Full 2026 NASCAR Daytona 500 entry list

Check out the provisional 2026 NASCAR Daytona 500 entry list with four spots up for grabs as eight drivers in non-chartered cars set to battle it out in qualifying or the Duels.

Scheduled for Sunday, February 15, the 68th running of “The Great American Race” promises a 41-car field—the second consecutive year with an expanded lineup beyond the traditional 40—heightening the stakes for drivers vying to qualify through single-car speeds and the America 250 Florida Duel races.

NASCAR’s charter system ensures stability for the core field, with 36 full-time NASCAR Cup Series teams automatically advancing to the 200-lap, 500-mile spectacle regardless of practice or qualifying performance.

Yet the real intrigue pulses in the open entries, where eight drivers in non-chartered cars wage war for four spots: two via the fastest single-car qualifying speeds on Wednesday, February 11, and two more from top finishes in Thursday’s 60-lap Duels broadcast on Fox.

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Front Row’s Chandler Smith tops many projections with his rising stock, followed closely by JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier ineligible for points but a Xfinity standout eyeing Cup glory.

23XI’s Corey Heim, another points-ineligible truck series ace, poses a threat with his raw speed. Garage 66’s Casey Mears, Beard Motorsports’ Anthony Alfredo, NY Racing’s J.J. Yeley, Live Fast Motorsports’ B.J. McLeod and RFK’s Corey LaJoie complete the octet.

Provisional 2026 NASCAR Daytona 500 entry list

(*) – open car not locked into the Daytona 500 field

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