTube TV and FuboTV. For international fans, check MotorTrend or local broadcasters.
Tickets? They’re already heating up. Single-day grandstand seats start around $100, but premium infield or hospitality packages can climb into the thousands for the full Speedweeks vibe (Feb 13-15). Head to the official Daytona International Speedway site to find the cheapest options if you haven’t already since they tend to go quick.
Fun Daytona 500 Facts and Traditions
- Crowd Power: The 101,500-seat stadium sells out annually, turning the infield into a sea of RVs and revelry.
- Queen’s Touch: A celebrity paces the field in a convertible. She goes past honorees before the command to “Gentlemen, start your engines!” (or “Ladies and gentlemen” if Danica Patrick vibes return).
- The Big One: That infamous multi-car pileup? It’s claimed more victims here than anywhere, but survivors often become folklore heroes.
- Fuel Frenzy: Teams burn through 20 gallons per stint, with pit stops as quick as 12 seconds.
- Global Reach: From beachside barbecues to bars in Tokyo, 20 million tune in worldwide, proving stock cars transcend borders.
Keys to Victory: Who will Win the 2026 Daytona 500?
Defending champ Byron enters as the favorite, but Daytona’s draft lottery levels the field. Watch for Hamlin’s superspeedway past performance (three 500 wins), Logano’s clutch factor, or a dark horse like Noah Gragson shaking up the Fords. Our early thoughts. A Hendrick sweep if Elliott finds his rhythm early. Weather, wrecks, and alliances will decide it all as it usually does in Daytona.
