Daytona 500 starting lineup after Daytona Duel. NASCAR season awaits

Story byDaytona Beach News-JournalDaytona 500 starting lineup after Daytona Duel. NASCAR season awaitsKen Willis, Daytona Beach News-JournalFri, February 13, 2026 at 3:20 AM UTC·3 min read

We now know who's in and who's out, and among the in-crowd, we know where they'll line up Sunday to start the 68th Daytona 500.

Thursday night's 150-mile Duels settled things among those without automatic entry. Four drivers and their teams loaded the haulers for the lonely ride home.

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On the other hand, 41 drivers, cars and teams remain for the Great American Race, which can either make a new legend or cement one.

Here's how they'll line up for the first of at least 200 laps Sunday afternoon.

All of the racers below will be racing to add their name to the Harley J. Earl Trophy.

Sunday's Daytona 500 starting lineup

Row 1

1. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Row 2

3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

4. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Row 3

5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

6. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Row 4

7. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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8. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Row 5

9. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

10. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Row 6

11. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota

12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Row 7

13. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

14. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Row 8

15. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet

Row 9

17. Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford (open entry)

18. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

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Row 10

19. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford

20. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Row 11

21. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

22. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Row 12

23. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford

24. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota

Row 13

25. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford

26. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota

Row 14

27. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

28. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota

Row 15

29. Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota (open entry locked into 500 field on qualifying time)

30. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford

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Row 16

31. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (open exemption provisional)

32. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Row 17

33. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

34. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Row 18

35. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

36. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford

Row 19

37. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

38. Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet (open entry)

Row 20

39. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (will go to backup car)

40. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (open entry locked in on qualifying time)

Row 21

41. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500 starting lineup for Sunday after Duel races

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