Qualifying for the Daytona 500 as an open car has been adjusted
There are 36 charter teams and all of them are locked into the race at Daytona International Speedway. Four of five more cars will also join the field for the green flag.
Teams will turn a single lap in qualifying. The top two cars will lock onto the front row of the Daytona 500. This will also set the starting lineups for the Duel races.
For everyone outside the front row, the results from the Duel races set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500.
Open team rules adjustment
Open teams are cars that do not have a charter attached. The Daytona 500 has room for four (possibly five) open cars to qualify for the race.
For 2026, the top two Open cars following qualifying will be locked into the race regardless of their finish in the Duel race. Then, the highest finishing Open car among those that didn’t lock in, for each Duel race will also advance into the Daytona 500.
One open car will transfer into the race from each Duel.
Additionally, Jimmie Johnson has applied for the sole provisional. If he fails to make the race as an Open car from either scenario above then he will start the race in the 41st position. If he transfers in without a provisional then only 40 cars will start the race.
The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday February 15, 2026.
NASCAR also made other clarifications ahead of 2026:
Regarding rules for 2026, here are some other notes.
– A tie in The Chase will be decided by the best finish in the playoffs.
– Outside of the 750hp increase for short tracks, no aero changes have been made.
– A new ECU will make it’s first appearance at Bristol.
Daytona 500 Results: February 16, 2025 (NASCAR)
