DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron looks to make NASCAR history Sunday by attempting to win the Daytona 500 for the third consecutive year, a feat never achieved before in the race’s 67-year history. This year, he faces the challenge of racing a backup Chevrolet after his primary No. 24 car was damaged during a qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway.
Despite the setback, Byron remains confident, recalling that his first Daytona 500 victory in 2024 also came while driving a backup car for Hendrick Motorsports.
We’ve won this race with a backup car, so I’m not super worried on that aspect,
Byron said.
But it does suck that you put a lot of work into the primary and you don’t get to race it.
— William Byron, NASCAR driver
Starting From the Back, Focused on Strategy Over Speed
Byron will begin the race 39th in a field of 41 cars but does not regard his starting position as a disadvantage. In his previous two Daytona 500 wins, he led a combined total of only 14 laps, indicating his victories have relied more on timing and positioning than outright dominance.
No driver has ever clinched three straight Daytona 500 victories. Legends such as Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin, and recent contender Denny Hamlin have all attempted the milestone but fell short.
It’s hard. You’re going to need things to fall your way,
Hamlin remarked on Byron’s opportunity.
In 2021, I legit thought we were going to get (it). We led the most laps in that race, was really fast, but didn’t work out on the last pit sequence.
There’s an element of fortune there that has to fall your way. Last year, he was fortunate on the last lap there, but if you put yourself in the top eight you can get fortunate at times. He puts himself in the top eight, which is what matters.
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Seizing Unexpected Chances Defines Byron’s Recent Success
Byron’s past two Daytona 500 victories highlight how crucial being in position at key moments is. In the 2025 race, he entered the final lap in ninth place during overtime when a massive crash ahead provided the opportunity to slip through for the win, despite leading only 10 laps all day. In 2024, he led just four laps and even dropped as low as 34th at one point, yet capitalized on a last-lap incident to claim victory under caution.
Such outcomes blend luck and skill, with Byron emphasizing the importance of making the right decisions as chances arise.
It just feels like I’ve been, at this track in particular, able to have some things go my way and also make good decisions in those moments that I had opportunities,
Byron explained.
It’s a mix of being in the right place and then having those chances to make good decisions.
— William Byron, NASCAR driver
A Turnaround After Early Daytona Struggles
Byron’s current success at Daytona marks a dramatic change from his earlier years, during which he finished only half of his 16 starts at the track, crashing out in eight events.
I feel like for a while it was a joke; I couldn’t finish a race here,
Byron acknowledged.
My first six years, I couldn’t finish the race, but I was always in the mix. I think it’s kind of finally tipped the other way.
— William Byron, NASCAR driver
Byron has a total of five career wins at drafting tracks, including two at Atlanta and three at Daytona—the summer race in 2020 among them. He credits improved mastery of drafting techniques and traffic navigation, skills that began showing at Talladega, where he has five top-five finishes.
I feel like we’ve had some things go our way, and then we’ve been good at the speedways. Really, it started at Talladega. I think we were better at Talladega for a while,
Byron said.
We weren’t finishing at Daytona, and once we figured out a way to finish the races at Daytona, it seemed like it started to go the other way.
You just try to do the best job you can, learning the little nuances of the draft. I don’t think I’m the best at drafting at the moment. I think there’s still more to learn.
— William Byron, NASCAR driver
Expert Endorsements Highlight Byron’s Skill Behind the Wheel
Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and a record 20-time Daytona 500 winner, dismisses the idea that Byron’s wins are pure luck. Hendrick pointed to Byron’s consistency as a championship contender over the last three years and his 16 career victories in the No. 24 Chevrolet as evidence of genuine skill.
I don’t know if you can really luck into it. You’ve got to put yourself in position to do it,
Hendrick explained.
William is probably underestimated as a plate racer; he’s one of the best out there. If you watch his way through traffic and the success he’s had, not just because he’s won the two Daytona’s back-to-back, because he’s been up there, he’s just getting more mature — not mature — more seasoned.
— Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports owner
Kyle Busch Seeks to Break Longstanding Daytona 500 Winless Streak
Kyle Busch will start on the pole Sunday in his 21st attempt at winning the Daytona 500, a race that has eluded him in all previous tries. His 20-race drought is the longest active streak among drivers in this year’s field.
Busch also carries a 93-race winless streak dating back to his first season with Richard Childress Racing in 2023. Known for his two NASCAR championships and 63 career Cup victories, Busch faces mounting pressure to return to winning form.
His 10-year-old son, Brexton, keenly followed Busch’s pole-winning run from their motorhome and expressed both excitement and anxiety during the qualifying round, motivating Busch.
It’s been a rough stretch. It’s no secret, right? Seeing my son and his passion that he has, he really, really is probably my biggest cheerleader,
Busch said.
He wants to see me run well. He wants to see me win races. He wants to celebrate in victory lane like he sees other drivers’ kids being able to do. So there’s nothing more that drives me every single weekend than seeing him see me, be proud of me.
— Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
Legacy and Pressure at Richard Childress Racing
Childress Racing, where Busch currently drives, is aiming to regain its championship pedigree decades after the tragic loss of Dale Earnhardt, who won one Daytona 500 and six championships with the team. No rookie or veteran has ever won the race on their first attempt after more than 20 tries, a record Earnhardt set in 1998.
It’s a box we’ve got to check,
Busch said.
This is an opportunity to be able to do that. I’ve come down here a lot of years. I think I finished in about every position possible. It would be nice to (open) 2026 with a victory here in the Daytona 500.
— Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
Denny Hamlin Targets Fourth Daytona 500 Victory to Join Elite Company
Denny Hamlin, who narrowly missed the chance to win three consecutive Daytona 500s, continues to pursue another win that would tie him with Cale Yarborough for second-most victories in the event. Only Richard Petty’s seven wins remain above them on the all-time list.
Every win that you get here puts you in a certain list,
Hamlin said.
The list is so small at that four number, it certainly was on my mind on the last lap last year when we were leading, that we are going to get another one. I feel as though the opportunity will be there, and hopefully we can put ourselves in position to move ourselves up that Daytona 500 winners board.
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Brad Keselowski Faces Recovery Challenges as Daytona 500 Approaches
Brad Keselowski, still seeking his first Daytona 500 win after 16 attempts, will race despite a right leg injury sustained in a December family ski accident. The injury caused him to miss the preseason exhibition race, and he arrived in Daytona using a cane while accelerating his recovery.
When I’m in the car, I know I’ve got an injury, don’t get me wrong, but I feel the best in the car,
Keselowski said.
The seat is molded to me really well and you get a little adrenaline flowing, so I felt pretty good.
— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver
Keselowski has previously raced with injuries but distinguishes this leg break as notably more serious.
This is way more serious. When I broke my ankle that sucked. Don’t get me wrong, it was very painful, but in a couple weeks, I was fairly mobile,
he explained.
This is a much more significant injury, unfortunately. It’s hard to explain to people that have never broken their femur before what it’s like. A normal broken leg is eight to 12 weeks. This is more like six months, so it’s just totally different.
— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver
Other Contenders and Notable Race Developments
Joey Logano and Chase Elliott both secured wins in qualifying races during the week, boosting their status as strong contenders heading into the main event. Logano, along with Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, enters the Daytona 500 as one of the betting favorites with odds at plus-1200.
Historically, the last driver to win the Daytona 500 from the pole position was Dale Jarrett in 2000. Meanwhile, the race features an interesting pairing on starting row 16, with veteran Jimmie Johnson (50 years old) alongside rookie Connor Zilisch (19), symbolizing a blend of experience and youth on the track.
The Significance of the Daytona 500 in NASCAR’s Landscape
The Daytona 500 is often regarded as the crown jewel of NASCAR’s season, and Byron’s pursuit of a third consecutive victory could redefine his legacy and place him among racing’s elite. The combination of skill, strategy, and a measure of luck necessary to win at Daytona remains demanding, underscoring why no driver has fully dominated the event across three straight years.
For drivers like Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keselowski, this race presents both challenges and opportunities to rewrite chapters in their own careers. Meanwhile, Byron’s pace and ability to capitalize on key moments will be closely watched as he seeks to continue his remarkable Daytona success story in a backup car.
