Kyle Busch claims first career Daytona 500 pole in 21st attempt

The 40-year-old veteran secures the top spot for the 2026 "Great American Race"

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Kyle Busch checked a major item off his career bucket list Wednesday night, capturing the pole position for the 2026 Daytona 500. The two-time Cup Series champion clocked a blistering lap of 183.651 mph to secure the top spot for Sunday's race, narrowly edging out last year's pole winner, Chase Briscoe.

Why it matters

Entering his 21st attempt at the crown jewel event, Busch remains the active driver with the longest losing streak in the Daytona 500. Despite his success elsewhere, the Harley J. Earl Trophy has famously eluded him, making this pole position a significant milestone in his career.

The details

Busch's achievement marks his first career pole at Daytona and his first top-five start at the track since 2016. Winning the pole gives him the cleanest possible air for the start of Sunday's race, which he told FOX 5 Sports' Kelly Price "would mean the world" to finally win.

  • Busch secured the pole position on Wednesday night, February 13, 2026.
  • The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Kyle Busch

A 40-year-old veteran driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, seeking his first career Daytona 500 victory after 20 unsuccessful attempts.

Chase Briscoe

The driver who finished second to Busch in qualifying, having won the pole position for the 2025 Daytona 500.

Richard Childress Racing

The NASCAR team that fields the No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like any time you're able to come out here and accomplish something new in this sport, with me, as accomplished as I am — not trying to toot my own horn, but I feel like I've done just about everything except win a pole at Daytona or win the race at Daytona. So, I'd love to be able to get both of those accomplished here in 2026, and be done with them, so when we come down here every year, we can all talk about how I've won this race before, and what it would take to get another one.”

— Kyle Busch (FOX 5 Sports)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This pole position is a significant milestone in Kyle Busch's career, as he seeks to finally break his winless streak at the Daytona 500 and add the prestigious Harley J. Earl Trophy to his impressive resume.