Starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500...

NASCAR has set the starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500, which pole-sitter Kyle Busch will lead to the green flag in search of his first victory in the Cup Series season opener. Chase Briscoe will start second. After a win in each of Thursday night’s qualifying races, Joey Logano (starting third) and Chase Elliott (fourth) will comprise the second row. William Byron, who is trying to become the first driver with three consecutive Daytona 500 victories, will start 39th in the 41-car field. Here’s the NASCAR starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500: 1. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota 3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford4, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet 5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford6, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet 7. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet8. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet 9. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford10. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet 11. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota12. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota 13. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 97 Chevrolet14. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford 15. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Chevrolet16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet 17. Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford18 Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford 19. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford20. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota 21. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet22. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota 23. Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet24. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota 25. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford26. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota 27. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota28. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota 29. Corey Heim, No. 67 Toyota30. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford 31. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Toyota32. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet 33. Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet34. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet 35. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet36. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford 37. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet38. Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Chevrolet 39. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet40. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 Chevrolet 41. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford Failed to qualify: Chandler Smith (No. 36 Ford), JJ Yeley (No. 44 Chevrolet), BJ McLeod (No. 78 Chevrolet), Corey LaJoie (No. 99 Ford)