Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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NASCAR News: 2026 Daytona Speedweeks Schedule and Happenings

Posted by AR1 staff

The 2026 Daytona Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth runs from Wednesday, February 11, to Sunday, February 15, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

This kickoff to the NASCAR season features action across multiple series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS, referred to as NOAPS or O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in some sources), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), and ARCA Menards Series (AMS).

William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Peak Ford and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald’s Toyota race during the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The schedule includes practices, qualifying sessions, and races, with additional happenings like fan zone openings, pre-race access, and potential concerts (details on concerts may be announced closer to the event; check official sites for updates).

All times are in Eastern Time (ET). TV coverage is primarily on FS1 for preliminary events and FOX for the Daytona 500. Radio coverage is available on MRN/SiriusXM. Schedules are subject to change due to weather or other factors; tickets and more details are available at nascar.com or daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Date Day Time (ET) Series Event TV/Radio Happenings/Notes
Feb 11 Wednesday 10:00 AM NCS Practice FS1/MRN First on-track activity; gates open around 9:00 AM; Hard Rock Bet Fanzone opens for fan access.
Feb 11 Wednesday 8:15 PM NCS Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light FS1/MRN Determines front row for Daytona 500 and sets fields for Duels; single-car qualifying format.
Feb 12 Thursday 1:30 PM NCTS Practice FS1 Truck series drivers get track time; potential for multi-session format.
Feb 12 Thursday 3:00 PM NXS Practice FS1 Xfinity series preparation; focus on setup tweaks.
Feb 12 Thursday 4:30 PM AMS Practice N/A (streaming possible) ARCA teams shake down cars; often includes rookie sessions.
Feb 12 Thursday 7:00 PM NCS America 250 Florida Duel #1 (60 laps/150 miles) FS1/MRN Qualifying race sets odd positions (3rd, 5th, etc.) for Daytona 500.
Feb 12 Thursday ~8:45 PM NCS America 250 Florida Duel #2 (60 laps/150 miles) FS1/MRN Qualifying race sets even positions (4th, 6th, etc.) for Daytona 500; post-race press conferences.
Feb 13 Friday 1:30 PM AMS Qualifying FS1 Sets starting grid for BRANDT 200.
Feb 13 Friday 3:00 PM NCTS Qualifying FS1/MRN Determines lineup for Fresh from Florida 250.
Feb 13 Friday 4:30 PM NXS Practice FS1 Additional setup time for Xfinity teams.
Feb 13 Friday 5:35 PM NCS Practice FS1/MRN Final adjustments for Cup cars post-Duels.
Feb 13 Friday 7:30 PM NCTS Fresh from Florida 250 (100 laps/250 miles) FS1/MRN Season-opening Truck race; expect high-speed pack racing.
Feb 14 Saturday 10:30 AM NXS Qualifying FS1/MRN Sets grid for United Rentals 300.
Feb 14 Saturday 11:35 AM NCS Practice FS1/MRN Last Cup practice before the 500.
Feb 14 Saturday 1:30 PM AMS BRANDT 200 (80 laps/200 miles) FS1/MRN ARCA season opener; often features up-and-coming talent.
Feb 14 Saturday 5:00 PM NXS United Rentals 300 (120 laps/300 miles) FS1/MRN Xfinity season kickoff; intense superspeedway action.
Feb 15 Sunday 10:00 AM NCS Practice (if needed) FS1 Optional or makeup session; rarely used unless weather issues.
Feb 15 Sunday 2:30 PM NCS 68th Daytona 500 (200 laps/500 miles) FOX/MRN The Great American Race; pre-race concert (artist TBD), driver intros, and celebrity appearances; stages at laps 65/130/200.