Posted on by Zack Albert

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is sitting on some round numbers, in life and in racing. Still a lion in the garage at the milestone age of 50, Johnson has exactly 700 NASCAR Cup Series starts to his credit.

Though the regularity of his on-track endeavors has slowed to a part-time trickle in recent years, Johnson is back in Daytona looking to make the most of start No. 701.

“As a full-time driver, you’re always worried about the next weekend, and the season in NASCAR is so long,” Johnson said during Wednesday’s Daytona 500 Media Day. “During my generation, we had testing during the week. So I mean, I was in a car four days a week, five days a week, for 40 weeks a year, and that put me in a situation where I got a lot of seat time, and I’m very thankful for it, but you didn’t savor moments. And where I am now and the frequency of driving is less and much more targeted to these bucket-list opportunities, I am very aware I’ve got less races ahead of me than I do in the rearview mirror, and I better start savoring these moments. That’s really what I’ve been doing.”

Johnson aims to soak in more memories in Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), suiting up for his 23rd appearance in the “Great American Race.” He’ll take on the role of owner/driver this week with Legacy Motor Club, wheeling the No. 84 Toyota along with full-time teammates Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek.

RELATED: Speedweeks TV times, schedule | At-track photos: Daytona

The bucket list that Johnson references has spanned multiple forms of motorsport in the years since his retirement from full-time NASCAR competition after the 2020 season. He’s driven in the Indianapolis 500 and other IndyCar events, become a virtual regular at the Goodwood Revival historic races in England and was a key part of the Garage 56 effort that brought NASCAR to Le Mans in 2023. In recent months, he drove that Le Mans entry at Fuji Speedway in Japan and announced a return to his off-road roots with an entry in the Mint 400 in Las Vegas in March.

This most recent Daytona 500 appearance has kept that bucket full, but this go-around comes without the pressures of past efforts. Johnson will have a guaranteed starting berth in the 41-car field after NASCAR officials granted the team’s request for the Open Exemption Provisional, a “promoter’s choice” spot reserved for world-class drivers. The berth comes with a trade-off: Johnson won’t be eligible for prize money or points, but the knowledge that he’ll race for the win and trophy without having to weather Daytona’s sometimes-rigorous qualifying process is a positive.

“It’s a huge relief,” says Johnson, a two-time 500 winner who had to punch his way in through the 150-mile qualifying races in 2024. “Granted, we’ve lost upside potential with prize money, but to be guaranteed in the race, that stress, the efficiencies that we can focus on as a team to make sure we’re more competitive for the race and even help our other two cars, that’s worth it to us.”

The strength-in-numbers boost is another plus for Johnson & Co., who bring the number of Toyotas in the field to 11 after 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim qualified. It also prompts the question of how much the Legacy Motor Club trio will be able to work together, and when that team spirit of cooperation gives way to individual competitive nature.

MORE: Power Rankings | Media Day photos

“I think he would do whatever would be best for Legacy, right?” says Jones, who scored his first Cup victory in Daytona’s summertime 400-miler in 2018. “It’s his team, and I know Jimmie’s a competitor and wants to win another 500 as much as anybody in the field. But I think if he’s in a situation where he’d be putting at risk that none of the Legacy cars won the race, I think he’s going to take the option that one of us is going to win the race, and if that means it’s me or John Hunter, I think that’s the choice he’s going to make. Kind of a cool spot to be in for him, I feel like, as a guy who’s accomplished plenty in his career and has the chance to go out and run it again this year and hopefully have a couple of cars in it, in contention.”

Says Johnson, after a moment to ponder and reflect: “I have no idea what I would do in that moment. I really don’t. And I feel like it’s circumstantial, you know, if it’s the Hail Mary, there’s no need. But if I legitimately have a shot, then it’s a different situation. I’ve only raced one way, which is to win. So, I really find it hard to believe when the helmet doesn’t go on, that I’m not looking around, regardless of the car that’s there, and want that clean air, and want to be the first one to strike.”

Shifting into team-owner mode, Johnson talks of Legacy’s season-long goals in measured but optimistic tones. Jones finished 24th in the Cup Series standings last year, with Nemechek 25th, an improvement of several spots for each and something that the organization aims to build on as its third season with Toyota approaches.

Legacy Motor Club made a handful of personnel changes in the offseason, most notably with the hiring of Justin Alexander to take over the pit box for Jones’ No. 43 Camry, shifting former crew chief Ben Beshore to director of race engineering. Johnson says he hopes those fine-tuning moves for the LMC roster make for steadier performance, especially with a postseason format change that rewards more dependable results week to week.

“I think that our expectations are still very similar,” Johnson says. “We had looks at wins last year, we legitimately did. Where we’re most focused right now is the consistency. We want to be here for the long run. The format is going to benefit consistency with the format change. For us to be racing for a win one weekend on a mile-and-a-half and go to the next mile-and-a-half and run 20th with both cars, we’ve got to average that out and get that part under control. As we have developed our infrastructure, there’s a lot of telling signs of why we had the inconsistencies. We still need to go live it, but it’s nice to look back and rationally look at elements and say ‘this makes sense, this is why,’ and I feel like we’ll have a much more consistent year.”

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated following Thursday’s Duel at Daytona to reflect Byron’s result in the qualifying race.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron has a chance to do something no other driver has done in NASCAR history: win three consecutive Daytona 500s.

Byron is one of only five drivers in the event’s 67-year history to win it in back-to-back years, joining Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin and Denny Hamlin.

On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET (FOX), Byron will try his hand at creating history in the NASCAR Cup Series season opener.

RELATED: Daytona schedule | At-track photos: Daytona

Byron, 28, says he isn’t thinking about what lies ahead of him too much. But he knows what’s at stake and what a third straight victory in the “Great American Race” would mean to him.

“Obviously that’s the goal,” Byron said during Wednesday’s Daytona 500 Media Day. “I get reminders of the previous races, whether I see just the videos or whatnot. Yeah, it’s great career-defining moments that we’ve had. It’s awesome. It’s special. But I don’t really think ahead too much. I just think about what it’s going to take in these next couple days leading up to it.”

Byron admitted his surprise that no other driver has ever accomplished the feat, a stat made more jarring when considering Petty scored a record seven Daytona 500 wins. But even in more modern-era drafting styles of the last 25 years, when the leader could perhaps dictate the moves of cars behind, never did anyone score the three-peat.

“I’m a little surprised that there wasn’t a run by somebody like a Dale Jr. or something,” Byron said. “He and his team had a pretty good hold on what it took to be competitive, and he made great decisions. It just shows how hard this race is and how much pressure there is.”

The history at hand was top of mind for crew chief Rudy Fugle in a Jan. 24 interview at Hendrick Motorsports. In 2025, Fugle led Byron and the No. 24 team to the regular-season title after 26 races. That began with their second Daytona 500 win together.

“To have an opportunity to do something that nobody ever has done before in the history of NASCAR is huge,” Fugle said. “So we definitely are making sure that we’re preparing correctly, getting the cars and the parts going. I think it’s a little easier because most of the company recognizes we have a chance to do something never done before, even in a place with as much excellence as Hendrick Motorsports. So we just really want to try to help all those things go. At Daytona, there’s a lot of things out of our control. But what we can control, we want to have all those T’s crossed and I’s dotted.”

What has made Byron most effective in recent superspeedway endeavors, he says, are quick-thinking decisions that land correctly in addition to the right eyes in the sky and the hands working under Fugle’s direction.

“I do feel like I have a good instinct for making good decisions on the track,” Byron said. “I have a great spotter in Branden (Lines) that guides me well and a really good team with a well-prepared car that handles well and does all the things I want it to do. I think it’s just a combination of all those things and kind of just having a good overall feel for it.”

William Byron celebrates his 2025 Daytona 500 win.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

There is a certain anticipation Byron has felt festering through the offseason. After contending for the Cup Series championship three months ago at Phoenix Raceway, Byron’s urge to get back behind the wheel grew antsy in the cold winter months. No better way to cure that ill than by climbing back behind the wheel this week at Daytona.

“I feel really excited. I’m ready to get racing again,” Byron said. “I feel like I had a great offseason, but I found myself in the offseason just feeling like I actually wanted to get back in the car. I wanted to experience those emotions again. I kind of missed that. There’s a lot of aspects I didn’t miss, but the aspect of racing and being in the car with my guys and everything, that I really missed as the offseason went on.”

A new factor for the No. 24 team in pursuit of history will be a new body for the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this year. New features include a larger hood dome, revisions to the front grille and redefined rocker panels from previous seasons. And while those changes may ultimately be subtle, they make last year’s notes slightly less reliable.

“Aerodynamics are complex, so through wind-tunnel testing and GM and all those things, we have a basic idea of what to expect for the car by itself,” Fugle said. “So the cars will do completely different things at different ride heights that we haven’t even got to see yet in the wind tunnel, just because of what happens with slightly different aero factors in each configuration of where you race it. And then, more importantly, in the draft and getting pushed and pushing and sucking up. So I expect to learn — you’ll never stop learning on the body. We were learning at the end of last year on the old body for three years. But this body, I expect to learn all year long for sure in pretty big chunks.”

MORE: Setting Daytona 500 lineup | Scenes from Media Day

Byron hoped to have a classroom session before his first time in the draft during Thursday night’s Duel at Daytona, the twin 150-mile qualifying races that will set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. Instead, Byron wound up in the first of two 60-lap dashes and was one of the first Chevy drivers to learn how the new car works in the drafting pack.

“Selfishly, I think if I could be in the second Duel, it would be great to get a visual for what that looks like — how they’re doing it in the first Duel, then execute that or try it myself in the second,” Byron said. “Yeah, I think (the new body is) an unknown, for sure. It looks a lot better on paper. It looks like it’s going to be an advantage, possibly, or something we haven’t had in the past. Hopefully that’s the case.”

Unfortunately, his learning was cut short at Lap 57 of the qualifying race. When leader Bubba Wallace was sent spinning, Chris Buescher received contact that turned him hard into Byron’s door. The pair nearly saved their cars, but Buescher lost control and spun into the side of Byron’s car, simultaneously squeezing the No. 24 Chevrolet into the SAFER barrier. The No. 24 team confirmed Thursday evening it will go to a backup car for Sunday’s race and start from the rear.

That doesn’t mean all is lost, though. Byron also started the 2024 Daytona 500 with a backup car after a crash in that year’s Duel. He ended that weekend in Victory Lane.

“We’ve won this race with a backup car, so I’m not super worried about that aspect,” Byron said. “But it does suck that you put a lot of work into the primary and you don’t get to race it. … Stinks to start in the back on Sunday and not get the points tonight, but we’ll just move on.”

That Byron has won each of the last two runnings of the “Great American Race” comes as a notable twist to his previous Daytona results. His finishing rate at the 2.5-mile behemoth is a mere 50% — eight DNFs in 16 total Daytona starts, with four of those crash-outs coming in the Daytona 500. That also includes a stretch of four consecutive wrecks that knocked him out of the race early.

It seems that dismal stretch has taken a turn for the better. Since the summer race in 2023, Byron has finished four of the last five Daytona races with two wins and three top 10s in that span.

MORE: Active drivers with Daytona 500 win | Every Daytona 500 victor

“It just feels like I’ve been, at this track in particular, able to have some things go my way and also make good decisions in those moments that I had opportunities,” Byron said. “It’s a mix of that — like being in the right place — and then having those chances to make good decisions. I feel like, for a while, it was a joke. I couldn’t finish a race here. My first six years, I couldn’t finish the race, but I was always in the mix. I don’t know. I think it’s kind of finally tipped the other way.”

Winning two consecutive Daytona 500s already proves he’s trending in the right direction. The question now is whether fortune will favor him for a third consecutive year in the “Great American Race.”

Posted on by Brandon White

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — As she drove her No. 24 Sigma Performance Services Pro Late Model on track for qualifying at New Smyrna Speedway on Wednesday, Mia Lovell experienced one of several possible nightmare scenarios.

She spun on her warm-up lap down the backstretch.

Such a circumstance would rattle any driver making his or her World Series of Asphalt debut, but Lovell knew the only thing she could do was regroup and finish the run. She showed no signs of being intimidated during the rest of her session and ended up posting the seventh quickest time of 24 cars, her best qualifying performance of the week to that point.

Lovell did not get the corresponding result she wanted Wednesday after being collected in a late-race crash while battling inside the top five, but she has seen her own personal improvement after each day on track. She knew mistakes were going to be a part of her first World Series experience, but she emphasized the importance of showing resolve through every obstacle.

Even something as unorthodox as spinning while coming up to speed in qualifying.

“Sometimes when you’re scrubbing tires, that stuff just happens,” Lovell said. “You just have to keep focusing on your job and hope it doesn’t affect you too much.”

Mia Lovell
(Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Stalwart composure has long been a focal point for Lovell in everything she has done in life up to this point; the trait was refined during her time as a professional skateboarder.

After she began skateboarding at age 5, Lovell quickly developed a passion for the sport and soon found herself competing in numerous competitions. Among the accomplishments she obtained as a skateboarder included multiple gold medals during the 2019 California State Games, an Olympic-style competition for amateur athletes.

Lovell intended to continue pursuing skateboarding as a career, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic altered those plans. With no skateboarding competitions occurring due to restrictions on mass gatherings, Lovell started accompanying her dad Mike Lovell to a nearby club track and watch him turn some laps.

During one of these trips, Mike elected to put Mia in a car to gauge what she could do behind the wheel. It only took a few laps around the track for Mia to decide she wanted to become a professional motorsport driver. She began committing herself to make that dream a reality.

“Obviously I love skating; it’s so much fun. But racing really just made me tick,” Lovell said. “There’s so much that goes into it aside from what you actually do on the racetrack, like the technical side and the mental aspect of it. I love everything about it.”

Ever since he adopted Mia from China when she was seven months old, Mike has done everything he can to support her interests. While his daughter’s love for an activity as dangerous as action sports would naturally concern any parent, Mike trusts Mia to take care of herself and seek out guidance if she needs it.

From Mike’s perspective, Mia’s maturity and foresight are what propelled her to success as a skateboarder. Those qualities are why Mike believes his daughter is going to thrive in motorsports as soon as she gets more laps under her.

“As a child, Mia was always kind of abnormal as it relates to other kids,” Mike said. “She was so disciplined, focused and structured as a kid. I was never like that, but she was always very committed to everything she did. When she got behind the wheel, she took a very methodical approach and looked at everything she could utilize to progress quicker.”

The limited experience Mia Lovell had in auto racing prior to the World Series was in road course competition. She ran two full-time seasons in Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup North America before making six starts in the Trans Am Championship’s TA2 class last year, scoring top 10s in half of them.

Lovell also got to make select Pro Late Model appearances throughout 2025 in a collaborative effort between Sigma Performance Services and Preston Peltier. The strongest of these starts came at Colorado National Speedway during the summer, as Lovell brought home a fifth-place finish in a talented field that consisted of Keelan and Kevin Harvick.

Mia Lovell
Despite finding some success in her first Pro Late Model starts, Mia Lovell is still acclimating herself to all the intricacies of the discipline. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Leaning on the expertise of Peltier and Sigma Performance Services has helped Lovell transition more seamlessly into oval racing. Having only been competing since she was 13, Lovell knew she had to learn about late model racing rapidly if she wanted to keep pace with those whose careers started before they turned 10 years of age.

Along with perfecting her race craft, Lovell feels she is communicating more actively about her car’s needs, which is helping her gradually close the gap on her more experienced competitors.

“Each step up we have, there’s more of a leadership role you have to take on for the team,” Lovell said. “Coming from the road racing side to the ovals, [you] need to get better about car feedback and try to absorb as much as [you] can. I’m relatively new to the sport compared to most of my competitors, but I’m working hard to make up for lost time.”

The intensity of oval racing was the most significant learning curve. Lovell was surprised by how often drivers battled each other side-by-side, but she said those intense situations taught her valuable lessons on risk management, patience and how to be aggressive at the right time.

As a father, Mike Lovell wanted to see Mia start winning races instantly but admitted those expectations were unrealistic. Consistency in Pro Late Models was always going to take time, but Mike has seen firsthand the growth Mia has undergone and how she is focusing on just finishing races for now.

Mike is confident success will find Mia in motorsports if she continues to trust the resources and people around her.

“We started like so many people do, coming into it with a ‘win, win, win’ [mindset],” Mike said. “We would set goals and rewards for [Mia], but at some point, it was the personal growth of recognizing that worrying about winning that early is absurd. It’s the process. What do we need to learn mentally and how do we prepare physically?

“Once you refine that process, then you’ve got a shot at winning.”

The World Series at New Smyrna is the next chapter in Mia Lovell’s development. She is surrounded by an even mix of fellow prospects seeking to one day advance into NASCAR’s top ranks along with established Pro Late Model veterans, all while navigating New Smyrna’s fast but abrasive layout.

While her time at New Smyrna has been met with mixed results, Lovell has enjoyed being a part of such a prestigious event. Many drivers currently in the top levels of NASCAR were once in Lovell’s position, so she is willing to embrace both the positives and negatives the week has to offer if it makes her better in the long run.

“My goal is to gain as much experience as I can and learn as much as I can,” Lovell said. “You don’t get a lot of opportunities to have five nights of races in a row. I’m trying to make the best out of each race, make the best out of each session. If I make a mistake, I have the grace of knowing I can do it again tomorrow.”

Mia Lovell
Every race Mia Lovell has competed in at the World Series this week has built up the confidence she has in her car and her driving ability. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Mike Lovell expected the World Series to be far from perfect for Mia with how demanding it can be on even the most seasoned of drivers. Despite some of the misfortune Mia has endured, Mike still considers the week to be a successful one, as he got to be right beside his daughter as she took another crucial step forward in her racing career.

From the moment Mike brought Mia home for the first time, he has devoted his life to her. Mike is proud he gets to share his lifelong passion for motorsports with Mia and hopes the two of them get plenty of chances to celebrate victories together.

“It’s the most proud thing I’ve ever experienced,” Mike said. “I love racing and that’s how [Mia] got into it. The most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done is being at the track with my daughter, watching her progress, excel, learn, prove and grow. It’s one hell of a ride.”

Were it not for circumstances outside of her control, there’s a decent chance Mia Lovell is still a professional skateboarder and not an aspiring auto racer. Reflecting on the two sports, Lovell considers racing much safer than skateboarding but admitted there is still a level of danger that comes from battling others while going more than 150 mph.

Even when caution is being exercised, Lovell said the pre-qualifying spin Wednesday shows mistakes can still happen at low speeds. If she wants to continue making progress, Lovell knows she needs to carry all the lessons learned from the World Series into the rest of her planned starts this year.

“The number one thing I want to take away from this week is to gain some maturity behind the wheel,” Lovell said. “[I also] want to gain a level of wisdom, I guess. You can be the fastest driver on Earth, but if you don’t make it to the checkered flag, what good does that do? That’s the only time it really matters.”

Lovell’s path to sustainability in racing has been a meticulous grind, much like the journey she once took as a skateboarder, Relentless dedication garnered Lovell plenty of accolades in skateboarding, so she is not worried in the slightest about her outlook in motorsports.

The wins will come in due time.

Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Busch delivered the best Daytona 500 qualifying effort of his NASCAR career Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway, claiming his first pole position for the “Great American Race” on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Busch’s No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was quickest in first round qualifying and answered the work resoundingly with a 183.651 mph lap in the 10-car final round — besting Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe by only 0.064 mph to set the front row.

Busch, 40, and Briscoe, 31 — the 2025 Daytona 500 polesitter — locked into the 40-car field along with 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who claimed the two Open positions up for grabs Wednesday. The remainder of the field will be settled in Thursday night’s America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona races (7 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with the 500 starting positions based on the Duels’ finishing order.

This will mark Busch’s 21st start in the Daytona 500 — and no previous driver has won the race with more than 20 starts. The late NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt scored his only Daytona 500 victory in his 20th start for Busch’s team owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Childress.

RELATED: Daytona Speedweeks schedule | How Daytona 500 lineup is set

“Certainly, here on a Wednesday night, being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special,” said a grinning Busch. “I’ve had one other speedway pole down here in Daytona for the summer race. This feels good. Feels really good for RCR as a group.

“Just a valiant effort by everybody here,” the two-time series champion said. “It would be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being No. 1 come Sunday night.”

Briscoe was obviously encouraged by his showing as well, noting with a laugh that more typically it’s the Hendrick Motorsports team that has dominated Daytona 500 front row qualifying in recent years.

“It’s cool for sure to be able to consistently [qualify] two years in a row now,” said Briscoe, who drives the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “It’s really a testament to the folks back at JGR. We’ve made so many improvements on our superspeedway program. This race really comes down to, at least in qualifying, attention to detail, just doing every little thing.

“The 19 group has consistently kind of been the best one. That’s really exciting for us. Just a lot of pride in that, right? I know for me, every week when I get in the car, I know I’m in arguably the best car every single week. When we come here and do stuff like we’ve done two years in a row validates that.

“It’s the kid in me. … being on the front row, for two years in a row at the Daytona 500. It’s a really big deal.”

It was certainly a thrilling start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series points season. The qualifying session featured a great battle among all three series manufacturers — with four Chevrolets, three Fords and three Toyotas making up the final round. Nine of the 10 cars that advanced bettered the pole speed from a year ago.

Last week’s Cook Out Clash preseason-opening race winner, Ryan Preece, was third fastest in the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford, with three-time Daytona 500 winner, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, fourth quickest, followed by Heim, the only one of eight Open cars to make the 10-car final round.

“Just kind of nerve-wracking for sure to say the least,” the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Heim conceded of earning his first ever Daytona 500 start in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota. “But as soon as we knew all cars would be out in the second round except for us, that’s kind of the final solidifying factor. I thought for a minute, three of us were going to be in the final round, and we were going to have to race it out.

“So impressed and thank you for 23XI Racing and Toyota coming here with an Open car and a fourth team at 23XI. To be able to do that is pretty impressive even from my eyes. I feel like that’s a very big accomplishment from those guys. Just blessed to be a part of the team.”

MORE: Full Daytona 500 qualifying results | Duel starting lineups

The veteran Allgaier – the 2024 champion and a current full-time competitor in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – is making his second consecutive start in the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, owned by two-time Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller. Allgaier’s qualifying time bettered the open car driven by Corey LaJoie by only a slight 0.004-second to claim that second guaranteed entry.

“I thought there would be less stress, but I felt like for me, the stress level actually went up compared to last year with what we are able to accomplish,” said Allgaier, who finished ninth last year in the team’s inaugural Daytona start.

“You feel like you’ll come back in a lot better capacity, and we did; that was a great qualifying effort, just short of the top-10,” he said of the car’s 14th-place showing Wednesday night among the 45-car field.

“I think last year we made it so exciting on Thursday, it was really cool, and it was special,” Allgaier said of having to race for a position in the 2025 Daytona 500 in the Duels. “But I feel like this year, I can go through the Duels and work on the car in a far different capacity and allows us to go to the 500 and really feel like we’re competing for a win and competing for a great position. It’s just different, and I’m really proud of this team.”

His grinning team owner Earnhardt conceded, “It is stressful, but that’s the best part about it.”

Of note, Front Row Motorsports driver Noah Gragson had his qualifying lap disallowed after he used his hand to affect airflow, violating a new NASCAR rule that took effect this year. He’ll start last in his Duel race.

“I completely forgot about that rule,” Gragson said, “That one’s on me.”

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Corey Heim will race the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota in the Daytona 500 after locking in on his first attempt to qualify.

Justin Allgaier is back for the second year in a row, clinching the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet into the “Great American Race” after a dramatic wait in Daytona 500 qualifying on Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway.

RELATED: Daytona 500 qualifying results | Speedweeks TV times, schedule

The duo posted the fastest time-trial laps of the eight Open entries attempting to make Sunday’s Daytona 500 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), solidifying their spots in the NASCAR Cup Series season opener. Their starting positions, along with the final two open entrants to earn starting positions on Sunday’s grid, will be determined in Thursday night’s Duel at Daytona, twin 150-mile qualifying races (7 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Heim notched an impressive fifth-place qualifying effort in Wednesday’s time trials and Allgaier 14th, but the evening wasn’t that straightforward. Corey LaJoie, attempting the race in the No. 99 RFK Racing Ford, qualified with a lap time of 49.205 seconds — just 0.004 seconds slower than Allgaier.

That provisionally placed all three of them inside the top 10 during the first round of qualifying. The top 10 racers in Round 1 advance to the second round to run another lap, which meant LaJoie, Allgaier and Heim would have had to determine who locked in based on Wednesday’s speed. Instead, LaJoie and Allgaier were both bumped out of the top 10, locking Heim and Allgaier into the Daytona 500.

“That was something that caught me off guard,” Heim said. “Like I didn’t realize — I mean, I guess I’ve just watched enough Daytona qualifying and never seen three open cars make the final round. So I was kind of taking my deep breath, and then my engineers come over and said if all three guys make the final round, you’ve got to race it out. Like, holy crap, here we go again.

“But obviously it worked out and pretty impressive to see the lineup that we have in the open cars this year, and it’s definitely stressful being in that field and being in that bunch. But just our Robinhood Camry was really good today, so can’t say enough about those guys.”

In 2025, Allgaier and JR Motorsports missed locking into the Daytona 500 in time trials by a mere 0.009 seconds before ultimately racing in via the Duels. To advance Wednesday by an even smaller margin was not left on Allgaier, the 2023 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion.

“Last year, we missed qualifying in by 0.009 seconds,” Allgaier said. “This year it’s 0.004 the other way. So you can never take those moments for granted when it’s just a little bit of speed, and we definitely didn’t do that tonight.”

Although Allgaier and the JRM crew did eventually race into last year’s Daytona 500, Allgaier said during Wednesday’s Media Day availabilities that not qualifying in via time trials was a low unlike any other: “That valley was deeper than anything I can ever remember,” Allgaier said.

A twist of emotions existed again this year, but this time in a far less demoralizing fashion before leading to the euphoria of qualifying an Earnhardt-owned car into the Daytona 500.

“There’s nothing worse as a driver than feeling like you’re going to let somebody down and not doing your job in the best capacity you can,” Allgaier said. “And so I think this year was just different. So when we got in that situation and we knew we might have to run again, I don’t think it mattered.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports, two-time Daytona 500 winner and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, was just as elated in Year 2 of entering a JRM Chevrolet into the “Great American Race.”

“I would say this is like just having more dessert, man,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We ate a whole course last year, and we’re just getting to go back for seconds at the dessert table and just have a little more. I feel like that we’re in bonus time, if you will for both of us in our in our lives, honestly. It’s like we’re getting a little extra. We’ve already had pretty good careers together and on race track and behind the wheel and all that. This is a part of the story that we didn’t really know we (were) gonna get to live, so it’s pretty incredible.”

MORE: Scenes from 2026 Daytona Speedweeks

Earnhardt Jr. estimated 80% of last year’s Daytona 500 core returned for this second attempt. That experience is something his sister and team co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller said helped drive the No. 40 team toward a renewed goal in the new year.

“Any time you do something the second time, there’s a lot of the newness and the nervousness that’s gone away, right?” Earnhardt Miller told NASCAR.com. “Everybody knows their role, what they’re doing to pull this together for this one race. And so it felt good coming back to do it with some of that in the hopper. I know they worked really hard, thought about last year and how things went, what they could do different. Justin was just saying about worrying about the time that he missed it by last year.

“It feels really good, but this team is super excited about it. And we’re in another Daytona 500!”

Entering the new year as the defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, Heim has a 12-race schedule planned in Cup with 23XI Racing amid other part-time plans in the Truck Series. The first step, though, was locking into the “Great American Race,” a process Heim had never gone through previously.

“It’s definitely been a lot of pressure,” Heim said. “It’s been stressful. I think, just as a driver, you never can guarantee that you’re going to lock in in qualifying. And looking back at last year, I was able to see which teams were successful in the speedway qualifying side of things. Of course, it’s 99% car — if not more — as far as where you qualify here. So just kind of looking back at the other teams and how they’re qualified, I was like, dang, it’s gonna be pretty tight depending on how we how we unload.

“So definitely was stressful coming down here to lock myself in. But yeah, man, just can’t say enough about the piece we brought and such a relief off our shoulders to just go have some fun in the Duels tomorrow and try to learn and know that even if I do make a mistake, it’s not going to be a terminal mistake.”

Steve Lauletta, president of 23XI Racing, was far from surprised by Heim’s calm demeanor despite the pressure placed upon him and the No. 67 team entering this weekend. Lauletta lauded Heim’s talent and his fit within the team’s culture. To lock him into the Daytona 500 on his first attempt was mission accomplished.

“It’s just a big step for him,” Lauletta told NASCAR.com. “That’s why we’re doing this, to kind of keep his development moving in the right direction. A lot of effort put in by everybody at Airspeed. All the team’s working hard to make sure that he had everything he needed support-wise to get in. So really happy that it worked out that way.”

With development comes opportunities to improve, which remains atop the priority list for the 23-year-old prospect entering with his highest slate of Cup races to date.

MORE: Daytona 500 lineup tracker

“I think the goal the rest of the races is the same for him, which is just complete all the laps, learn as he’s going,” Lauletta said. “You know, every time I talked to him, even last year, even if he was disappointed, I said, ‘Did you learn something?’ And he said yes. I said, ‘OK, then that’s why we’re doing this.’ So no pressure on him other than to learn something every time.”

Six drivers will be vying for the two remaining starting spots in Thursday’s twin qualifiers, with four drivers failing to qualify. Those half-dozen hopefuls are Chandler Smith, J.J. Yeley, Anthony Alfredo, Casey Mears, BJ McLeod and LaJoie.

Contributing: Staff report

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Kyle Larson signed a five-year contract extension to remain with Hendrick Motorsports as the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series through the 2031 season, the team announced Wednesday evening.

Larson will continue to carry HendrickCars.com as his primary sponsor on the No. 5 car, with the company announcing a matching five-year extension in conjunction with Larson’s stay to solidify the pairing with Hendrick Motorsports into the next decade. Additionally, crew chief Cliff Daniels has signed a multiyear contract to remain the leader of Larson’s No. 5 team.

MORE: 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

Larson is the defending Cup Series champion, winning his second title in 2025 after scoring three victories last year. A 32-time winner in NASCAR’s top division, 26 of those triumphs have come since taking over the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick in 2021 with Daniels’ guidance. Larson is optimistic plenty more of that success remains ahead of him.

“I think anytime you can sign a contract, it’s a good thing,” Larson told NASCAR.com in an exclusive teleconference. “Obviously, I believe Hendrick Motorsports is the best in the sport, and to be associated with that for a good part of the next future is super exciting.

“And I think tying it together with Cliff Daniels and I both aligning is really important for the strength of the 5 team and where we continue to head. Super happy and hopefully we can keep up our success and accomplish a lot of good things along in the next (five) years.”

Larson’s stay at Hendrick signals further stability for the organization by retaining Larson, the company’s first multi-time champion since Jimmie Johnson earned all seven of his Cup titles driving Hendrick’s No. 48 car.

Daniels was a member of Johnson’s team when he claimed his seventh championship in 2016, was Johnson’s crew chief for a season and a half in 2019-20, and remains atop the pit box this season. In 2025, Daniels oversaw significant change and adaptability across the No. 5 team in leading the team to a championship that, at times, seemed unlikely.

“I think I’ve always had that trust in Cliff,” Larson said. “So when we were making big moves like we were last year, say with pit crew or mechanics and stuff, I wasn’t ever that worried. I was really more so just excited because of the trust that I have in him, and I know the amount of thought that he puts into everything. So I knew whatever decision he was making was going to work itself out to be the correct one. You know, it might take time — which it did throughout last year, but then even through the rougher stretches of races that we were having, I wouldn’t have wanted anybody else leading our team to get back on track and get pointed in the right direction to go chase a championship. And I think all that played out that way last year.”

HendrickCars.com has been an anchor sponsor of Larson’s endeavors with the No. 5 team since Larson pivoted to Hendrick Motorsports. HendrickCars.com will continue to serve as Larson’s primary sponsor for 35 of 38 Cup race weekends, including exhibitions, each year.

“We’re incredibly grateful for this partnership with our teammates at Hendrick Motorsports,” Jeffrey “JB” Brown, president of Hendrick Automotive Group, said in a team release. “Since 2021, the program has consistently delivered a nearly three-to-one return with record-breaking traffic to HendrickCars.com, over $80 million in television exposure and tens of millions of social media engagements. As we enter our company’s 50th anniversary year, racing has driven results and united our teammates in such a powerful way that extending our relationship with Kyle, Cliff and this championship team was a no-brainer.”

The blue, white and red paint scheme that features HendrickCars.com on the No. 5 Chevrolet has become a staple on the Cup Series grid this decade as one of the most recognizable cars on track. That isn’t lost on Larson, who has expanded his relationship with HendrickCars.com outside the NASCAR world and into his dirt-racing endeavors.

“To have the success that we’ve had together since 2021 and looking on to the future again, just tying it all together, I hope we can go on a really good run,” Larson said. “You know, when you think of Jeff (Gordon), I feel like you think of DuPont. When you think of Jimmie Johnson, you think of Lowe’s. So yeah, I think a lot of it’s the same with us, so hopefully we can just do a good job.”

Cliff Daniels and Kyle Larson share a handshake in Victory Lane after winning the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Larson, 33, has won three of NASCAR’s four crown-jewel events, including the 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 2023 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the 2024 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Elk Grove, California, native is chasing a win in the Daytona 500 to complete a victory quartet of storied stock-car races. Larson will have his 13th chance to win the “Great American Race” as the NASCAR Cup Series begins its 2026 season with the Daytona 500 on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“When you look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level year after year, it starts with people,” Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group, said in a release. “Kyle is one of the most complete drivers in our sport. His talent, work ethic and instincts give us a chance to win every time we race. Cliff is a true servant leader who brings out the best in everyone around him and sets the standard for how we go to the track. Having HendrickCars.com alongside this group continues to create real, measurable value for our automotive business. Together, it’s a combination that will keep winning races and competing for championships for a long time.”

Larson joined the Cup ranks full-time in 2014, then driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing after a highly successful charge through the dirt-racing ranks. While at Ganassi, Larson won six Cup races in addition to a victory in the 2015 Rolex 24 endurance race at the Daytona International Speedway road course in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

His background and subsequent success have, in some ways, mirrored those of Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR Hall of Famer and four-time Cup Series champion. Larson has stated he doesn’t spend time thinking much about his legacy, but Gordon has long been one of his idols.

Gordon since returned that fandom in Larson’s favor, dating back to at least 2014 when he and then-rookie Larson shared a fierce but thrilling battle for second place at Chicagoland Speedway. In the decade-plus since then, the two have grown to be friends as much as they’ve grown as a boss and employee.

“Jeff Gordon is somebody I’ve looked up to my whole life, since before I started racing,” Larson said. “You know, I was a massive Jeff Gordon fan like many of us were. And then that relationship has grown into more like not a working relationship — more of just a friendship, which I think is what makes any working relationship a good one. So yeah, I really enjoy having Jeff in my corner. I think he’s obviously a big fan of mine. Been a fan of mine for a long time. Both growing up in Northern California, I think a lot of the ties together that we have — although a couple decades apart — I think he’s always rooted for me.”

The strong relationships between Larson and those at Hendrick Motorsports extend from those who work on his No. 5 Chevrolet to the top with team owner Rick Hendrick. Larson delivered immediate on-track results joining in 2021, leading the program to a 10-win season, an All-Star Race victory and the Cup Series championship. Larson’s continued growth off-track is something he credits, in part, to Hendrick.

MORE: Rick Hendrick’s racing history includes time in the driver’s seat

“I had mentioned earlier just being surrounded by good people, and it starts with Rick,” Larson said. “He’s just a great, great person. And I think that relationship has allowed me to mature as a racer, as a teammate, as a leader, and I’m just so, so grateful. Just an amazing person, and you can just tell that he cares about every single person that works for him, so it makes you want to do a good job for him and do the best job you can every single day.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Brad Keselowski arrived for his Daytona 500 Media Day interviews walking with a cane to support his right leg, which has been healing from a broken femur.

It wasn’t just any cane, mind you. This one bore sponsorship stickers relating to his No. 6 RFK Racing Ford.

RELATED: Speedweeks TV times, schedule | At-track photos: Daytona

“I knew I was probably going to get picked on a little bit,” said Keselowski, who on Feb. 9 was cleared to race in Sunday’s Daytona 500 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) after missing the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. “So, I might as well just at some point own it. I won’t say it (the decals) was my idea, but I actually thought it was a good one.”

Keselowski broke his leg by slipping on ice during a family ski vacation in mid-December. He explained that the injury was far more severe than the broken ankle he suffered in a wreck at Road Atlanta in 2011.

As he was lying on the ice after the recent accident, Keselowski was beset with a grim thought.

“When I was laying on the ground and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was like, oh my God. Like, think about the soldiers in the Civil War,” Keselowski said. “Like, they just would cut their leg off right here.

“And I understood why they would do it, because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I’ve ever went through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was a part of me that was like, that might actually feel better.”

MORE: Power Rankings | 2026 Cup Series schedule

Keselowski expects to be able to drive at Daytona, though David Ragan will stand by as a relief driver. Less certain is whether he can handle the rigors of the Circuit of The Americas on March 1 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

As a consequence, sports car star Joey Hand has already been enlisted as a backup for that race.

Brad Keselowski speaks to the media at Daytona International Speedway.
Patrick McDermott | Getty Images
Posted on by Zack Albert

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — When Connor Zilisch first came to the Daytona 500 four years ago, the experience was radically different than the one he’s sensing now. He’d been tutoring a go-kart student in Orlando and jumped at the offer to trade some of his pay for a ticket and lodging. Lacking the connections or influence to get into the pits or garage, the 15-year-old Zilisch still soaked in the “Great American Race” from the grandstands.

“I thought, ‘Man, what a cool opportunity that would be,'” Zilisch recalls.

Four years later, Zilisch carries anticipation for an even greater opportunity, set for his first Daytona 500 experience as a driver with a fresh NASCAR Cup Series patch on the chest of his fire suit. It’s a short turnaround time, transforming from teenaged ‘sure-I’ll-go’ fan who’d never raced an oval to can’t-miss Trackhouse Racing prospect to a still-teenaged and heavily hyped Cup Series rookie in the span of an election cycle.

The time for that big-league career to hatch is now, just days away from kicking off his first full Cup season Sunday in the most prestigious race of the year (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Speedweeks TV times, schedule | At-track photos: Daytona

“I think it just shows how quickly life can change,” Zilisch said from Wednesday’s Media Day rounds. “You never know what’s going to happen. It’s just crazy how things in life can happen. You just have to give it your all every day, don’t give up. I think it shows that anything’s possible.”

How Zilisch performs in the week-to-week pressure cooker of stock-car racing’s top division stands as one of the biggest early question marks for the 2026 Cup Series season. He’s running unopposed in pursuit of the series’ top rookie honors, but the promise he’s shown at each stage of his rapid rise along the racing ladder has created a buzz about him.

The stir has been comparable to much-talked-about debuts of the past. Joey Logano’s rookie venture at NASCAR’s top level came as an 18-year-old trumpeted as “Sliced Bread” in 2009. Earlier, Jeff Gordon burst into the rookie ranks in 1993 at just 21 years old on the way to a Hall of Fame career. His first Cup appearance at Daytona was a dazzler; that year, he split the victories in the Daytona 500 qualifying races with Dale Earnhardt.

Zilisch is gracious that his name is mentioned in the same paragraph as Gordon’s. That flattery hasn’t made it easier for him to grasp.

“Yeah, it’s hard to comprehend, I would say. I think it’s – I don’t know why yet, right?” Zilisch says. “I’ve run, obviously, a lot of races in the lower levels. But to be compared to Jeff Gordon, I feel like you’ve got to do something at this level and I’ve yet to do that. I haven’t had the opportunity to do that. That starts this year, and I’m hoping to make a name for myself. It’s certainly going to take time to get to the level of a guy like him.”

At just 19, Zilisch seems to have plenty of time ahead of him, but it’s worth noting now much he’s accomplished so far in his brief tenure. A pair of class wins in IMSA sports-car competition foreshadowed some of the successes to come, and he burned up the ARCA circuits before reaching the national NASCAR stage. His first full schedule in what’s now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series yielded a whopping 10 wins, including a stretch of seven out of eight to close out the regular season.

Zilisch just missed sealing the series championship last November, winding up just two positions shy of the crown behind eventual winner Jesse Love. He was crestfallen after the checkered flag, but said that the shock and disappointment didn’t last long past the season finale.

“Yeah, I got past it pretty quick,” Zilisch said. “It was probably a week or so, less than a week, and I quickly realized I have a lot more to be excited about than I do to sit there and get upset about the fact that I didn’t win a championship. So yeah, it’s just the fact that if I didn’t have anything going for me and that was my make-or-break moment, it would have been different. But I have a lot to look forward to and a lot to work on moving forward, and that needs to be my focus.”

Little seems to rattle Zilisch, who explains he’s ready for all the newness that his first Cup Series campaign will contain. “I’ve learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” says the young phenom, noting how he’s tried to adapt to the each new experience.

MORE: Power Rankings | Media Day photos

The poise that’s accompanied Zilisch on that path has his Trackhouse Racing teammates taking note.

“Gosh, I don’t know how [his family] raised him, but they did a really good job,” says Trackhouse’s Ross Chastain. “It’s probably something that we need to study, because they turned out a great kid, mature beyond … like, it’s not fair how mature he is. Definitely still signs that he’s his age, but yeah, the speed on track together with the composure off track is cool to see, and we’ve already had some good times together this year.”

Zilisch says he’s looking for more of those special moments as Sunday’s “Great American Race” approaches, anticipating the build-up to pre-race ceremonies, walking across the stage for driver introductions before a sold-out grandstand and then strapping into his No. 88 Chevrolet for the 200-lap race itself.

The contrast from Zilisch’s first 500 as a spectator to this weekend’s Daytona debut from the driver’s seat is a dramatic one, but in each case, gathering memorable moments takes priority.

“I guess I’m here now, and I have to process it,” Zilisch says. “I’m just excited for it. I’m not sure what other people say about their first Daytona 500 experience, but my goal this weekend is to enjoy it, take it all in and try to make the most of it on Sunday, and do the best job I can. But I just want to have fun. I want to be able to remember this weekend as something that I enjoyed, and that I checked all the boxes and experienced everything I could.”

Posted on by Staff Report

The NASCAR Cup, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and NASCAR Craftsman Truck series all kick off the 2026 season this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Check out the qualifying orders for all three series as they become available.

MORE: Weekend schedule | How to watch NASCAR on TV

Cup Series
Single-car qualifying will set the front row for the Daytona 500 and will take place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday (FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). To learn more about how the Daytona 500 lineup is set through single-car qualifying and the Duels (7 p.m. ET, Thursday, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), click here.

PosCarDriverTeam
1*67* Corey Heim(i)Robinhood Toyota
2*40* Justin Allgaier(i)Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet
343Erik JonesAdventHealth Toyota
410Ty DillonGrizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet
541Cole CusterHaasTooling.com Chevrolet
660Ryan PreeceKroger/Viva Towels Ford
7*66* Casey MearsSI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford
834Todd GillilandLove's Travel Stops Ford
97Daniel SuárezFreeway Insurance Chevrolet
10*84* Jimmie JohnsonCarvana Toyota
114Noah GragsonRush Truck Centers Ford
1216AJ AllmendingerCelsius Chevrolet
1335Riley HerbstMonster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota
14*36* Chandler Smith(i)Quick Tie/Matheus Lumber Ford
1577Carson HocevarSpectrum Chevrolet
168Kyle Buschzone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet
1788Connor Zilisch#Red Bull Chevrolet
183Zane SmithSpeedy Cash Ford
1942John Hunter NemechekDollar Tree Toyota
20*78* BJ McLeodSuperior Logistics Chevrolet
21*44* JJ Yeley(i)Built To Work/Barnett Southern Chevrolet
2247Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Chef Boyardee Chevrolet
23*62* Anthony Alfredo(i)Dude Wipes Chevrolet
2471Michael McDowellModo Casino Chevrolet
25*99* Corey LaJoieTrimble Ford
2645Tyler ReddickChumba Casino Toyota
273Austin DillonBass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet
2821Josh BerryMotorcraft/Quick Lane Ford
299Chase ElliottNAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
3024William ByronRaptor Chevrolet
3197Shane van GisbergenSuperFile Chevrolet
321Ross ChastainBusch Light Chevrolet
3351Cody WareJacob Construction Chevrolet
3417Chris BuescherBody Guard Ford
3519Chase BriscoeBass Pro Shops Toyota
3654Ty GibbsMonster Energy Toyota
3712Ryan BlaneyMenards/Peak Ford
385Kyle LarsonHendrickCars.com Chevrolet
3922Joey LoganoShell Pennzoil Ford
4020Christopher BellDEWALT/Interstate Batteries Toyota
412Austin CindricDiscount Tire Ford
4223Bubba WallaceXfinity Toyota
436Brad KeselowskiCastrol Ford
4448Alex BowmanAlly Chevrolet
4511Denny HamlinNational Debt Relief Toyota

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Single-car qualifying will take place at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday (The CW App).

POSCARDRIVERTEAM
10Garrett SmithleyKnight Fire Protection Chevrolet
231Blaine PerkinsWerner Chevrolet
328Kyle SiegHiami Hooch Chevrolet
496Anthony AlfredoDude Wipes Chevrolet
545Lavar Scott #Urban Affairs Coalition Chevrolet
607Josh BilickiMando Chevrolet
792Josh WilliamsOptum Chevrolet
855Joey GaseStripes TV Chevrolet
953David StarrApex Wireless Chevrolet
1087Austin GreenOverplay Chevrolet
1151Jeremy ClementsAll South Electric/One Stop Chevrolet
125Luke Fenhaus #Jobber/dun-rite/ICS Ford
1391Mason MaggioSuccess Unlocked Chevrolet
1432Jordan Andersoneasycare Chevrolet
1542Carson Hocevar(i)Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet
1699Parker RetzlaffFunkaway Chevrolet
1738Patrick Emerling(i)Firman Generators Chevrolet
1824Harrison BurtonDead On Tools Toyota
1925Nick SanchezBetter Compute Works Inc.Ford
2035Natalie DeckerTN Dickinson's Witch hazel Chevrolet
214Caesar BacarellaProtein Rice Treats Chevrolet
222Jesse LoveWhelen Chevrolet
2320Brandon JonesMenards/Swiffer Toyota
241Carson KvapilBass Pro Shops Chevrolet
2588Rajah CaruthHendrickCars.com Chevrolet
2641Sam MayerAudibel Chevrolet
2754Taylor GrayOperation 300 Toyota
2800Sheldon CreedOllie's Chevrolet
2952Daniel Dye(i)Champion Container Ford
3026Dean ThompsonThompson Pipe Group Toyota
3127Jeb BurtonGolden Corral Chevrolet
3230Carson WareCosta Oil Chevrolet
337Justin AllgaierBrandt Chevrolet
3444Brennan PooleRoma Chevrolet
3517Corey DayHendrickCars.com Chevrolet
3618William SawalichSoundgear Toyota
3739Ryan SiegSciAps/Recycled Materials Assn Chevrolet
3821Austin HillBennett Transportation Chevrolet
3902Ryan EllisTablo TV Chevrolet
4048Patrick Staropoli #Syfovre Chevrolet
4119Gio Ruggiero(i)First Auto Group Toyota
428Sammy SmithPilot Chevrolet

Craftsman Truck Series
Single-truck qualifying will take place at 3 p.m. ET on Friday (FS1).

POS CAR DRIVER TEAM
1 56 Timmy Hill Coble Enterprises Toyota
2 25 Tony Stewart Ram Ram
3 5 Nick Leitz SEM Products Toyota
4 95 Clay Greenfield Backyard Blues Pools/Lure Chevrolet
5 6 Norm Benning Insurable Inc. Chevrolet
6 10 Daniel Dye Mopar Ram
7 35 Greg Van Alst Top Choice Fence Chevrolet
8 22 Josh Reaume Aerial Titans Ford
9 52 Stewart Friesen Halmar International Toyota
10 90 Justin Carroll Carroll's Automotive Chevrolet
11 91 Christian Eckes Columbia Bank Chevrolet
12 27 Toni Breidinger Raising Cane's Chevrolet
13 16 Justin Haley Celsius Ram
14 76 Spencer Boyd Freedom Warranty Chevrolet
15 14 Mini Tyrrell # Ram Ram
16 26 Dawson Sutton WAR Shocks/Rackley Roofing Chevrolet
17 42 Travis Pastrana Brunt Workwear Chevrolet
18 28 Bryan Dauzat O.B. Builders Door & Trim Chevrolet
19 97 Jason Kitzmiller A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet
20 33 Frankie Muniz Lucid Trading Ford
21 69 Tyler Tomassi Tomassi Law LLC/MD Racing Network Ford
22 4 Cleetus McFarland Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet
23 2 Jason White More Core Ford
24 75 Corey LaJoie(i) Built Chevrolet
25 98 Jake Garcia Quanta Services/Curb Records Ford
26 11 Kaden Honeycutt Safelite Toyota
27 77 Carson Hocevar(i) IKEA/Best Buy Chevrolet
28 1 Taylor Gray(i) Top Liner Toyota
29 17 Gio Ruggiero JBL Toyota
30 9 Grant Enfinger Grant County Mulch Chevrolet
31 81 Kris Wright F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet
32 19 Daniel Hemric NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet
33 18 Tyler Ankrum LiUNA! Chevrolet
34 38 Chandler Smith TrophyCatch Ford
35 34 Layne Riggs Love's Travel Stops Ford
36 13 Cole Butcher # Atlantic Tilt Load Ford
37 7 Michael McDowell(i) Tibbetts Lumber Chevrolet
38 12 Brenden Queen # Cummins Ram
39 15 Tanner Gray Black's Tire Toyota
40 99 Ben Rhodes TYM Ford
41 45 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(i) J.F. Electric/Utilitra Chevrolet
42 88 Ty Majeski Ideal Door/Menards Ford
43 62 John Hunter Nemechek (i)DriveValue.com Toyota
44 44 Andrés Pérez Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet

* Required to qualify on time
# denotes series rookie
(i) denotes ineligible for driver points

Posted on by NASCAR Official Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR today announced a new, multiyear partnership with Cuervo, the world’s first and No. 1 tequila brand, naming it the Official Tequila of NASCAR, the Official Margarita of NASCAR and an Official Partner of NASCAR beginning in the 2026 season.

The multiyear agreement brings together two iconic brands rooted in heritage, celebration and unforgettable fan experiences. As part of the partnership, Cuervo will activate across NASCAR’s premier events, platforms and venues with immersive on-site fan engagements, branded hospitality experiences and integrated digital and social storytelling throughout the NASCAR season. The “Keep it Cuervo” footprint will feature Jose Cuervo Especial, Cuervo Tradicional and Devil’s Reserve, with craveable margaritas, the newly launched ready-to-drink Jose Cuervo Sparkling Cocktails and more unexpected drink surprises.

NASCAR fans are already embracing Cuervo — they’re 381.2% more likely to have consumed the brand in the past month and 40.5% more likely to drink Cuervo versus the general population. Together, Cuervo and NASCAR will bring unforgettable experiences to a spirits-ready audience that over-indexes on tequila consumption.

“Our fans come to the track to have a great time — to celebrate, connect and create memories around incredible racing — and Cuervo is a natural partner to help us elevate that experience,” said Craig Stimmel, senior vice president and chief commercial officer, NASCAR. “There’s a strong commonality between NASCAR fans and Cuervo consumers, and together we’ll bring that energy to life through premium activations, immersive hospitality and unforgettable moments that make race day even more special.”

Cuervo will hold exclusive category rights for the marketing and promotion of agave-based distilled spirits, including tequila and mezcal, and will be featured prominently across NASCAR events and platforms. The partnership includes premium branding and activation at marquee NASCAR venues, including Daytona International Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Naval Base Coronado.

Fans can expect custom-branded experiences, including Cuervo bars at select tracks, interactive promotional displays and original digital content across NASCAR’s social channels. Cuervo will also collaborate with NASCAR on responsible drinking initiatives and sustainability efforts aligned with both organizations’ corporate social responsibility goals.

“NASCAR represents one of the most passionate and loyal fanbases in sports. We’re proud to join the community that embodies playful energy, traditions and bold spirits — just like our tequila — bringing Cuervo to some of the biggest moments in motorsports,” said Lander Otegui, EVP of marketing and innovation at Proximo Spirits. “Building on our existing partnership with NASCAR, this new era gives us a powerful platform to help fans celebrate racing culture before the race and at the track, while keeping the celebration going long after the checkered flag is waved.”

Viewers at home can explore and purchase Cuervo’s assortment of fan-approved tequila, Cuervo Sparkling Cocktails and more at Cuervo.com, and follow Cuervo on Instagram at @josecuervotequila for more updates throughout the season. For fans looking to jump into even more race-day action, Cuervo is collaborating with DraftKings and Barstool on race-ready digital experiences, content and prizes, with more details launching soon.

Cuervo joins the NASCAR family just in time for the pageantry and spectacular racing of the “Great American Race” — the Daytona 500 — which will air live on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio this Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET.