2026 NASCAR Cup Series entry list for Daytona Speedweeks
By Staff Report
NASCAR.com
Published:
2 Minute Read
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season is officially here, with an eager Cup field challenging the high banks in Florida in the Daytona 500 on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Drivers will have a packed slate in the lead-up to the 68th “Great American Race.” In addition to practice and qualifying, there will be two 60-lap Duel races, with the lineup for both contests determined by the qualifying session. Two additional practices will make up the Cup Series docket before cars officially hit the track Sunday for the crown-jewel bout.
Forty-five entries will take part in on-track action. Justin Allgaier will again pilot the No. 40 JR Motorsports entry after doing so last season. 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Corey Heim will additionally make an appearance, piloting the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota for the first of 12 Cup bouts this season. Corey LaJoie, after wheeling the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford in place of Brad Keselowski in the 2026 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, will attempt to make the Daytona 500 as driver of the No. 99 RFK Racing Ford.
William Byron is one of five drivers to win back-to-back Daytona 500s, thanks to his victories in 2024-25. He will pilot the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the hopes of finding Victory Lane a third straight time, a feat never done in Cup Series history.