Kyle Busch achieved a major milestone on Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway by earning the pole position for the 2026 Daytona 500, marking the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career that he has started from the front spot in this prestigious event. His achievement comes as Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet, fielded by Richard Childress Racing, posted the fastest lap in qualifying with a speed of 183.651 mph, narrowly edging out Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe by just 0.064 mph.
Qualifying Highlights and Context
Busch’s impressive qualifying run was the fastest in the first round and was further improved in the final 10-car shootout. Chase Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, secured the second starting position alongside Busch. Both drivers automatically locked into the 41-car Daytona 500 field with their performance. Additionally, the two open-car entries from 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier claimed the remaining guaranteed qualifying positions Wednesday night.
The rest of the Daytona 500 starting grid will be determined during Thursday night’s America 250 Florida Duel races, which will finalize the lineup based on finishing order, setting the stage for the Sunday race scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Kyle Busch’s Daytona 500 Legacy and Personal Reflections
This upcoming Daytona 500 will be Busch’s 21st start in the event, an important milestone as no driver has ever won the race after making more than 20 starts. Intriguingly, Busch’s team owner, Richard Childress, is historically connected to this statistic, as NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt won his only Daytona 500 in his 20th attempt driving for Childress’ team.
After the qualifying session, Busch expressed his excitement, saying,
“Certainly, here on a Wednesday night, being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special. 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,’’ Busch added. “It would be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being No. 1 come Sunday night.”
His enthusiasm represented both the pressure and hope he carries into the race, highlighting the significance of this historic qualifying achievement for his career and his team.
Chase Briscoe Praises Team Effort and Front Row Achievement
Chase Briscoe, who earned the second spot alongside Busch, credited his Joe Gibbs Racing team’s improvements and hard work in the superspeedway program as key to their success. He joked that in recent years, Hendrick Motorsports has typically dominated the Daytona 500 front row, making his consistent appearance notable.
“It’s cool for sure to be able to consistently two years in a row now,”
Briscoe said.
“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.”
Briscoe also acknowledged the pride he feels driving what he believes to be the best car each week and celebrated his front-row qualifying achievement, stating,
“It’s the kid in me… being in the front row, for two years in a row at the Daytona 500. It’s a really big deal.”
A Competitive Qualifying Session Among Manufacturers
The opening qualifying session of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series points season provided an intense competition between Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. The 10-car final qualifying round included four Chevrolet entries, three Fords, and three Toyotas, with nine drivers beating the previous year’s pole speed.
Ryan Preece, the winner of last week’s Clash preseason race, posted the third-fastest time in his No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford. Three-time Daytona 500 champion and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin qualified fourth, with Corey Heim, driving the only open car that made it into the final round, completing the top five.
Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier Secure Daytona 500 Starts
Corey Heim, fresh off his 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship, earned his first Daytona 500 start driving the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing. Heim described the experience leading up to qualifying as nerve-wracking but expressed gratitude for the team’s decision to run an additional open car.
“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.”
Justin Allgaier, piloting the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, claimed the second open qualifying position. Allgaier acknowledged the increased pressure compared to the previous year but felt confident heading into the Duel races with a strong qualifying effort behind him.
“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,”
Allgaier said.
Earnhardt Jr. also commented on the challenge that comes with the process, saying,
“It is stressful but that’s the best part about it.”
Notable Incident: Noah Gragson’s Penalty Affects Starting Position
An important note from qualifying involved Front Row Motorsports driver Noah Gragson, who had his lap disallowed for violating a new NASCAR rule by using his hand to manipulate airflow. As a result, Gragson will start last in his Duel race.
Gragson admitted his mistake, stating,
“I completely forgot about that rule. That one’s on me.”
This penalty adds uncertainty to his prospects for securing a good starting position in the Daytona 500.
Looking Ahead to the Daytona 500
Kyle Busch’s first-ever Daytona 500 pole provides momentum going into what is expected to be a fiercely competitive race. The qualifying session underscored the advancement of multiple teams and manufacturers, intensifying anticipation as the field prepares for the race’s official starting lineup, which will be finalized after Thursday’s Duel races.
With Busch’s milestone start, the performance of veterans like Denny Hamlin and Ryan Preece, and promising newcomers such as Corey Heim, the Daytona 500 promises to be an eventful and dramatic kickoff to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Fans and competitors alike remain eager to see if Busch can convert his pole position into a first Daytona 500 victory or if new challengers will rise to the occasion.
