A spectacle is what the Daytona 500 always is, and the 2026 iteration of the “Great American Race” was no exception, with Tyler Reddick leading the last lap — and outlasting the ensuing carnage — to capture the crown-jewel victory.
Though Reddick and 23XI Racing were the chief victors of the race weekend, plenty of other drivers picked up a hefty dose of positive momentum, too. Of course, not every driver was as lucky, with others leaving Daytona in a rut. See which drivers are on the upswing and downturn following the stretch of action at the “World Center of Racing.”
RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Daytona
THREE UP ⬆️
1. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Started: 30th
Finished: 6th
What happened: The No. 38 Ford had a knack for speed early and often. Smith not only captured the Stage 1 victory (his first in NASCAR’s premier series) but was in position during the final lap to achieve the win, battling with Chase Elliott, Reddick and other big hitters in the final circuit. Smith’s 41-point performance ranked second among all drivers, with only Reddick surpassing that total (58).
What’s next: Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway is on deck for the 26-year-old California native, where, in 2025, he not only fared well in qualifying (he started both contests in the top eight) but finished the race itself on good terms, too, via an 11th- and seventh-place result in the spring and summer, respectively. More good fortune could be on the way for Smith and the No. 38 squad.
2. Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
Started: 41st
Finished: 7th
What happened: A wreck during the first Duel race forced Buescher to a backup car, but that didn’t prevent the Prosper, Texas, native from, well, prospering. Buescher finished inside the top 10 in both stages (sixth and seventh, respectively), one of only three drivers to do so. Also of note: Buescher was one of only four cars not involved in any accidents during the Daytona 500’s entirety. Keep the car clean, and good things tend to happen.
What’s next: Atlanta has been a mixed bag for Buescher. On one hand, he does have five top 10s in 15 starts, with two of those top 10s coming in the last four contests there. On the other hand, he’s finished 30th or worse in two of the last three races there. Which way will the pendulum swing this time around? Good question.
3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Started: 3rd
Finished: 3rd
What happened: The Duel 1 winner continued the positive swing into Daytona’s main event, finishing third and tallying the fifth-most points (36). Though the No. 22 pilot was caught up in the last-lap fracas coming to the start/finish line, such a week — and race — proved to be a solid starting point to begin the 2026 campaign.
What’s next: There’s no doubt that Logano is looking for a bit of redemption at Atlanta, given his most recent race there in June 2025 — where he started on the pole — resulted in a 36th-place finish. That said, Logano is a two-time winner at the Georgia facility, so the opportunity to rebound there is well within the realm of possibility.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 21st
Finished: 40th
What happened: With a ninth-place finish to conclude Stage 1, it looked as if Bowman was on the path toward contention at the “World Center of Racing.” However, disaster struck late in Stage 2, when a 20-car pileup — and the resulting damage — proved to be too much for the No. 48 Chevy to continue action.
What’s next: One of Bowman’s top performances of the 2025 campaign came at Atlanta, when the No. 48 driver led 32 laps and finished third during the summer swing. With Atlanta on tap, that means a rebound could very well be on the docket.
2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Started: 2nd
Finished: 36th
What happened: A second consecutive front-row start in the “Great American Race” seemed to be a positive sign that Briscoe would tally a second straight top five in the crown-jewel bout. That proved not to be the case, though; a Lap 85 incident resulted in the No. 19 sliding and receiving damage, and though Briscoe continued racing afterward, he finished multiple laps down, completing only 188 of the scheduled 200 circuits.
What’s next: Atlanta has been a tough nut to crack for Briscoe in his Cup career. In 10 career Cup races at the track, Briscoe has zero top-10 finishes, three DNFs and a 24.0 average finish. In other words, it could be tough sledding once again for one of 2025’s breakout performers.
3. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Started: 12th
Finished: 35th
What happened: All signs pointed to Joe Gibbs Racing making a late-race push at Daytona, and Bell was no exception, being well within the top 15 as the remaining laps neared single digits. A Lap 192 caution removed that notion, with Bell and JGR teammate Denny Hamlin making contact near the exit of Turn 4, causing both to hit the inside wall. The wreck proved too much to handle, with Bell unable to finish the race after the fact.
What’s next: While Bell leaves Daytona with a sour taste, he enters Atlanta with sweet possibilities. Bell enters the spring Atlanta bout as the defending winner, despite starting 32nd and leading only one lap during last February’s run there.
