William Byron falls short in Daytona 500 threepeat bid

The driver was involved in multiple wrecks but briefly raced for the lead late before finishing 12th.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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William Byron came up short in his bid to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive Daytona 500s. He was involved in three wrecks, including one in the opening 15 laps that left him thinking his day was done, but rallied to finish 12th. Tyler Reddick won the race, celebrating in victory lane - the place Byron had grown accustomed to visiting at Daytona.

Why it matters

Winning the Daytona 500 three years in a row would have been a historic accomplishment, cementing Byron's status as one of NASCAR's elite drivers. While he came up short, his ability to recover from early damage and briefly race for the lead late showcased his talent and the resilience of his team.

The details

Byron's car was damaged early on when B.J. McLeod spun in front of him, forcing Byron into the outside wall. He later tangled with teammate Alex Bowman and got caught up in another wreck on the final lap. Despite the adversity, Byron was able to rally and briefly race for the lead in the closing laps before finishing 12th.

  • In the opening 15 laps, Byron was involved in a wreck that left him thinking his day was done.
  • With three laps to go, Byron was racing for the lead.
  • Byron won the Daytona 500 in 2024 and 2025.

The players

William Byron

A 28-year-old NASCAR driver who was seeking to become the first in history to win the Daytona 500 three consecutive times.

Tyler Reddick

The driver who won the 2026 Daytona 500, celebrating in victory lane - the place Byron had grown accustomed to visiting at Daytona.

B.J. McLeod

The driver whose spin in front of Byron early in the race led to Byron's car being damaged.

Alex Bowman

Byron's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, who was involved in a wreck with Byron during the race.

Denny Hamlin

The driver who was leading the 2025 Daytona 500 before getting spun on the final lap, allowing Byron to win.

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What they’re saying

“It was wild. I just really couldn't believe we had a shot there at the end. That was amazing.”

— William Byron (San Francisco Chronicle)

“The early crash, really, I thought was going to be the end of our competitive day. We just did a good job patching it up.”

— William Byron (San Francisco Chronicle)

“I thought I was in the catbird seat. I was like, 'Man, everyone's going to continue to block and move up off the bottom.' I thought this could be perfect. It just didn't materialize that way.”

— William Byron (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The 2026 NASCAR season will continue with the next race, the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on February 22.

The takeaway

While Byron's bid for a historic Daytona 500 threepeat fell short, his ability to recover from early damage and briefly race for the lead late showcased his talent and the resilience of his team, leaving them optimistic for the rest of the 2026 NASCAR season.