Competition, Entertainment and More Below
By Roy J. Akers of www.skyviewsports and NASCAR Staff
NASCAR News
NASCAR takes over Daytona this week, and besides the competition and entertainment, plenty is happening with drivers’ appearances, midway family fun and plenty all weekend long. The documentary We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt will premiere on FS1 on Thursday evening and is produced by John Dahl and his team. Sky View Sports and our podcasts will talk to fans, drivers and more. Our podcast with John Dahl is here. The link to the documentary is below.
Storylines Competition – from NASCAR Communications
· Ryan Preece took home the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium after climbing up from the 18th starting position. The Clash was his first win in a NASCAR Cup Series car. He is now looking to build on this momentum – and overcome his previous misfortune at The World Center of Racing – to capture his first career Cup Series points win by becoming a DAYTONA 500 champion. Only two other drivers have won the Clash before winning a Cup Series points race – Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin. They each have three DAYTONA 500 championships to their credit now.
· 2024 & 2025 DAYTONA 500 champion William Byron is looking to execute a three-peat at the World Center of Racing. He is one of five drivers to win back-to-back 500s, joining the likes of Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin and Denny Hamlin.
· Winning a third consecutive Great American Race will make William Byron the first to ever do so. With another win at Daytona International Speedway, he will become the seventh driver to win three-or-more 500s, matching the likes of Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin with three while trailing Cale Yarborough’s four and Richard Petty’s remarkable seven DAYTONA 500 victories.
· Seven-time Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson returns to Daytona International Speedway seeking his third-career DAYTONA 500 victory. This year marks his 42nd time racing at DIS where he finished third in the 2025 DAYTONA 500. With a win, he will become the older driver to ever win a DAYTONA 500, surpassing Bobby Allison’s 1988 win at the age of 50 years, two months and 11 days.
· Meanwhile, Connor Zilisch will look to take his No. 88 Chevrolet into victory lane and become the youngest driver to ever hoist the Harley J. Earl Trophy, surpassing Trevor Bayne – who won a day after his 20th birthday back in 2011.
· Reigning NASCAR champions are looking to start off this season in the same fashion as the last one ended. Cup Series champion Kyle Larson hopes to claim his first DAYTONA 500 win to add another “champion” title to his resume.
· Similarly, NASCAR Cup Series champions like Kyle Busch (2015 & 2019), Brad Keselowski (2012) and Chase Elliot (2020) aim for their first ever DAYTONA 500 win.
Daytona International Speedway Related
· Acclaimed comedian, actor, and best-selling touring artist Nate Bargatze will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15.
· Blockbuster movie star, and lead in the hit Apple TV series, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” set to make its season two global debut on Friday, Feb. 27, Kurt Russell will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15.
· 3x GRAMMY® Award Winning Superstar Miranda Lambert will perform the Pre-Race Show ahead of the DAYTONA 500.
· The United States Air Force Thunderbirds return for the 16th consecutive year and 17th overall to perform the flyover above a completely sold-out crowd ahead of Sunday’s DAYTONA 500.
Daytona is SOLD OUT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 11, 2026) – Daytona International Speedway announced today that the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500 is officially sold out, with fans expected to pack the historic racing venue once again for NASCAR’s 2026 season opener along with featuring the largest purse in the event’s history – $31,045,575.
Year after year, The Great American Race reigns as one of the most anticipated events in the motorsport world, and starting today, fans can sign up for exclusive pre-sale access for infield camping and tickets to next year’s event to ensure they secure their seats in advance by visiting www.DAYTONA500.com.
“The DAYTONA 500 continues to be a national moment and cultural landmark woven into the fabric of American sport and identity,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “The demand for fans to experience NASCAR is at an all-time high and their continued support of the sport starts at DAYTONA. With drivers competing for another record purse of over $31 million in the 68th running of The Great American Race, the history books will be rewritten once again at The World Center of Racing.”
Last year, William Byron came out on top, earning his second straight DAYTONA 500 win. He crossed the finish line 0.113 seconds ahead of runner-up Tyler Reddick in overtime, becoming the first driver since Denny Hamlin in 2019 and 2020 to win the DAYTONA 500 consecutively. Byron now has the chance to become the first driver to secure three DAYTONA 500 wins in a row at the 68th running of The Great American Race.
