Kyle Busch will lead the sector to the inexperienced flag on this Sunday’s Daytona 500, driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Chase Briscoe will be a part of him on the entrance row for ‘The Nice American Race’ after these two topped qualifying on Wednesday.
However after the Duel qualifying races on Thursday, which have been gained by Joey Logano and Chase Elliott, we now know the beginning positions for the remainder of the sector. Corey LaJoie, Chandler Smith, JJ Yeley, and Anthony Alfredo (who was disqualified) all missed the sector, however 41 others will participate within the 2026 season-opener on Sunday. Let’s take you thru the whole grid, with accompanying footage for every of the challengers.
1. Kyle Busch — #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
2. Chase Briscoe — #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
3. Joey Logano — #22 Crew Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Crew Penske Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
4. Chase Elliott — #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
5. Ryan Blaney — #12 Crew Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Crew Penske Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
6. Carson Hocevar — #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
7. Austin Dillon — #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
8. Kyle Larson — #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
9. Brad Keselowski — #6 RFK Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
10. Michael McDowell — #71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
11. John-Hunter Nemechek — #42 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
John-Hunter Nemechek, No. 43 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
12. Christopher Bell — #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
13. Shane van Gisbergen — #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
14. Josh Berry — #21 Wooden Brothers Racing Ford
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wooden Brothers Racing Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
15. Daniel Suarez — #7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (Backup automobile)
Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — #47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
17. Casey Mears — #66 Storage 66 Ford
Casey Mears, No. 66 Storage 66 Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
18. Todd Gilliland — #34 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
19. Ryan Preece — #60 RFK Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
20. Ty Gibbs — #54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
21. Alex Bowman — #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
22. Denny Hamlin — #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
23. Cole Custer — #41 Haas Manufacturing unit Crew Chevrolet
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Manufacturing unit Crew Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
24. Erik Jones — #43 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
25. Noah Gragson — #4 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
26. Tyler Reddick — #45 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
27. Bubba Wallace — #23 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
28. Riley Herbst — #35 23XI Racing Toyota
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
29. Corey Heim — #67 23XI Racing Toyota
Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
30. Zane Smith — #38 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith, No. 38 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
31. Jimmie Johnson — #84 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
32. Connor Zilisch — #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
33. Cody Ware — #51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
34. Ty Dillon — #10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
35. AJ Allmendinger — #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
36. Austin Cindric — #2 Crew Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Crew Penske Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
37. Ross Chastain — #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (Backup automobile)
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
38. BJ McLeod — #78 Reside Quick Motorsports Chevrolet 
BJ McLeod, No. 78 Reside Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
39. William Byron — #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (Backup automobile)
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
40. Justin Allgaier — #40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Allgaier, No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
41. Chris Buescher — #17 RFK Racing Ford (Backup automobile)
Chris Buescher, RFK Racing Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
DNQs: Corey LaJoie (#99 RFK Racing Ford); Anthony Alfredo (#62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet); JJ Yeley (#44 NY Racing Crew Chevrolet); Chandler Smith (#36 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford)
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