What’s Happening?

The 68th Daytona 500 signals the start of a new season for the drivers of the three NASCAR National Series. Winning at Daytona, no matter what series, can kickstart a championship season and propel any driver into NASCAR infamy.

• Daytona International Speedway is perhaps the most iconic track on NASCAR’s schedule. The 2.5-mile superspeedway has played host to many of the sport’s most triumphant victories and its most bitter defeats.
• The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s biggest weekend and event, unlike any other on the calendar. Every driver who wins this race is remembered, and merely competing in the race is the highlight of many drivers’ careers.
• Beyond the 500’s pomp and circumstance, this year’s race is the first chance for rookies, like Connor Zilisch, or drivers in new teams, like Daniel Suarez, to prove themselves. However, hungry veterans are looking to get a quick jump on the season.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times EST)

Wednesday, February 11: Cup Series Practice | Cup Series Qualifying

• 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM — Cup Series Practice 1 on FS1
• 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM — Cup Series Qualifying on FS1

Thursday, February 12: Truck Series Practice | Cup Series Duel Races

• 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM — Truck Series Practice
• 7:00 PM – DAYTONA 500 DUEL 1 AT DAYTONA on FS1
• APPROX. 8:45 PM – DAYTONA 500 DUEL 2 AT DAYTONA on FS1

Friday, February 13: Truck Series Practice | O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying | Cup Series Practice | Truck Series Race

• 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM — Truck Series Qualifying
• 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice on the CW App
• 5:35 PM – 6:25 PM — Cup Series Practice 2 on FS1
• 7:30 PM — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race on FS1 [TV] & NRN [Radio]

Saturday, February 14: Cup Series Practice | Xfinity Series Qualifying | Xfinity Series Race

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM — O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying on the CW App
• 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM — Cup Series Practice 3 on FS1
• 5:00 PM — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals 300 on the CW [TV] & MRN [Radio]

Sunday, February 15: Cup Series Race

• 2:30 PM — 68th Daytona 500 on FOX [TV] & MRN [Radio]

Race Facts

Daytona International Speedway – Track Facts

• Opened: 1959
• Length: 2.5 miles
• Banking: 31°
• Surface: Asphalt
• Lights: Yes
• Rain Tires: No

Fresh From Florida 250 on FS1:

• Race Length: 100 Laps (250 Miles)
• Stages: 20 Lap Stage 1, 20 Lap Stage 2, 60 Lap Final Stage
• Most-Recent Race Winner: Corey Heim

United Rentals 300 on the CW:

• Race Length: 120 Laps (300 Miles)
• Stages: 30 Lap Stage 1, 30 Lap Stage 2, 60 Lap Final Stage
• Most-Recent Race Winner: Jesse Love

Daytona 500 Qualifier Duels on FS1:

• Race Length: 60 Laps (150 Miles)
• Most-Recent Race Winner: 2025 Duel 1: Bubba Wallace, 2024 Duel 2: Austin Cindric

2025 Daytona 500 on FOX:

• Race Length: 200 Laps (500 Miles)
• Stages: 65 Lap Stage 1, 65 Lap Stage 2, 70 Lap Final Stage
• Most-Recent Race Winner: William Byron

2025 Daytona 500 Results:

• First: William Byron – No. 24
• Second: Tyler Reddick – No. 45
• Third: Jimmie Johnson – No. 84
• Fourth: Chase Briscoe – No. 19
• Fifth: John Hunter Nemechek – No. 42

How Does Daytona 500 Qualification Work?

The Daytona 500 has the most unique qualifying format in all of NASCAR. On the Thursday prior to Sunday’s Daytona 500, the annual Duel Races occur. These races decide the starting lineups for the 500, with the only spots secured being the pole and outside pole (or second-place qualifier).

Practice/Qualifying:

• NASCAR’s 36 chartered race teams and a number of open teams will compete for the 40 starting spots available to them prior to raceday. The chartered teams are locked into the race no matter what, while the open cars must make it on speed.
• Qualifying determines the front row of the Daytona 500 and the starting lineups for the two duel races.

Duel Races:

• Even if an open driver has a bad qualifying session, the Thursday night duel races give them a second chance to make the race.
• Duel 1 determines the inside row, and Duel 2 determines the outside row. If the winner of either duel did not qualify first or second, they will start third or fourth, depending on how qualifying shaped out and what duel race they are in.
• The highest finishing open cars make the 500, with those who sit outside the top finishers being sent home.
• Even though the pole winner and outside pole winner are locked into place, should they crash during their duel, they must drop to the rear of the field before the 500 on Sunday.

Open Exemption Provisional:

• NASCAR introduced the Open Exemption Provisional in 2025. This Provisional allows a “world-class” driver automatic entry into a race.
• Teams must request an OEP 90 days before raceday, with NASCAR determining who can and cannot be awarded the automatic start. Though they get automatic entry into a race, they do not get any prize money or points related to their finishing position.
• Last year, four-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Hélio Castroneves was the first and only driver in 2025 to use an OEP in the 67th Daytona 500. This year, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson is using an OEP to make the 500.
• No matter how the driver using an OEP does in qualifying or the duel races, they are locked into the race. If the field already has 40 or more entries, the field must expand to 41 to allow up to four open teams to make the race.

Top Storylines of the Weekend

• Every season, a handful of hopeful underdogs roll into Daytona with a chance to make history. This year, multiple open teams are entered in the Daytona 500, including JR Motorsports No. 40, once again driven by Justin Allgiar and Garage 66.
• Several top drivers in this field have yet to win the 500 despite their multiple attempts to take home a Harley J. Earl Trophy. These include Kyle Busch (20 attempts), Brad Keselowski (16 attempts), Kyle Larson (12 attempts), Ryan Blaney (11 attempts), and Chase Elliott (10 attempts).
• This race weekend serves as the first test for several new driver and team pairings across the NASCAR National Series. These include Daniel Suarez and Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series, Rajah Caruth and JR Motorsports in the OAP Series, and Kaden Honeycutt and TRICON Garage in the Truck Series.

Entry List

Cup Series

Xfinity Series

Truck Series

Entry lists are usually released on the Monday afternoon prior to raceday.

Duel Lineups

Duel 1

Duel 2

Starting lineups for the Duel races will be available following Wednesday’s Cup Series Qualifying Session.

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.