NASCAR News: 2026 Daytona 500 Entry List: 37 Guaranteed Spots, 8 Open Teams Battle for the Final 4
The most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. For the 2026 Daytona 500 on February 15, a total of 45 cars have entered the field, but only 41 will take the green flag at Daytona International Speedway. That means high drama awaits during qualifying week.
Who’s Already Locked In?
36 chartered teams are guaranteed a starting spot thanks to NASCAR’s charter system. These full-time operations provide stability for drivers and teams throughout the season.
Among the locked-in entries are many of the sport’s biggest stars, including the full lineups from Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, RFK Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Spire Motorsports, and more.
Additionally, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is guaranteed the 37th spot via the Open Exemption Provisional in the No. 84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. The legendary driver returns for a marquee one-off.
Complete 2026 Daytona 500 Entry List (45 Entries for 41 Spots)
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Status |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 4 | Noah Gragson | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 7 | Daniel Suárez | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 16 | A.J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 21 | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 35 | Riley Herbst | 23XI Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 36 | Chandler Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Open |
| 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 40 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | Open |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 44 | JJ Yeley | NY Racing Team | Chevrolet | Open |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing | Ford | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 62 | Anthony Alfredo | Beard Motorsports | Chevrolet | Open |
| 66 | Casey Mears | Garage 66 / MBM Motorsports | Ford | Open |
| 67 | Corey Heim | 23XI Racing | Toyota | Open |
| 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 78 | B.J. McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet | Open |
| 84 | Jimmie Johnson | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | Guaranteed (OEP) |
| 88 | Connor Zilisch (R) | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | Guaranteed (Chartered) |
| 99 | Corey LaJoie | RFK Racing | Ford | Open |
Key Notes
– 37 drivers are already locked into the field: 36 chartered teams + Jimmie Johnson (#84) via the Open Exemption Provisional.
– The table is sorted by car number for easy reference.
The Open Contenders: 8 Drivers Fighting for 4 Spots
The remaining drama centers on the eight open (non-chartered) entries highlighted in the table above. These teams and drivers must earn their way in through a combination of single-car qualifying and the Duel races.
Qualifying Format Highlights
– Wednesday, February 11: Single-car qualifying sets the front row (pole and outside pole) for the entire field. The two fastest open cars from this session lock into the race immediately.
– Thursday, February 12: The America 250 Duel races (two 60-lap qualifiers) determine the rest of the lineup. The top-finishing non-locked open car in each Duel earns one of the remaining two spots.
This format gives open teams a clear path but keeps the pressure intense—one mistake in practice, qualifying, or the Duels can send even a strong entry home early.
The 2026 Daytona 500 entry list perfectly captures the blend of NASCAR’s modern stability and its unpredictable roots. The chartered teams bring the star power and consistency, while the open entries inject raw underdog energy. With former winners, rising rookies, international talents, and veterans — plus the added storyline of Jimmie Johnson’s return — Speedweeks 2026 is already delivering. The real test begins this week when the final four open spots will be decided.
Who will punch their ticket to the 500? In Daytona, surprises are almost guaranteed.