Regardless of who crossed the line first Sunday afternoon, the 2026 Daytona 500 was a historic edition of the race.
The race on Sunday, Feb. 15, saw more leaders than any installment of NASCAR’s marquee race of the year. It was only befitting that a driver who did not lead a lap until the checkered flag waved finished first: 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick.
The big wreck of the race came just past the halfway point, when leader Justin Allgaier moved to block Denny Hamlin’s run on the outside but shut the door too late and hit the wall. He spun back down and collected more cars as 20 of the 41 drivers were affected by the wreck.
Thanks to a late caution, Michael McDowell looked poised for a chance to take his second Daytona 500 win. He had saved enough fuel to maintain position in the final 10 laps as others made quick pit stops.
But McDowell didn’t hold off the hard-charging likes of Chase Elliott, Reddick and others. Elliott led briefly led before Reddick made a hard charge on the final lap to overtake him for the win.
Reddick celebrated with team owner Michael Jordan in victory lane.
Jordan credited the team and Reddick for staying in position for the win all race.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Elliott and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five at the checkered flag.
The race started early to avoid inclement weather that did not arrive during the 200-lap race. Here’s a look at how the race unfolded:
Daytona 500 results, final leaderboard
Here’s the order at the end of Stage 3.
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports
- Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team
- Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske
- Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing
- Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66
- Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing
- Justin Allgaier, No. 40 JR Motorsports
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports
- BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports
Who won the Daytona 500?
Tyler Reddick avoided contact on a chaotic final lap and made a run on the outside to take the lead over Chase Elliott and Zane Smith and earn the win. Reddick did not lead a singe lap of the race but crossed the line in front for his first Daytona 500 victory.
Has Kyle Larson won the Daytona 500?
No, the reigning Cup Series champion has never won the Daytona 500. He started from pole position in 2022 but has only managed seventh at best in this race.
Has Kyle Busch won the Daytona 500?
Busch has never won the Daytona 500 in his long Cup Series career. His best result was second in 2019 and third in 2016.
Who won Daytona 500 Stage 2?
Bubba Wallace managed to escape the chaos from the biggest wreck of the race so far and cross the line first at the end of 130 laps. Ryan Blaney, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Busch and Riley Herbst round out the top five.
Daytona 500 update: The Big One comes in Stage 2
It took until the closing laps of Stage 2 but the big wreck of the race involved nearly half of the grid.
On Lap 124, leader Justin Allgaier floated to the top lane and lost speed as he tried to block Denny Hamlin from going around his outside. Allgaier hit the wall and pinched Hamlin which sent both back down the track and into the trailing cars. Nearly half of the 41-car field was caught up in the biggest wreck of the race.
Bubba Wallace made it through unscathed on the bottom lane and leads the field under caution to start Stage 3.
Daytona weather updates
Conditions at Daytona International Speedway were mostly cloudy with temperatures in the mid-70s to start the race. As the laps tick off, the threat of rain continues to hang over the field with thunderstorms expected at 5 p.m. ET.
Here’s the latest AccuWeather forecast: Overcast; a heavy thunderstorm around this evening followed by a couple of showers late; thunderstorms can bring localized damaging wind gusts. High temperature of 77 degrees and a low of 62. Chance of precipitation: 55%.
Daytona 500 updates: Stage 2 wreck involves nine cars
Contact near the front of the field involving Austin Dillon, Conor Zilisch, Chase Briscoe, Cody Ware and more drivers brought out the caution flags on Lap 85 of 200.
Who won Daytona 500 Stage 1?
Zane Smith won the first stage of the Daytona 500 in the Front Row Motorsports Ford. Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarrez rounded out the top five runners after the first 65 laps.
How many laps are the 2026 Daytona 500?
The race is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of 500 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 65 laps; Stage 2: 65 laps; Stage 3: 70 laps.
2026 Daytona 500 stages
Every NASCAR race is broken up into three stages. Each stage awards championship points to each driver finishing in the top 10. Drivers earning the most points at the checkered flag – the end of Stage 3.
William Byron battling back after Daytona 500 crash
The Hendrick Motorsports driver suffered some damage following contact with the wall and McLeod on Lap 5. After multiple trips to pit road for adjustments, Byron’s back up to 28th on Lap 22.
Daytona 500 update: William Byron, others affected by B.J. McLeod crash
The first retirement of the race comes early as McLeod lost his right rear tire and hit the wall before spinning down to the infield. Noah Gragson, William Byron, Justin Allgaier, Tyler Reddick and Casey Mears were affected by McLeod’s wreck.
John Hunter Nemechek leads ahead of polesitter Kyle Busch and Shane van Gisbergen.
Daytona 500 grand marshal
Comedian Nate Bargatze gave the drivers the order to start their engines from Daytona International Speedway, stating it was the ‘most American thing I’ve ever done in my life.’
Daytona 500 start time update
The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The time was moved up one hour from the original 2:30 p.m. start due to weather concerns.
What channel is Daytona 500 on today?
Coverage for the 2026 Daytona 500 has already started on FOX. The race will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET, moved up from its original time due to weather concerns.
How to stream Daytona 500?
The 2026 Daytona 500 can be streamed on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app. For those looking to cut the cord, the race can also be streamed on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.
Watch the 2026 Daytona 500 on Fubo
Who won 2025 Daytona 500?
William Byron won the 2025 Daytona 500, claiming victory in NASCAR’s most famous race for the second year in a row.
Byron took the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway after a crash broke out on the final lap. But NASCAR kept the green flag out, and Bryon was able to vault from ninth place to the front as other cars crashed around him.
Tyler Reddick finished second, and seven-time NASCAR Cups Series champion Jimmie Johnson third. Pole winner Chase Briscoe came home fourth followed by John Hunter Nemechek.
Daytona 500 odds 2026
Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron and Denny Hamlin are currently the favorites to win the Daytona 500, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Sunday, Feb. 15.
- Ryan Blaney: +1200
- Joey Logano: +1200
- William Byron: +1400
- Denny Hamlin: +1400
- Austin Cindric: +1600
- Chase Elliott: +1600
- Kyle Busch: +1600
- Brad Keselowski: +1800
- Kyle Larson: +1800
- Alex Bowman: +2000
- Bubba Wallace +2200
- Christopher Bell +2200
- Chase Briscoe +2500
Daytona 500 starting lineup
Here’s how the starting lineup for Sunday’s Daytona 500 shakes out:
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing
- Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports
- Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports
- Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
- Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club
- Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing
- Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing
- Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing
- Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports
- Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club
- Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing
- Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing
- Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing
- *BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports
- Justin Allgaier, No. 40 JR Motorsports
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing
* The No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet of Anthony Alfredo originally qualified for the Daytona 500 in Duel 2, but his position in the race was disallowed due to a failure in post-Duel inspection.
How did Greg Biffle die?
Greg Biffle — winner of 19 Cup races and a champion in the Craftsman Trucks and Busch series — was one of seven people killed in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina on Dec. 18.
According to a report from investigators, Biffle was not operating his jet when it crashed in December. The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that while an experienced pilot was at the controls, the person sitting in the right seat wasn’t qualified to be the copilot.
When the flight crashed while trying to return to the Statesville Regional Airport, it killed Biffle, his wife Cristina, and Biffle’s children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Others killed in the accident were Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
How did Brad Keselowski break his leg?
Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, suffered a broken leg in December when he slipped on ice during a ski trip with his family. Keselowski was cleared to race at Daytona, but David Ragan will be his backup. Keselowski will start from the No. 9 spot.
Daytona 500 pole position
Kyle Busch will be on the pole for the Daytona 500 this weekend. Busch claimed the top spot with a time of 49.006 in the final round of qualifying on Wednesday. Chase Briscoe will start in the second position.
Dale Earnhardt 25 years later
Nearly 25 years ago this weekend — on Feb. 18, 2001 — Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Winston Cup champion, died after crashing on the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Fans today are still mourning the loss of the man they called the Intimidator. Go to any NASCAR track and you’ll still see countless shirts, jackets, flags and hats sporting his iconic No. 3.
In the same way Michael Jordan is to the NBA, Earnhardt was synonymous with NASCAR. Some fans adored him, some hated him — but everyone knew the mustached man wearing aviators from Kannapolis, North Carolina was one of the best drivers to get behind the wheel.
Buy your copy of our commemorative Dale Earnhardt book!
How did Dale Earnhardt die?
When the 2001 Daytona 500 was nearing its finish, Earnhardt, his son, Dale Jr., and his friend Michael Waltrip, were running in the top three at the top of the pack. Waltrip was in first, Junior in second, and Senior in third. It seemed obvious that Earnhardt was trying to ensure a victory for one of his DEI drivers and went into defense mode, attempting to block others drivers from catching up to Waltrip and Junior.
On turn four of the final lap, as Junior pushed Waltrip toward the finish line, Earnhardt received some contact, lost control of his No. 3 car and slammed head first into the concrete wall.
Folks watching from home could feel the mood change from the broadcast booth, where former champion Darrell Waltrip quickly went from celebrating his brother in one moment to worrying about Earnhardt in the very next: ‘I just hope Dale’s okay. I guess he’s alright, isn’t he?’
“You got the sense that something wasn’t right,” Helton told ESPN.
Less than three hours after the race ended, Helton returned to the press room at Daytona International Speedway to deliver the somber and shocking news: ‘We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt.’
