William Byron Chases Historic Third Straight Daytona 500

No driver has ever won NASCAR's biggest race three years in a row.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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William Byron opens Daytona 500 week with an opportunity few drivers have had in the race's long history—the chance to win three straight. Byron won NASCAR's biggest race in 2024 and 2025 to become only the fifth driver to win consecutive 500s since the Great American Race joined the motorsports landscape in 1959.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR, and winning it three years in a row would be a historic accomplishment. Byron's potential achievement would cement his status as one of the top drivers in the sport and could inspire other drivers to strive for similar feats.

The details

Byron led only four laps in winning the 2024 Daytona 500, crossing the finish line under caution in front of Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman. Last year, he led 10 laps and won the race in overtime by 0.113 of a second over Tyler Reddick. This year, Byron and his team will be looking to make history by becoming the first driver to win the Daytona 500 three years in a row.

  • Byron won the Daytona 500 in 2024 and 2025.
  • The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 16, 2026.

The players

William Byron

A 28-year-old NASCAR Cup Series driver who has won the Daytona 500 in the last two consecutive years.

Hendrick Motorsports

The NASCAR team that fields cars for William Byron and has won a record 10 Daytona 500 races.

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What they’re saying

“I know we've been fortunate to win two in a row, and I feel confident we'll be as prepared as we can be for this weekend. There's some luck that goes into even being there at the end of the race, I know that. But I also know that myself and this team are going to do everything we can control to put ourselves in position for a third.”

— William Byron (autoweek.com)

What’s next

The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 16, 2026, where William Byron will attempt to become the first driver to win the race three years in a row.

The takeaway

William Byron's potential achievement of winning the Daytona 500 three years in a row would cement his status as one of the top drivers in NASCAR and inspire other competitors to strive for similar historic feats in the sport's most prestigious race.