The Elite NASCAR and INDYCAR Drivers Entering The 2026 24 Hours of Daytona
Drivers from many different American Motorsports disciplines have been a proud tradition of the 24 Hours of Daytona for nearly the competition’s entire history. One that the 2026 edition will proudly continue. Featuring many elite drivers from America’s top two motorsport divisions, IndyCar and NASCAR.
Some veterans will be looking for another win in the prestigious competition, and some will be looking for their first-ever victory under the Florida sky. Some drivers, though, are young drivers looking to get their feet wet in this competition. Or to pull off an all-time upset and make history by showing the entire racing world the greatness they’ll bring to it.
The NASCAR Drivers Entering The 24 Hours of Daytona
2026 shows how a 24 Hours of Daytona tradition has been flipped on its head. When NASCAR drivers started entering the January race to improve at road-course racing. Starting in the 80s, when road courses like Watkins Glen and Riverside had two races a year.
You think that’d be even more important with there being five road course races a year now, but you’d be wrong. Now, the Trans-Am Series, specifically the Trans-Am TA2 division, and the Mazda MX-5 Cup are where young NASCAR drivers go to develop their road-course skills.
And now that NASCAR has been racing on many different road course tracks for decades, plus dealing with the open-wheel invasion, where they had to measure their RC skills and figure out many of the best road-course racers they were. Many NASCAR drivers have developed great road course skills as well.
#1. A.J. Allmendinger
Something AJ Allmendinger, who’s entered this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona, showcases perfectly. Who’s a leftover of the open wheel invasion? The former American open-wheel drivers have been driving in NASCAR for decades now. Winning multiple road course races in NASCAR’s highest division. And has won the 24 Hours of Daytona before. Winning it in 2012 overall, and looks to be getting another overall win in 2026.
#2. Connor Zilisch
But another driver entering his third-ever 24 Hours of Daytona and is also looking to win it for a second time is Connor Zilisch. The Trackhouse prodigy has had all eyes on him since his Xfinity Series debut win at Watkins Glen, but he’s been soaring through the racing ranks long before that.
In 2024, he became the second youngest driver ever to win the 24 Hours of Daytona at 17 years old with Era Motorsport. Now he looks to start what’ll be a huge year for his career by getting his second win in this competition. As a warm-up to give him a huge confidence boost ahead of his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series with the Red Bull-sponsored Trackhouse Chevy.
The INDYCAR Drivers Entered In the 24 Hours of Daytona
#1. Colton Herta
While the NASCAR drivers entering are slim pickings, many of IndyCar’s best have entered the 24 Hours of Daytona this year! A now-former INDYCAR driver and current hyped American F1 hopeful, Colton Herta, will be entering the event.
Looking to face drivers more up to his skill level before doing the full F2 campaign to get ready to jump into F1 with America’s newest F1 team, Cadillac. He’s won the competition twice before, so he will be looking to impress international doubters by beating many of the best sports car drivers in the world for a third time.
#2. Alex Palou and Scott Dixon
We also have two IndyCar legends going head-to-head in the 24 Hours of Daytona this year. Those being Alex Palou, the defending and now four-time IndyCar champion, will be facing the seven-time INDYCAR Champion, New Zealand’s very own Scott Dixon!
Now, like in INDYCAR, while they’ll be facing off, they’ll still be teammates, but this time both driving for Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian, who’s won this race very recently. Although Palou will be hungrier, having never won it before, while the much more experienced Dixon has earned three overall wins here.
#3. Sebastien Bourdais and Kyffin Simpson
Moving down to the LMP2 class. Drivers Sebastien Bourdais and Kyffin Simpson will be teammates in the Tower Motorsports entry. Both come into this race as total opposites in their career. With Bourdais an established veteran of sports cars and American open wheel, having won multiple titles and the 2014 24 Hours of Daytona. Simpson is a 21-year-old who has yet to win an INDYCAR race or the 24 Hours of Daytona.
#4. Pietro Fittipaldi, Enzo Fittipaldi, and James Hinchcliffe
Former INDYCAR driver Pietro Fittipaldi is quite wholesomely entering the race with his brother, IndyCar hopeful Enzo Fittipaldi, in the Pratt Miller Motorsports No. 73. Another former INDYCAR driver, Canadian James Hinchcliffe, will enter as well, having won a class in 2022; he’ll be looking to repeat the honor in 2026.
#5. Nolan Siegel, Chaz Mostert, and Kenny Habul
Young American and current McLaren INDYCAR driver Nolan Siegel, a former 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class winner, will be looking for a class win at this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona. While former two-time INDYCAR champion Will Power will be entering his first-ever 24 Hours of Daytona, teaming up with fellow Australians Chaz Mostert and Kenny Habul.
#6. Romain Grosjean and Scott McLaughlin
Former F1 and INDYCAR driver Romain “The Phoenix” Grosjean will be entering the Myers Riley Motorsports to try and win the GTD class. He’ll be facing current INDYCAR driver and former V8 Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin, who also has extensive sports car experience.
#7 Marcus Ericsson and Callum Ilott
And an ex-Indy 500 winner, the Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson hoping to set the stage for a 2026 resurgence after he’s struggled at Andretti.Plus, Callum Ilott, the British Perma IndyCar driver and former Ferrari development driver, will be joining them in the GTD class as well. Thanks a bunch for reading!
