Daytona Speedweeks: 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Entry List

Sarah Talker
Speedweeks; The No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet of Michael McDowell rolls down pit road during Daytona 500 qualifying, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway.

The wait is finally over. The air in Florida is thick with anticipation and the scent of high-octane fuel because the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season has officially arrived. For race fans, this isn’t just another weekend. It is the awakening of a dormant beast. The silence of the off-season is about to be shattered by the roar of engines at the World Center of Racing.

The Daytona 500 isn’t just a race. It is a pilgrimage, a spectacle, and the most prestigious event on the calendar. And looking at the entry list for this year’s Speedweeks, the 68th running of the “Great American Race” promises to be packed with the special brand of high-stakes action the start of a new season brings.

The Field Is Set for The Great American Race

Forty-five drivers. That is the magic number. Forty-five hopefuls will descend upon Daytona International Speedway with dreams of hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy. But with only 40 spots available on the starting grid come Sunday, the pressure is already mounting before a single wheel turns in anger.

The entry list for this year is a fascinating mix of seasoned veterans, hungry young guns, and a few surprise appearances that have the garage area buzzing. We are looking at a field where past champions rub fenders with rookies looking to make a name for themselves on the sport’s biggest stage. Headlining the narrative is William Byron. The driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is chasing history.

After winning back-to-back Daytona 500s in 2024 and 2025, Byron is looking to do what no driver in Cup Series history has ever done: win three in a row. It is a tall order, especially at a track where chaos is the only constant, but if anyone has the momentum, it is the young superstar from Charlotte.

Key Storylines to Watch During Speedweeks

Beyond Byron’s chase for history, there are plenty of other stories woven into this entry list. Justin Allgaier returns to the Cup Series action, once again piloting the No. 40 for JR Motorsports. Allgaier is a grinder, a driver who knows how to get the most out of his equipment, and seeing him mix it up with the Cup regulars is always a treat for the fans.

Then you have the youth movement making waves. Corey Heim, fresh off his 2025 Craftsman Truck Series championship, is stepping up to the big leagues. He will be wheeling the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing. This is the first of 12 planned Cup starts for Heim this season, and there is no better place to test your mettle than Daytona.

Another name drawing eyes is Corey LaJoie. After a stint filling in for Brad Keselowski at the Clash, LaJoie is back in the saddle, attempting to qualify the No. 99 RFK Racing Ford into the big show. For drivers like LaJoie and the other non-chartered entries, the Duel races later this week aren’t just exhibition sprints. They are do-or-die moments that will define their entire season.

Full 2026 Daytona 500 Entry List

Here is the complete rundown of who is fighting for glory this week in Daytona, listed by car number:

  • No. 1: Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
  • No. 2: Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
  • No. 3: Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)
  • No. 4: Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports)
  • No. 5: Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
  • No. 6: Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)
  • No. 7: Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports)
  • No. 8: Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
  • No. 9: Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)
  • No. 10: Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 11: Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)
  • No. 12: Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
  • No. 16: AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)
  • No. 17: Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)
  • No. 19: Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)
  • No. 20: Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
  • No. 21: Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)
  • No. 22: Joey Logano (Team Penske)
  • No. 23: Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)
  • No. 24: William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
  • No. 34: Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
  • No. 35: Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)
  • No. 36: Chandler Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
  • No. 38: Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)
  • No. 40: Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)
  • No. 41: Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)
  • No. 42: John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
  • No. 43: Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)
  • No. 44: JJ Yeley (NY Racing Team)
  • No. 45: Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
  • No. 47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (HYAK Motorsports)
  • No. 48: Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
  • No. 51: Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)
  • No. 54: Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
  • No. 60: Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
  • No. 62: Anthony Alfredo (Beard Motorsports)
  • No. 66: Casey Mears (Garage 66)
  • No. 67: Corey Heim (23XI Racing)
  • No. 71: Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)
  • No. 77: Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)
  • No. 78: B.J. McLeod (Live Fast Motorsports)
  • No. 84: Jimmie Johnson (Legacy Motor Club)
  • No. 88: Connor Zilisch (Trackhouse Racing)
  • No. 97: Shane Van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)
  • No. 99: Corey LaJoie (RFK Racing)

What This Means for The Season Opener

This Speedweeks entry list signifies more than just names on a sheet of paper. It represents the shifting tides of the sport. You have legends like Jimmie Johnson returning in the No. 84, proving the competitive fire never truly goes out. You have international flair with Shane Van Gisbergen in the No. 97, showing that NASCAR’s reach is truly global.

The presence of 45 cars means five teams will be packing up early. The intensity during the Bluegreen Vacations Duels will be through the roof. For the open teams like Anthony Alfredo in the Beard Motorsports No. 62 or BJ McLeod in the No. 78, every lap of practice and qualifying is a fight for survival.

Speedweeks is a marathon that sprints. From practice sessions to the Duels, and finally the 500-mile main event, drivers have to balance aggression with preservation. The draft at Daytona is unforgiving. One wrong move, one bad block, and your Speedweeks can end in a pile of twisted metal.

What’s Next

As we look toward Sunday, the storylines with this entry list are plentiful, but the outcome is unknown. That is the beauty of Daytona. It doesn’t care about your resume, your odds, or your legacy. It only cares about who is fastest when the checkered flag waves.

Whether you are pulling for a three-peat from Byron, a redemption arc for Busch, or a shocker from an underdog like Zilisch, one thing is certain: The 2026 season is here, and it is going to be a wild ride. So buckle up, race fans. We are going green.

Sarah is a writer with a passion for delivering interesting yet informative news stories about motorsports including NASCAR, IMSA, F1, and IndyCar. She has covered the Daytona 500 and the Wurth 400 live and is highly passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise across the motorsports industry.