Daytona 500 starting lineup 2026 set after Daytona Duel; 41 cars head to Sunday
Thursday night's Daytona Duels settled the final pieces of the 68th Daytona 500 puzzle. Four cars were eliminated, while 41 drivers, teams and cars remain and will mix it up for the Great American Race when it kicks off Sunday afternoon (ET).
How the Duels finalized the grid
Single-car qualifying earlier in Speedweeks locked in the front row, but the two 150-mile Duel races on Thursday determined the remainder of the starting order. The first Duel established the odd-numbered spots while the second Duel set the even-numbered line. That format left little room for error: drivers without guaranteed starting positions had to race smart and fast or head home from Daytona International Speedway.
Top 15 starters for Sunday
Here are the first 15 starters as the field stands heading into Sunday’s 200-plus-lap event.
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Who didn't make it
Thursday's Duels were unforgiving for four teams that failed to qualify for the Daytona 500. With only 41 cars making the field, those teams packed up their haulers and left Daytona International Speedway before Sunday. For the rest, the next few days will be dedicated to final race prep and fine-tuning draft lines.
Notable storylines to monitor
Several threads to watch as the race weekend progresses: veteran winners starting near the front will try to control early pace, while aggressive drafters starting deeper will be looking for lane choice and alliances to move forward. Young drivers and recent Cup entrants who earned their spots in the Duels will be under pressure to avoid early incidents that often reshape the Daytona 500 order. Team strategy on pit sequence and tire management will be critical over the race’s opening stages.
What this means for the season opener
The Daytona 500 can make a driver and change trajectories overnight. With the starting grid set, teams will focus on race-trim checks and fine adjustments. Expect packs to form early and for the race to feature strategic gambits from teams trying to protect position or pick up early points momentum. For fans, the immediate takeaway is clear: the field is set, the drama is primed, and Sunday afternoon (ET) will answer which driver turns pre-season promise into Daytona glory.
The 41 remaining entrants will race for at least 200 laps, with the potential for more if overtime is required. Sunday’s running of the Daytona 500 marks the official kickoff of the Cup Series season, and the opening laps in Florida often prove as unpredictable as they are decisive.
