Daytona 500 Underway with Busch and Byron Seeking History

Race start moved up to avoid expected afternoon showers at Daytona International Speedway.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The 2026 Daytona 500 is now underway, with Kyle Busch leading the 41-car field to the green flag on a sunny and windy Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. The race start was moved up by an hour in hopes of avoiding expected afternoon showers.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious race of the season, with drivers competing to make history by winning the iconic event. Both Kyle Busch and William Byron are looking to achieve significant milestones with a victory.

The details

The Daytona 500 features a 41-car field competing on the 2.5-mile superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. With the race start moved up, drivers will be looking to get out in front early and avoid any potential weather delays or interruptions later in the day.

  • The Daytona 500 race start was moved up by 1 hour to 1:00 PM EST on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Kyle Busch

A veteran NASCAR driver who is looking to win his first Daytona 500 and cement his legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats.

William Byron

A rising young star in NASCAR who is aiming to become the youngest driver to ever win the Daytona 500.

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What’s next

The winner of the 2026 Daytona 500 will be determined later this afternoon, with the champion receiving the coveted Harley J. Earl Trophy.

The takeaway

The Daytona 500 is a marquee event on the NASCAR calendar, with drivers like Kyle Busch and William Byron looking to etch their names in history by capturing the checkered flag and joining the pantheon of Daytona 500 champions.