Kyle Busch Wins First Daytona 500 Pole, Son's Viral Reaction Melts Hearts

Samantha Busch shares video of son Brexton's excited reaction to Kyle's stunning Daytona 500 pole win.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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NASCAR driver Kyle Busch captured his first-ever Daytona 500 pole position on Wednesday night, marking a career milestone. The victory was made even more memorable by the viral reaction of Busch's young son Brexton, whose excited celebration was captured and shared by his wife Samantha Busch. Busch's pole position is his first in 21 attempts at the Daytona 500 and comes after a long winless streak, raising hopes that he can finally win the prestigious race on Sunday.

Why it matters

Winning the Daytona 500 pole is a significant achievement for any NASCAR driver, as it provides the best starting position for the sport's biggest race. For Kyle Busch, who has never won the Daytona 500 before, this pole position represents a chance to finally break through and capture the elusive victory. Additionally, the viral reaction from Busch's young son Brexton has captured the hearts of NASCAR fans, highlighting the family aspect of the sport.

The details

Under the lights at Daytona International Speedway, Kyle Busch put together a blistering lap of 183.651 mph in his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to claim the pole position for the 2026 Daytona 500. Busch edged out Joe Gibbs Racing's Chase Briscoe by just 0.064 mph to secure the top starting spot. This marks Busch's first Daytona 500 pole in 21 career attempts, with his previous best starting position being fifth in 2016.

  • Kyle Busch won the Daytona 500 pole on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The Daytona 500 race is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Kyle Busch

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who has won 60 races in his career, but is still seeking his first Daytona 500 victory. He recently joined Richard Childress Racing after a long tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Samantha Busch

Kyle Busch's wife, who shared a viral video of their son Brexton's excited reaction to Kyle's Daytona 500 pole win.

Brexton Busch

Kyle and Samantha Busch's young son, whose enthusiastic celebration after his dad's pole win was captured on video and went viral.

Chase Briscoe

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who finished second to Kyle Busch in Daytona 500 qualifying, missing the pole position by just 0.064 mph.

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What they’re 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.”

— Kyle Busch (profootballnetwork.com)

“Brexton's reaction to the pole!! Also we are trying not to scream bc Lennix is sleeping in the back, now gotta get him calmed down for bed, drivers meeting at 9am, racing non stop in this family!”

— Samantha Busch, Kyle Busch's Wife (Instagram)

What’s next

Busch will lead the field to the green flag for the 2026 Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 16, as he seeks his first victory in NASCAR's biggest race.

The takeaway

Kyle Busch's first-ever Daytona 500 pole position represents a significant career milestone, and the viral reaction from his young son Brexton has captured the hearts of NASCAR fans. This achievement gives Busch a prime opportunity to finally win the Daytona 500, a race that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career.