Kyle Busch Secures Daytona 500 Pole, Eyes Historic Win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kyle Busch will start from the pole position in the 2026 Daytona 500, marking the first time in his 21-year Cup Series career he’s led the field to green at “The Great American Race.” Chase Briscoe will start alongside Busch on the front row.

The Daytona 500, the season-opening event for the NASCAR Cup Series, is set to begin at approximately 1:13 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 15, at Daytona International Speedway. The race features a modified championship format and comes after the resolution of recent off-track legal battles within the sport.

Busch’s Pursuit of a First Daytona 500 Victory

Despite his success in NASCAR, a Daytona 500 win has remained elusive for Busch. He is currently riding a 93-race losing streak. He last started in the top five in 2016, achieving a third-place finish, and his best result remains a second-place finish in 2019. Busch qualified for the pole with a lap speed of 183.925 mph in a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (RCR).

“Sounds really decent right now — being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special,” Busch said, as reported by NBC Sports. NBC Miami

Notable Starting Positions and Storylines

William Byron, the defending champion, will start at the rear of the field after being forced to switch to a backup car following a crash during the Duel qualifying races.

The top 10 starters are:

• Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
• Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
• Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
• Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Recent Daytona 500 Winners

Recent winners of the Daytona 500 include:

• 2025: William Byron
• 2024: William Byron
• 2025 Summer: Ryan Blaney
• 2024 Summer: Harrison Burton

How to Watch and Listen

The Daytona 500 will be broadcast nationally on FOX. Audio coverage will be available on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (channel 90). Streaming options include Fubo and HBO MAX for in-car cameras. NASCAR.com