Abdelrahman
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – It is often said that cathedrals are all around us, waiting for the discerning eye to discover them. To many beachgoers in Florida, the grains of Daytona Beach sand might seem unremarkable, merely serving as a backdrop for sun-soaked activities. Yet, in the eyes of a racer, those very sands represent a sacred shrine of speed and skill.
Over a century ago, Daytona Beach emerged as a pivotal stage for American speed, thanks to its expansive stretch of firm sands that were perfect for land speed records. Soon, automobile racing became prevalent, evolving into organized events under the NASCAR banner, leading to the establishment of a unique racetrack that has become a hallmark of stock car racing.
This year marks the 67th edition of the Daytona 500, drawing the most talented and ambitious drivers to the famed Daytona International Speedway for what’s often hailed as the crowning achievement in NASCAR. More than any other race, this “Great American Race” has the power to define careers, establish legacies, and elevate even the most modest drivers to the pinnacle of racing glory, as they inscribe their name on the prestigious Harley J. Earl Trophy.
The starting lineup for this Sunday’s race has been finalized following two days of intense qualifying. Chase Briscoe secured the pole position with a stellar performance on Wednesday, marking his first-ever pole at the Daytona 500 and making history as the first driver from Toyota to clinch this spot. The rest of the field was determined on Thursday during the Duels, with Austin Cindric and Bubba Wallace taking victories. Cindric will line up second, and Wallace will start third.
“This is an incredible way to kick off our season. What an unbelievable start with Toyota,” Briscoe expressed after his pole win. “To think I’ll start on the front row, or on the pole for the Great American Race sponsored by [Bass Pro Shops], is just amazing. I can’t thank Coach Gibbs and the whole Joe Gibbs Racing team enough.”
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Justin Allgaier has also secured a spot in the Daytona 500, marking the first Cup race entry for the team of NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. Additionally, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, and Corey LaJoie will join the competition, with the starting field expanded to 41 cars after Helio Castroneves took an Open Exemption Provisional following a crash in his Duel race.
“We arrived here and tasted the excitement, and wow,” Earnhardt shared. “Wednesday was really disappointing. I didn’t realize how badly I wanted to be part of this until we started experiencing it. It was tough to comprehend, especially being just 0.008 seconds too slow.”
“I thought about how much I wanted this for everyone involved. We invited Justin on this journey, and he has shouldered a lot of pressure. Greg Ives has also dealt with significant pressure to ensure we made the field. Our love for racing fuels us, and while it can be challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding when everything aligns.”
Due to impending rain on Sunday, NASCAR has announced that the Daytona 500’s start time has been moved up by one hour to 1:30 p.m. ET. Here’s what you need to know before the green flag waves on race day.
How to Watch the Daytona 500
Date: Sunday, Feb. 16, 1:30 p.m. ET
Location: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Florida
Broadcast: Fox
Stream: fubo (try for free)
Highlights of Speedweeks
Last year, William Byron emerged as a star in NASCAR’s newer generation by winning his first Daytona 500, setting the stage for a season where he contended for the Cup Series title. Now, aiming for back-to-back victories, Byron has a competitive edge over fellow drivers and past Cup champions like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney, all seeking their inaugural 500 win.
As emerging stars vie for their first Daytona 500 triumph, so do several veteran drivers. While three-time reigning Cup champion Joey Logano, who clinched this race in 2015, doesn’t belong to this group, many other notable former champions do. Despite numerous accolades and 200 NASCAR wins, the Daytona 500 remains elusive for Kyle Busch, who will attempt to claim it for the 20th time. Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Cup champion, and Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 champion, are also in pursuit, with Truex coming close in 2016, finishing just 0.010 seconds short of victory.
In addition to NASCAR legends, one of the world’s foremost race car drivers is set to compete. Helio Castroneves, a four-time Indianapolis 500 champion, will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing. If successful, he would join an exclusive club of just three drivers to have won both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, a feat achieved only by Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt, with others like Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser Jr. falling short.
As NASCAR transitions between generations, only eight former Daytona 500 champions will be participating, with representation from four different countries, heightening the anticipation of the race.
Daytona 500 Starting Lineup
- #19 – Chase Briscoe
- #2 – Austin Cindric
- #23 – Bubba Wallace
- #43 – Erik Jones
- #24 – William Byron
- #17 – Chris Buescher
- #10 – Ty Dillon
- #11 – Denny Hamlin
- #1 – Ross Chastain
- #22 – Joey Logano
- #45 – Tyler Reddick
- #01 – Corey LaJoie
- #16 – A.J. Allmendinger
- #34 – Todd Gilliland
- #3 – Austin Dillon
- #12 – Ryan Blaney
- #9 – Chase Elliott
- #42 – John Hunter Nemechek
- #40 – Justin Allgaier
- #20 – Christopher Bell
- #8 – Kyle Busch
- #5 – Kyle Larson
- #54 – Ty Gibbs
- #35 – Riley Herbst (R)
- #71 – Michael McDowell
- #88 – Shane van Gisbergen (R)
- #60 – Ryan Preece
- #51 – Cody Ware
- #21 – Josh Berry
- #41 – Cole Custer
- #47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- #4 – Noah Gragson
- #77 – Carson Hocevar
- #6 – Brad Keselowski
- #7 – Justin Haley
- #99 – Daniel Suarez
- #38 – Zane Smith
- #48 – Alex Bowman
- #56 – Martin Truex Jr.
- #84 – Jimmie Johnson
- #91 – Helio Castroneves
Did not qualify: J.J. Yeley, Anthony Alfredo, Chandler Smith, B.J. McLeod
Your Pick to Win
Austin Cindric (+2500) – Since clinching the Daytona 500 in his eighth career start in 2022, Austin Cindric has proven himself adept at navigating to the front in Next Gen superspeedway races. Whether it’s the power of Penske or a perfect blend of strategy and drafting prowess, Cindric consistently emerges as a frontrunner in these high-stakes races. In last year’s Daytona 500, he was vying for the win when circumstances turned against him, but he frequently puts himself in prime positions to contend for victory.
Curious about NASCAR Fantasy picks for the Daytona 500? To discover must-have drivers and top strategies, check out SportsLine for insights from DFS expert Mike McClure.
