Happy Daytona Speedweek! It’s nearly time for the 2026 Daytona 500. This week, Nascar’s fastest drivers are headed down to Daytona Beach, FL to race 500 miles around the iconic oval track at Daytona International Speedway. The full entry list won’t be determined until after Thursday’s Duel races, with still vying for the four remaining Daytona 500 spots. Qualifiers and practices are airing across FS1 and the CW App. The main event will air on Fox. Here’s what you need to know about tuning into the Daytona 500.
How to watch the Daytona 500 without cable:
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
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Time: 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT
Location:
TV channel: Fox, FS1
Streaming: DirecTV, Fox One, CW App and more
When is the 2026 Daytona 500?
The Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. Daytona Speedweeks events run from Feb. 11-15.
Daytona 500 start time:
The 2026 Daytona 500 will officially start at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.
What TV channel is the Daytona 500 on?
The Daytona 500 Cup Series race will air on Fox. Select coverage of qualifiers and practices will air across FS1 and the CW App.
How to watch the Daytona 500 without cable:
DirecTV’s Entertainment tier gets you access to loads of channels where you can tune in to college and pro sports, the Winter Olympics, and more. Channels include ESPN, TNT, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and, depending on where you live, local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN+’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.
Right now, DirecTV’s Entertainment tier package is $49.99 for your first month. But you can currently try it out for free for five days. If you’re interested in trying out a live-TV streaming service but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.
FOX One is Fox’s direct streaming service. With a subscription to FOX One, you can tune in to all your favorite FOX channels like FOX News, FOX Sports, FOX Weather, FS1, FS2, FOX Business, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local Fox stations all in one place.
FOX One offers live programming, as well as on-demand shows and movies. The base price for FOX One is $19.99 per month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription, which nets out to $19.99/month.
You can also bundle FOX One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.
How many miles is the Daytona 500?
The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile long race. The racecourse is 200 laps around the 2.5 mile oval track at Daytona International Speedway.
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2026 Daytona 500 odds:
Looking for ? Yahoo Sports has you covered.
Daytona Speedweek schedule:
There are loads of events at the Daytona International Speedway leading up to Sunday’s Daytona 500 race. Here’s the schedule for everything happening at Daytona Speedweeks from Feb. 11-15.
NASCAR Speedweeks at Daytona (All Times Eastern)
Wednesday, February 11
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10:00 a.m. ET — Cup Series practice (FS1)
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8:15 p.m. ET — Daytona 500 Qualifying
One lap, all cars; top two spots set (FS1)
Thursday, February 12
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5:00 p.m. ET — Truck Series practice (FS1)
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7:00 p.m. ET — Duels at Daytona
Two 60-lap / 150-mile races; set rest of 500 field (FS1)
Friday, February 13
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3:00 p.m. ET — Truck Series qualifying (FS1)
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4:30 p.m. ET — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice (CW App)
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5:30 p.m. ET — Cup Series practice (FS1)
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7:30 p.m. ET — Fresh From Florida 250 — Truck Series
100 laps / 250 miles (FS1)
Saturday, February 14
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10:00 a.m. ET — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying (CW App)
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12:00 p.m. ET — Daytona ARCA 200 — ARCA Menards Series
80 laps / 200 miles (FOX) -
3:00 p.m. ET — Cup Series final practice (FS1)
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5:00 p.m. ET — United Rentals 300 — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
120 laps / 300 miles (CW)
Sunday, February 15
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2:30 p.m. ET — Daytona 500 — Cup Series
200 laps / 500 miles (Fox)
2026 Daytona 500 entry list:
While we don’t know the complete lineup for the Daytona 500, we do know most of the NASCAR drivers who will race. 36 of the 41-car starting grid spots are guaranteed, thanks to their teams’ charters. Jimmie Jognson holds this year’s 37th spot through the Open Exemption Provisional, which holds a spot for a part-time, “world-class driver.”
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There are four spots still open for Sunday’s starting grid, and eight drivers vying for them: Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, J.J. Yeley, Anthony Alfredo, Casey Mears, Corey Heim, B.J. McLeod and Corey LaJoie.
We will find out who makes the cut during Wednesday’s qualifying and Thursday’s 150-mile Duel races.
NASCAR Cup Series entry list for the 2026 Daytona 500
* indicates open entry
No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet: Ross Chastain
No. 2 Team Penske Ford: Austin Cindric
No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet: Austin Dillon
No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford: Noah Gragson
No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: Kyle Larson
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No. 6 RFK Racing Ford: Brad Keselowski
No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet: Daniel Suarez
No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet: Kyle Busch
No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: Chase Elliott
No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet: Ty Dillon
No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: Denny Hamlin
No. 12 Team Penske Ford: Ryan Blaney
No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet: A.J. Allmendinger
No. 17 RFK Racing Ford: Chris Buescher
No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: Chase Briscoe
No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: Christopher Bell
No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford: Josh Berry
No. 22 Team Penske Ford: Joey Logano
No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota: Bubba Wallace
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No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: William Byron
No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford: Todd Gilliland
No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota: Riley Herbst
No. 36 Front Row Motorsports Ford: Chandler Smith*
No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford: Zane Smith
No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet: Justin Allgaier*
No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet: Cole Custer
No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota: John Hunter Nemechek
No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota: Erik Jones
No. 44 NY Racing Chevrolet: J.J. Yeley*
No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota: Tyler Reddick
No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet: Alex Bowman
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No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet: Cody Ware
No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: Ty Gibbs
No. 60 RFK Racing Ford: Ryan Preece
No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet: Anthony Alfredo*
No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford: Casey Mears*
No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota: Corey Heim*
No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet: Michael McDowell
No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet: Carson Hocevar
No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet: B.J. McLeod*
No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota: Jimmie Johnson*
No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet: Connor Zilisch
No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet: Shane van Gisbergen
No. 99 RFK Racing Ford: Corey LaJoie*
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