NASCAR has set the starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500, which pole-sitter Kyle Busch will lead to the green flag in search of his first victory in the Cup Series season opener.
Chase Briscoe will start second.
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After a win in each of Thursday night’s qualifying races, Joey Logano (starting third) and Chase Elliott (fourth) will comprise the second row.
William Byron, who is trying to become the first driver with three consecutive Daytona 500 victories, will start 39th in the 41-car field.
Here’s the NASCAR starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500:
ROW 1
1. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
ROW 2
3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
4, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
ROW 3
5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
6, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
ROW 4
7. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
8. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
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ROW 5
9. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
10. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
ROW 6
11. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
ROW 7
13. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 97 Chevrolet
14. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
ROW 8
15. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Chevrolet
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
ROW 9
17. Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford
18 Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
ROW 10
19. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
20. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
ROW 11
21. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
22. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
ROW 12
23. Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet
24. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
ROW 13
25. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
26. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
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ROW 14
27. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
28. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
ROW 15
29. Corey Heim, No. 67 Toyota
30. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
ROW 16
31. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Toyota
32. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet
ROW 17
33. Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet
34. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
ROW 18
35. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
36. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
ROW 19
37. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
38. Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Chevrolet
ROW 20
39. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
40. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 Chevrolet
ROW 21
41. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
Failed to qualify: Chandler Smith (No. 36 Ford), JJ Yeley (No. 44 Chevrolet), BJ McLeod (No. 78 Chevrolet), Corey LaJoie (No. 99 Ford)
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