Alpha Prime Racing Eyes Daytona 500 Breakout in 2026

Team shows promise after Daytona 500 efforts, building momentum for potential breakout season.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Alpha Prime Racing, a smaller NASCAR team operating on a limited budget, is gaining momentum and eyeing a potential breakout performance in the 2026 Daytona 500. The team's drivers, including Brennan Poole and rookie Lavar Scott, have shown promise in recent superspeedway races, with teammate Austin Hill securing a victory at Daytona. Despite facing setbacks, the team's resourcefulness and resilience suggest they could be poised to contend for a playoff spot and make an impact at the iconic Daytona 500 in the coming years.

Why it matters

Alpha Prime Racing's success would be a significant achievement for a smaller team in the highly competitive NASCAR landscape. The team's ability to compete with limited resources highlights the potential for underdog stories and the importance of perseverance in the sport. A strong performance at the Daytona 500 could also boost the team's profile and attract more sponsorship and resources, further propelling their growth.

The details

Alpha Prime Racing has shown promise in recent superspeedway races, with driver Brennan Poole narrowly missing out on wins at Talladega Superspeedway in the past. In the 2026 Daytona 500, teammate Austin Hill secured a victory for the team, a significant moment that could serve as a momentum builder for the rest of the season. Despite facing setbacks, such as teammate Anthony Alfredo's disqualification from a Duel race, the team has demonstrated resourcefulness and resilience, with Alfredo overcoming a lap 1 crash to finish 11th, the team's best result of the day.

  • On February 14, 2026, Brennan Poole pushed teammate Austin Hill to the lead in an overtime restart at Daytona, but was unable to capitalize and finished 12th.
  • On February 15, 2026, the Daytona 500 saw veteran drivers like Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch come up short in their quest for the Harley J. Earl Trophy.

The players

Alpha Prime Racing

A NASCAR team that operates on a limited budget compared to its competitors, but has shown the ability to compete for top finishes and playoff spots.

Brennan Poole

A driver for Alpha Prime Racing who has come close to securing wins at superspeedway races in the past, but has yet to break through.

Austin Hill

A driver for Alpha Prime Racing who secured a victory at Daytona International Speedway, a significant moment for the team.

Anthony Alfredo

A driver for Alpha Prime Racing who faced setbacks, including a disqualification from a Duel race, but was able to recover and finish 11th, the team's best result of the day.

Lavar Scott

A rookie driver for Alpha Prime Racing who made a solid impression in his first superspeedway start at Daytona, finishing 16th after avoiding a large wreck.

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What they’re saying

“I took a shot at it and it didn't pan out, but it was a lot of fun to be in the mix again, tonight, especially with this team.”

— Brennan Poole

“It's a lot of fun to be able to do that and to come out of the gates right away in the first race. It's going to be a big momentum builder for the rest of the season.”

— Brennan Poole

“I'm not gonna lie, in the moment, I was at a pretty low place.”

— Anthony Alfredo

“But I got refocused this morning, and then it was just another kick in the groin there after qualifying. We had a mechanical issue with our car and Caesar and Tommy [Joe Martins] were kind enough to let me drive their race car, which was fast, competitive. They even let us put all our partners in the car so they were included in a part of it.”

— Anthony Alfredo

“We do a lot with a very small budget. We're probably like the 34th- or 35th-largest budget in this field. No leased engines, no sim, none of that stuff, and we find ourselves fighting for ourselves fighting for top fives and top 10s quite often.”

— Brennan Poole

What’s next

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The takeaway

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