NASCAR Experts Predict Daytona 500 Winner for 2026 Cup Series Race

William Byron aims for historic third straight Daytona 500 victory, but Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott among top picks

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season opens with the iconic Daytona 500 on February 15. William Byron is poised to become the first driver to win three consecutive Daytona 500 races, but he'll face stiff competition from the Ford cars and drivers like Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott, who are among the top expert picks to win the race.

Why it matters

The Daytona 500 is one of the most prestigious and watched events on the NASCAR calendar, and a win can set the tone for a driver's entire season. With Byron aiming for a historic three-peat, and other top contenders looking to dethrone him, the 2026 edition of "The Great American Race" promises high drama and an exciting start to the new Cup Series season.

The details

William Byron is the defending champion of the Daytona 500, having won the last two editions of the race. However, the Ford cars have looked strong in practice this week, and drivers like Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott are among the favorites to take the checkered flag. Hamlin is seeking to become just the third driver in history to win the Daytona 500 four times, while Elliott has been excellent at restrictor-plate tracks of late and is poised for a breakthrough win.

  • The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 15, 2026.
  • William Byron won the Daytona 500 in 2024 and 2025, making him the first driver poised to win three consecutive editions of the race.

The players

William Byron

The defending champion of the Daytona 500, having won the last two editions of the race. He is aiming to become the first driver to win three consecutive Daytona 500 events.

Denny Hamlin

A three-time Daytona 500 winner, Hamlin is seeking to become just the third driver in history to win the race four times, joining Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough.

Chase Elliott

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion has been excellent at restrictor-plate tracks like Daytona, and is poised for a breakthrough win in the Daytona 500.

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What’s next

The 2026 Daytona 500 is set to take place on February 15, 2026, kicking off the new NASCAR Cup Series season.

The takeaway

The 2026 Daytona 500 promises to be an exciting and historic race, with William Byron aiming to become the first driver to win three consecutive editions of the event. However, he'll face stiff competition from the likes of Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott, who are among the top expert picks to take the checkered flag and etch their names in the record books.