The Daytona 500 has been named as a nominee for the USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards 10 Best for motorsports races in 2026.
Unlike other sports sanctioning bodies, NASCAR runs its biggest event of the year, the Daytona 500, to open the season in grand fashion. From the exhilarating flyover by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds above the sold-out 101,000-plus grandstand seats to the high octane, three-wide pack racing around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, the “Great American Race” offers all the thrills for attendees.
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In February, Tyler Reddick took home his first Daytona 500 triumph with 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, after passing 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott off Turn 4 on the final lap amid chaos as the field wrecked both in front of and behind the No. 45 Toyota.
A total of 20 events from across the world have been nominated, which include the annual Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International and a pair of IMSA events in the Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which takes place a month before the Daytona 500 at the same historic venue.
You can vote once per day until voting closes on April 27. The winning events will be announced on May 6.
