Get ready for the heart-pounding action of the Daytona 500, but first, let’s dive into the qualifying results that have everyone talking! The green flag is set to drop on February 11, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway, and the stakes have never been higher. This isn’t just any race—it’s NASCAR’s crown jewel, where legends are made and dreams are shattered. But here’s where it gets controversial: Noah Gragson’s time has been disqualified due to a new rule that prohibits drivers from placing their hands by the window net during qualifying. Is this rule fair, or does it unfairly penalize drivers? Let the debate begin!
The top two cars from qualifying—Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe—have locked in the front row for the Daytona 500, securing their spots in the most prestigious race of the season. Meanwhile, Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier, the two fastest open cars, have also punched their tickets to the big event. But for the rest of the field, the battle is far from over. Qualifying results set the lineups for Thursday’s Duel races, where drivers will fight for their chance to complete the Daytona 500 grid.
And this is the part most people miss: The Duel races aren’t just a formality—they’re a high-stakes showdown that can make or break a driver’s season. With only the top performers advancing, every second counts. Speaking of seconds, Kyle Busch’s lap time of 49.006 seconds in Round 2 secured him the pole position, averaging a blistering 183.651 mph. But what does this mean for the rest of the field? Can anyone challenge Busch’s dominance, or will he cruise to victory?
Here’s a breakdown of the qualifying results for Round 1 and the final starting lineup for the Duel races. Take a look and see where your favorite drivers stand:
Daytona 500 Qualifying Results (Round 1):
1. Kyle Busch (49.933)
2. Chase Briscoe (49.034)
3. Ryan Preece (49.081)
4. Denny Hamlin (49.105)
5. Alex Bowman (49.117)
6. Kyle Larson (49.121)
7. Corey Heim (49.138)
8. Chris Buescher (49.167)
9. Chase Elliott (49.170)
10. Joey Logano (49.172)
Final Qualifying Results (Round 2):
1. Kyle Busch (49.006)
2. Chase Briscoe (49.023)
3. Ryan Preece (49.061)
4. Denny Hamlin (49.100)
5. Corey Heim (49.148)
6. Alex Bowman (49.152)
7. Kyle Larson (49.158)
8. Chris Buescher (49.184)
9. Chase Elliott (49.220)
10. Joey Logano (49.295)
Drivers who failed to advance out of Round 1 include Ty Gibbs, Austin Dillon, and Christopher Bell, among others. But don’t count them out just yet—the Duel races are their chance to redeem themselves.
Duel 1 Starting Lineup (February 12, 2026):
1. Kyle Busch
2. Ryan Preece
3. Corey Heim
4. Alex Bowman
5. Chris Buescher
6. Joey Logano
7. Austin Dillon
8. Corey LaJoie
9. John Hunter Nemechek
10. Brad Keselowski
11. Ryan Blaney
12. William Byron
13. Cole Custer
14. Cody Ware
15. Jimmie Johnson
16. Bubba Wallace
17. AJ Allmendinger
18. Ross Chastain
19. Shane van Gisbergen
20. Daniel Suarez
21. Chandler Smith
22. Casey Mears
23. Noah Gragson
Duel 2 Starting Lineup (February 12, 2026):
1. Chase Briscoe
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kyle Larson
4. Chase Elliott
5. Ty Gibbs
6. Christopher Bell
7. Justin Allgaier
8. Austin Cindric
9. Zane Smith
10. Michael McDowell
11. Connor Zilisch
12. Erik Jones
13. Josh Berry
14. Carson Hocevar
15. Riley Herbst
16. Todd Gilliland
17. Anthony Alfredo
18. Ty Dillon
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
20. Tyler Reddick
21. BJ McLeod
22. JJ Yeley
For more details, check out the official Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR websites. But before you go, we want to hear from you! Do you think the new window net rule is a game-changer, or is it an unnecessary complication? And who do you think will take home the checkered flag at the Daytona 500? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—let’s keep the conversation racing!
