Daytona 500 Date and Key Details for This Year’s NASCAR Race
Kurt Russell has been named the honorary pace car driver for the upcoming 2026 Daytona 500. This exciting announcement sets the stage for the highly anticipated race at Daytona International Speedway.
2026 Daytona 500 Key Details
The Daytona 500, often referred to as “The Great American Race,” is a cornerstone event in the NASCAR calendar. Here are the essential details:
- Date: Sunday, February 15, 2026
- Start Time: 2:30 PM ET
- Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
- Broadcast: Fox
- Streaming: Available on Fubo with a free trial for new subscribers
Fans can expect racing to begin closer to 3 PM when the green flag drops.
Daytona 500 Schedule
The Daytona 500 is part of a comprehensive schedule of events, known as Speedweeks. Below is a breakdown of the key events leading up to the main race:
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 11 | Daytona 500 Qualifying | 8:15 PM | FS1 |
| February 12 | America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona | 7 PM & 8:45 PM | FS1 |
| February 13 | Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying | 3 PM | FS1 |
| February 13 | Fresh from Florida 250 | 7:30 PM | FS1 |
| February 14 | O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying | 10 AM | CW |
| February 14 | Daytona ARCA 200 | Noon | Fox |
| February 14 | United Rentals 300 | 5 PM | CW |
| February 15 | Daytona 500 | 2:30 PM | Fox |
This year, William Byron aims to make history by potentially winning a third consecutive Daytona 500. With plenty of racing action leading up to the event, fans have much to look forward to.
Additional NASCAR Events in 2026
The Daytona 500 is just the beginning of an action-packed NASCAR season. Here are other notable events scheduled for February:
- February 22: Autotrader 400, Echopark Speedway, Hampton, GA
- March 1: DuraMax Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX
- March 8: Straight Talk Wireless 500, Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, AZ
Stay tuned for more updates as the NASCAR season progresses throughout the year.
