This week, NASCAR returns to the iconic Daytona International Speedway, known as the “World Center of Racing,” to kick off the 2026 season. The famed Daytona Speedweek spans five days of intense on-track competition featuring NASCAR’s three national touring series, beginning Wednesday night with the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session. Twenty-one Team Chevy drivers will vie for the coveted pole position in the 68th edition of the DAYTONA 500, followed by Thursday’s Duels that finalize the starting lineup for Sunday’s signature event.
The Florida superspeedway’s 2.5-mile oval hosts three days of points races starting Friday with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener. This race will see several Team Chevy NASCAR Cup Series regulars, including former DAYTONA 500 champions Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell, along with emerging talent Carson Hocevar. Saturday showcases the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, while Sunday crowns the premier event, the “Great American Race,” where Team Chevy aims to secure a historic fourth consecutive Harley J. Earl trophy victory.
Chevrolet’s Deep-Rooted Success at Daytona
Daytona International Speedway’s legacy as a motorsports landmark is reflected in Chevrolet’s extensive history at the track. Since Bob Welborn’s winning debut for Chevrolet in NASCAR’s first Daytona race in February 1959, the manufacturer has amassed a staggering 105 total NASCAR victories at the speedway. This tally includes 52 NASCAR Cup Series wins, 48 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and four in the Craftsman Truck Series, establishing Chevrolet’s dominance among competing manufacturers at this celebrated venue.
Chevrolet holds the record for the most consecutive DAYTONA 500 wins with five straight victories from 2003 to 2007 and currently stands on a three-win streak in the event. This recent run began with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s 2023 triumph for Hyak Motorsports and continued with back-to-back wins from William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports, pushing Chevrolet’s total DAYTONA 500 wins to 27.
The manufacturer’s prowess extends across NASCAR’s season-opening weekend, having swept victories across all three national series during the events twice before, in 2018 and 2024. In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Richard Childress Racing has dominated the season openers with four straight wins, including Jesse Love’s recent championship-winning campaign. Chevrolet’s latest victory in the Truck Series at Daytona came in February 2024, when Nick Sanchez piloted the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet to a milestone 100th all-time points-paying NASCAR win at the “World Center of Racing.”
William Byron Aims for NASCAR History
William Byron, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, marked a major milestone in his career with his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway in August 2020. Now 28 years old and a key figure for Team Chevy, Byron returns to the “World Center of Racing” with a chance to become the first driver ever to secure three consecutive DAYTONA 500 titles.
Byron’s 2025 victory was dramatic, emerging from a challenging ninth-place position on the final lap amid a last-minute crash to claim the Harley J. Earl trophy for a second straight year. This remarkable performance made him only the fifth driver in NASCAR history to win back-to-back DAYTONA 500 races, solidifying his place in the sport’s elite.
JR Motorsports and Justin Allgaier Seek Another Daytona 500 Entry
After an impactful NASCAR Cup Series debut last year, JR Motorsports returns with veteran driver Justin Allgaier in the No. 40 Chevrolet, aiming again to secure a starting spot in the DAYTONA 500. The 39-year-old from Riverton, Illinois, impressed in his first Cup start by finishing a remarkable ninth in NASCAR’s biggest race. Building on a record-breaking NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season that included the organization’s 100th all-time victory and 17 wins in 2025, Allgaier brings experience and success to the effort. He earned three wins in 2025 and ranks ninth on the series all-time wins list as JR Motorsports’ most accomplished driver.
Chevrolet Builds on Record-Breaking Performance in NOAPS
Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love kicked off a record-setting season for Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona last year. Across the 33-race schedule, Chevrolet celebrated 26 victories, marking the most wins by a single manufacturer in series history. Key partnerships flourished with Richard Childress Racing and JR Motorsports both achieving their 100th all-time victories, while rookie Connor Zilisch’s 10 wins generated headlines. Chevrolet also swept the Championship Four for the second time, with Love taking home the series title as a first-time national champion. As Chevrolet enters 2026, the brand’s combination of veteran talent and rising stars sets the stage for another formidable campaign.
Emerging Drivers Advance into the National Ranks
This season welcomes new full-time competitors who graduated from developmental programs into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Rajah Caruth, a two-time Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver, embarks on a rookie NOAPS season running a split schedule between JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet and Jordan Anderson Racing’s No. 32 vehicle. The 23-year-old from Atlanta boasts consistent playoff runs in the truck series and prior NOAPS experience, including best finishes of 12th at Martinsville Speedway.
Lavar Scott, 22, from Carney’s Point, New Jersey, also debuts full-time in NOAPS, aiming for Rookie of the Year honors behind the wheel of the No. 45 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet. His background includes two strong ARCA Menards Series seasons with Rev Racing, where he finished runner-up in the championship twice. Scott has begun accumulating experience in NOAPS with a couple of starts in preparation for this season.
Additionally, 19-year-old dirt-racing standout Corey Day transitions to a full-time NASCAR schedule driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Having made select NOAPS and Truck Series starts in recent years, Day has already achieved two top-10 finishes in eleven NOAPS races, with a career-best fourth place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October 2025.
Chevrolet Approaches Significant Truck Series Milestone
Chevrolet is poised to add to its legacy in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, heading to Daytona just six wins shy of 300 all-time victories in the division. From the series’ inception in 1995, Chevrolet celebrated immediate success, winning the first race at Phoenix Raceway and dominating much of the season with wins in 16 of 20 races while securing both driver and manufacturer titles.
Christian Eckes Returns to the Truck Series with Championship Aspirations
After a season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Christian Eckes reunites with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the Truck Series, targeting the organization’s first championship. The 25-year-old from Middletown, New York, demonstrated championship-caliber consistency in 2024 with 21 consecutive top-10 finishes and 12 podium appearances during their sophomore year together.
Team Chevy Drivers Gear Up for the Truck Series Season Opener
Three Team Chevy NASCAR Cup Series regulars will participate in Friday’s Truck Series race at Daytona behind the wheel of the Chevrolet Silverado RST. Spire Motorsports teammates Carson Hocevar and Michael McDowell, alongside rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr., bring experience and ambition to the high banks.
Hocevar, 23, who previously raced three full Truck Series seasons with Niece Motorsports, boasts five division wins, including a 2025 victory at Kansas Speedway with Spire. His Truck Series season debut Friday will mark the first of eight scheduled races driving the No. 77 Silverado RST as part of the team’s owner championship pursuit.
Michael McDowell, the 2021 DAYTONA 500 winner, will also compete in the Truck opener, marking his fifth career start in the division. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Stenhouse Jr., a two-time DAYTONA 500 winner, will make his first-ever Truck Series start in a fitting setting, embracing this fresh challenge on familiar Daytona grounds.
Iconic Traditions and Chevrolet’s Front-Runner Status at Daytona
Among motorsports trophies, the Harley J. Earl trophy stands out as a symbol of prestige, featuring a replica of the Firebird 1, a jet-age, turbine-powered car designed by GM’s first head of design, Harley Earl. NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. honored Earl’s automotive contributions by naming the trophy for the sport’s most celebrated race after him.
Active Chevrolet drivers hold impressive records at Daytona: William Byron with three wins in the NASCAR Cup Series (2020, 2024, 2025), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon each with two, and Michael McDowell and Kyle Busch with victories as well. Across 157 Cup Series races at Daytona, Chevrolet leads with 52 wins, including 27 in the DAYTONA 500.
Chevrolet claims 105 combined points-paying wins at Daytona across NASCAR’s three national series, more than any other manufacturer. The brand holds the DAYTONA 500 pole position record with 31 poles, including a streak of 11 consecutive poles (most recently in 2023). Additionally, Chevrolet has swept the DAYTONA 500 front row 21 times, with 11 of those sweeps occurring in the last 15 years. In the NASCAR Cup Series “Next Gen” era, Chevrolet has a winning percentage of 46.5% with 67 victories in 144 races.
Most recently, Chevrolet completed its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles in 2025, marking 34 driver championships and 44 manufacturer championships overall, including five consecutive manufacturer titles. This record solidifies Chevrolet as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history with 881 total wins.
Fan Engagement and Chevrolet Exhibits at Daytona
Fans attending Daytona Speedweek can explore the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway, Chevrolet Injector, and Chevrolet Experience Center throughout the event. Showcased vehicles span an array of Chevrolet models, including the Traverse Z71, Colorado Trail Boss, Bolt, Tahoe Z71, Silverado EV, Equinox ACTIV, Trailblazer, Silverado ZR2, and special editions such as the 250th Anniversary Silverado and various Corvette models.
The Chevrolet Injector features vehicles like the Corvette Stingray Pace Car, Corvette Z06, Equinox EV, and Blazer EV SS among others, while the Chevrolet Experience Center offers displays of historically significant cars including the Firebird 1 and Chevrolet INDYCAR show cars. Highlight exhibits include Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet show car and the 2026 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Cup car.
Fans can also meet Team Chevy drivers and special guests at scheduled times from Thursday through Sunday, with appearances from Justin Allgaier, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Travis Pastrana, Carson Kvapil, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Michael McDowell, William Byron, Kyle Larson, and more—providing direct interaction opportunities during the event hours.
Broadcast Schedule for Daytona Speedweek Events
The 68th running of the DAYTONA 500 airs Sunday, February 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals 300 runs on Saturday, February 14, at 5 p.m. ET with coverage on CW, MRN, and SiriusXM. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 is scheduled for Friday, February 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on FS1, the NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM.
Insights from Team Chevy Drivers About Daytona and the 2026 Season
Ross Chastain from Trackhouse Racing reflected on the dream of winning the Daytona 500, describing it as “beyond words” and a career-defining achievement he hopes to one day realize. He shared,
“I mean, until I do it, and what I’ve learned through winning a couple of races now in the Cup Series is that first one was worth it… All of the greats that have competed at Daytona. Some of them have won, a lot of them have lost, and they’ve all lost a lot more than they’ve won.”
On handling the unique challenges of superspeedway racing, Chastain explained,
“Daytona and superspeedways, are the easiest tracks to drive by myself… You put all the competitors out there and it is challenging. The draft that we have … definitely is challenging when everybody’s out there. And then, like you said, trying to navigate the wrecks. I’ve finished 40th in this race twice. I don’t want to do that again.”
Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing expressed his excitement to compete for another DAYTONA 500 title, reflecting on the prestige of the race and team chemistry with teammate Kyle Busch. He said,
“I can’t wait to get to Daytona. Daytona always presents different opportunities, and the most important one is the opportunity to become a Daytona 500 Champion. I’d love to become a two-time champion of the race.”
Dillon noted the impact of new car designs, stating,
“I’m looking forward to the new style body on our Chevrolets. I think that could be even better for us this year… Nothing is easy in this sport. When it comes to competition, everybody is constantly getting better and figuring things out.”
Kyle Busch, also from Richard Childress Racing, candidly discussed his long pursuit of a DAYTONA 500 win, sharing,
“I wouldn’t know what it takes to be a Daytona 500 winner; I have never done it before… I have been oh so close, many, many times.”
Reflecting on the draft-heavy, strategic nature of the race, Busch said,
“it’s less about fast cars… it’s a fuel mileage race, chess match where can you be, where can you put yourself and make the right moves at the right times.”
AJ Allmendinger from Kaulig Racing highlighted the significance of Daytona, expressing,
“The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year, and it’s so unique… Driving into Daytona International Speedway still gives me chills… It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be part of the Daytona 500.”
Reflecting on Team Chevrolet’s strength on superspeedways, Cole Custer of Haas Factory Racing commented,
“I am definitely excited about Daytona, and honestly all of the superspeedways were really strong points races for our team last year… Everyone wants to try and get the Harley J. Earl trophy in their trophy case.”
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. emphasized both the challenge and anticipation with his Team Chevy squad, saying,
“Daytona is always special, and kicking off the season at the Daytona 500 never gets old… Superspeedway racing is all about patience, teamwork, and putting yourself in position at the end, and our team has been working hard to do exactly that. We’re ready to go after it and hopefully get the win.”
Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports expressed optimism about the season-opening race and team chemistry, noting,
“There’s a lot of excitement around Daytona… It is just another race and having a solid run would be a great way to kick off the season. We have a lot of new faces on the 48 team, most of them have worked together in the past and I’m excited to get to work with everyone.”
Cody Ware highlighted the unique atmosphere, sharing,
“It’s just fun… It’s always fun. There’s always just an air of optimism and hopefulness for the season going into Daytona. And again, going to the track where we know that we have a shot to run up front and make some magic happen is always exciting.”
Anthony Alfredo of Beard Motorsports reflected on the team’s determination, saying,
“We are as focused as ever on making the Daytona 500 this year… missing the Daytona 500 last year was obviously a huge disappointment, but I think it motivated us to excel at the two Talladega races we did.”
He expressed confidence in the new Chevrolet body, stating,
“On paper, it should certainly be a lot better everywhere. I’m really looking forward to seeing that for myself.”
Michael McDowell shared his perspective on winning again at Daytona,
“Five years is a long time. There’s nothing cooler than winning the Daytona 500, except for maybe winning it twice… The goal is to have a shot, put ourselves in position to be there on the last lap.”
He acknowledged his growth in the Truck Series, adding,
“I feel much more confident now… Daytona is just another opportunity to try to win in all 3 series, which is a goal of mine.”
Carson Hocevar spoke on his approach following setbacks,
“Well we had a fuel pump issue in the 500 last year… So we went full offense at the rest of the superspeedways, and didn’t finish outside the top 10 in any of them. I think it’s worked out pretty well so far, and we are prepped and ready for the Daytona 500.”
He also reflected on his family’s support through the Spectrum partnership,
“My dad is somehow even more excited for it than I am!”
Shane van Gisbergen recounted his DAYTONA 500 debut and outlook,
“I enjoyed it last year… The race buildup is epic… It’s a real mix of energy, it’s so cool to soak in these moments and to have the privilege of being a part of something so big like the DAYTONA 500.”
Austin Hill, representing Richard Childress Racing, described his readiness for the season and pressure,
“I’m in a really good spot mentally for this season… This year is going to be different that’s for sure. You will have to be consistent each and every week… I think this format and the way that you have to be consistent each week fits into the No. 21 team’s wheelhouse.”
Discussing Daytona’s challenge, Hill praised,
“Everyone at RCR and ECR Engines works extremely hard to bring fast racecars and strong motors… Where the No. 2 and No. 21 teams shine is making the moves at the right time.”
On his spotter relationship, Hill noted,
“My spotter, Derek Kneeland, and I have built a great relationship… Every second, every hundred of a second matters, especially when you are talking about a place like Daytona or Talladega. That’s one of the reasons why we are so good.”
The Road Ahead for Chevrolet and NASCAR in 2026
As NASCAR embarks on the 2026 season at Daytona International Speedway, Chevrolet stands poised to further entrench its place at the sport’s pinnacle with a potent mix of seasoned champions and emerging talent. With a historic opportunity to extend its DAYTONA 500 winning streak to four consecutive victories, and rounded out by dominant showings across all three national touring series, Team Chevy is set to challenge competitors across every division.
The presence of rising stars alongside established names like William Byron, Michael McDowell, Austin Dillon, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. highlights Chevrolet’s strategic blend of experience and youth. Meanwhile, new car configurations and evolving race formats present both challenges and opportunities that could influence the competitive landscape throughout the season.
Off-track, Chevrolet’s fan engagement through displays and driver appearances at Daytona enhances the connection between the brand and motorsports enthusiasts, fueling excitement around what promises to be a fiercely contested and historically significant NASCAR season.
