Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Chumba Casino Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
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NASCAR News: Tyler Reddick wins 2026 Daytona 500 wreckfest (Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

NASCAR has revised the finishing order of the Daytona 500. In the initial Daytona 500 results, Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar, who was involved in a last-lap wreck that knocked him out of the race lead, was scored in 19th place, just behind Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger in 18th.

However, upon further review, it was determined that the driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet should have been scored in 18th, ahead of the driver of the No. 16 Chevrolet in 19th. Hocevar and Allmendinger were swapped on the official scoresheet.

Allmendinger remained in 22nd place in the point standings with 18 points instead of 19, as Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware, who is 21st, scored 20.

Official Final Results of the 2026 Daytona 500

Note: Most of the cars listed as running at the finish were in fact wrecked and limping to, or sliding, across the finish line. It was your typical Daytona 500 wreckfest.

Fin Str No. Driver Team Laps Led Laps Pts Status
1 26 45 Tyler Reddick Chumba Casino Toyota 1 200 58 Running
2 16 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Chef Boyardee Chevrolet 4 200 35 Running
3 3 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 9 200 36 Running
4 4 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 2 200 33 Running
5 9 6 Brad Keselowski Castrol Ford 0 200 32 Running
6 30 38 Zane Smith Speedy Cash Ford 9 200 41 Running
7 41 17 Chris Buescher Body Guard Ford 4 200 39 Running
8 28 35 Riley Herbst Monster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota 0 200 35 Running
9 14 21 Josh Berry Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 0 200 28 Running
10 27 23 Bubba Wallace Xfinity Toyota 40 200 37 Running
11 25 4 Noah Gragson Rush Truck Centers Ford 0 200 27 Running
12 39 24 William Byron Raptor Chevrolet 0 200 25 Running
13 15 7 Daniel Suarez Freeway Insurance Chevrolet 0 200 31 Running
14 34 10 Ty Dillon Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet 3 200 23 Running
15 1 8 Kyle Busch zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet 19 200 29 Running
16 8 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 7 200 21 Running
17 33 51 Cody Ware Jacob Construction Chevrolet 2 200 20 Running
18 6 77 Carson Hocevar Spectrum Chevrolet 1 200 27 Running
19 35 16 AJ Allmendinger Celsius Chevrolet 1 200 18 Running
20 37 1 Ross Chastain Busch Light Chevrolet 12 200 17 Running
21 24 43 Erik Jones AdventHealth Toyota 0 200 16 Running
22 10 71 Michael McDowell Modo Casino Chevrolet 10 200 19 Running
23 20 54 Ty Gibbs Monster Energy Toyota 0 200 14 Running
24 23 41 Cole Custer HaasTooling.com Chevrolet 0 200 13 Running
25 19 60 Ryan Preece Kroger/Viva Towels Ford 0 200 15 Running
26 11 42 John Hunter Nemechek Dollar Tree Toyota 19 199 19 Accident
27 5 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Peak Ford 2 199 27 Accident
28 29 67 * Corey Heim(i) Robinhood Toyota 8 199 0 Running
29 31 84 * Jimmie Johnson Carvana Toyota 0 199 0 Accident
30 13 97 Shane Van Gisbergen SuperFile Chevrolet 3 199 8 Running
31 22 11 Denny Hamlin National Debt Relief Toyota 3 198 7 Running
32 17 66 * Casey Mears SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford 0 195 6 Running
33 32 88 Connor Zilisch # Red Bull Chevrolet 0 195 5 Running
34 36 2 Austin Cindric Discount Tire Ford 5 193 13 Running
35 12 20 Christopher Bell DEWALT/Interstate Batteries Toyota 9 191 3 Accident
36 2 19 Chase Briscoe Bass Pro Shops Toyota 23 188 2 Running
37 7 3 Austin Dillon Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet 0 137 1 Accident
38 40 40 * Justin Allgaier(i) Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet 3 123 0 Accident
39 18 34 Todd Gilliland Love’s Travel Stops Ford 1 123 1 Accident
40 21 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 0 123 3 Accident
41 38 78 * BJ McLeod Superior Logistics Chevrolet 0 4 1 Accident
February 15, 2026 

After a winless 2025 season, Tyler Reddick (pictured) wasted no time making his mark in 2026. The 23XI Racing driver piloted the No. 45 Toyota to victory in the 68th running of the Daytona 500, surviving a wild, crash-filled afternoon that lived up to the race’s reputation as the “Great American Wreckfest.”

It was the first Daytona 500 win for team co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin – and a hell of a way for Jordan to kick off the year. Fresh off shaking up NASCAR’s economics with a landmark antitrust settlement, the basketball legend now has his driver in Victory Lane just days before his 63rd birthday.

The race delivered everything Daytona fans expect: multiple massive wrecks that collected nearly half the 41-car field, constant position shuffling, and a final-lap melee that turned the frontstretch into a demolition derby.

Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet, and Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, lead the field to start the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Final-Lap Daytona 500 Mayhem

Chaos erupted on the last lap as race leader Carson Hocevar got turned entering Turn 1 after contact with Erik Jones. The spinning No. 43 collected his Spire Motorsports teammate Michael McDowell, triggering a chain-reaction pileup that took out several contenders.

When the smoke cleared, the drivers still in position to win were Reddick, three-time champion Joey Logano, 2020 champion Chase Elliott, 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Zane Smith.

Elliott led off Turn 4, but Reddick and teammate Riley Herbst charged hard on the outside. Reddick made the decisive move, surging to the front as Elliott, Logano, Smith, Herbst, and Brad Keselowski all tangled behind him in a spectacular wreck.

Reddick crossed the line unchallenged, winning by 0.308 seconds over Stenhouse. It was poetic justice for a driver who led just one lap all day – the most important one.

A Long Time Coming

Reddick had endured a brutal 2025 without a single victory. Expectations run high when you drive for Michael Jordan, and the drought tested the entire 23XI organization.

“Last year was really hard for all of us,” Reddick said. “When you’re a Cup driver at this level, winning is expected. We looked hard in the mirror, worked our tails off in the offseason, and today it all paid off.”

He was especially emotional about his young son, who had asked him before the race, “Are you finally going to win this one, Dad?”

“Something about today just felt right,” Reddick added, voice cracking. “I didn’t know if I’d ever win the Daytona 500. It’s surreal.”

As all his competitors wreck behind him, Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Chumba Casino Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Defending Daytona 500 champion William Byron came up short in 12th, despite running strong late. The Cup Series now heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway next Sunday for the Ambetter Health 400.

The Cup Series heads to Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway next Sunday for the Autotrader 400.

Tyler Reddick Quotes

2026 Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick

Tyler, last year, what a year for you. I know you were disappointed. I know you had things going on with your baby boy physically. The team and NASCAR, to get here right now in this moment, you’re a Daytona 500 champion.

TYLER REDDICK: I know. Last year was really hard for all of us, hard for me. When you’re a Cup driver and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year.

For us to go on that drought we did made us look hard in the mirror, and really proud of everyone on our Chumba Casino Toyota Camry. Worked really hard in the off-season, and there was many points in this race where we weren’t making decisions we wanted to, but we just reset, and every opportunity we got to reset we went back at it.

Just speechless. I didn’t know if I’d ever win this race. It’s surreal, honestly. Honestly, the best part is my son asked before this race, Are you finally going to win this race? Something about today just felt right.

Take us through that last lap. You were by yourself, no teammate help around you. Suddenly you were there when it counted most.

TYLER REDDICK: Yeah, I keep looking for my wife and my kids. They’ll be here at some point, I’m sure. Maybe they’re taking a nap.

Yeah, we had the lead there when that caution came out, lined up next to McDowell, and we just kind of kept getting hung a couple times in the closing laps there. Yeah, just every time we’d kind of break up, there would be nowhere left to go but to push, and they pushed me, obviously.

My teammate Riley Herbst gave me a lot of pushes there and then tried to win the race for himself, as he should at the end there. Just incredible how it all played out. Just true Daytona madness.

It’s going to be a long night if I’ve already lost my voice from screaming. Never thought I’d be Daytona 500 champion.

Michael Jordan Quotes

Sir, you are a Daytona 500 champion. How does that sound?

MICHAEL JORDAN: I can’t even believe it. It was so gratifying. We had four guys that were really fighting, helping each other out. You never know how these races are going to end. You just try to survive.

I thought Riley did an unbelievable job pushing at the end. That shows you what teamwork can really, really do. He doesn’t get enough credit. He won’t get enough credit. But we feel the love. We understand exactly what he did.

We hung in there all day. Great strategy by the team, and we gave ourselves a chance at the end. Look, I’m ecstatic. I don’t even know what to say. It feels like I won a championship, but until I get my ring, I won’t even know.

What size ring do you wear?

MICHAEL JORDAN: Size 13.

2026 Daytona 500 Results

Pos No. Start Driver Laps Led Status Points
1 26 26 Tyler Reddick 200 1 Running 58
2 16 16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 200 4 Running 35
3 3 3 Joey Logano 200 9 Wrecked 36
4 4 4 Chase Elliott 200 2 Wrecked 33
5 9 9 Brad Keselowski 200 0 Wrecked 32
6 30 30 Zane Smith 200 9 Wrecked 41
7 41 41 Chris Buescher 200 4 Running 39
8 28 28 Riley Herbst 200 0 Wrecked 35
9 14 14 Josh Berry 200 1 Running 28
10 27 27 Bubba Wallace 200 39 Running 37
11 25 25 Noah Gragson 200 0 Running 27
12 39 39 William Byron 200 0 Running 25
13 15 15 Daniel Suarez 200 0 Running 31
14 34 34 Ty Dillon 200 3 Running 23
15 1 1 Kyle Busch 200 19 Running 29
16 8 8 Kyle Larson 200 7 Damaged 21
17 33 33 Cody Ware 200 2 Running 20
18 6 6 Carson Hocevar 200 1 Running 27
19 35 35 A.J. Allmendinger 200 1 Running 18
20 37 37 Ross Chastain 200 12 Running 17
21 24 24 Erik Jones 200 0 Running 16
22 10 10 Michael McDowell 200 10 Wrecked 19
23 20 20 Ty Gibbs 200 0 Running 14
24 23 23 Cole Custer 200 0 Running 13
25 19 19 Ryan Preece 200 0 Running 15
26 11 11 John Hunter Nemechek 199 19 Wrecked 19
27 5 5 Ryan Blaney 199 2 Wrecked 27
28 29 29 Corey Heim 199 8 Running 0
29 31 31 Jimmie Johnson 199 0 Wrecked 8
30 13 13 Shane van Gisbergen 199 3 Wrecked 7
31 22 22 Denny Hamlin 198 4 Wrecked 6
32 17 17 Casey Mears 195 0 Wrecked 5
33 32 32 Connor Zilisch 195 0 Wrecked 4
34 36 36 Austin Cindric 193 5 Wrecked 12
35 12 12 Christopher Bell 191 9 Wrecked 2
36 2 2 Chase Briscoe 188 23 Wrecked 1
37 7 7 Austin Dillon 137 0 Wrecked 1
38 40 40 Justin Allgaier 123 3 Wrecked 0
39 18 18 Todd Gilliland 123 1 Wrecked 1
40 21 21 Alex Bowman 123 0 Wrecked 3
41 38 38 B.J. McLeod 4 0 Wrecked 0

Average Speed of Race Winner:  147.107 mph.

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 23 Mins, 56 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.308 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  5 for 32 laps.

Lead Changes:  65 among 25 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   K. Busch 1-3;J. Nemechek 4-7;K. Busch 8-11;J. Logano 12-13;J. Nemechek 14-18;J. Logano 19;J. Nemechek 20-28;J. Logano 29;J. Nemechek 30;J. Logano 31-34;C. Briscoe 35-57;C. Elliott 58;T. Gilliland 59;Z. Smith 60-68;A. Allmendinger 69;R. Blaney 70-71;A. Cindric 72-74;D. Hamlin 75-76;B. Wallace 77-79;C. Ware 80-81;R. Chastain 82-83;*. Allgaier(i) 84;T. Dillon 85-87;*. Allgaier(i) 88;R. Stenhouse Jr. 89;R. Chastain 90-95;A. Cindric 96-97;R. Chastain 98-100;S. Van Gisbergen 101-103;K. Larson 104;K. Busch 105-108;K. Larson 109-112;K. Busch 113;K. Larson 114;K. Busch 115-116;K. Larson 117;K. Busch 118-121;D. Hamlin 122;*. Allgaier(i) 123;B. Wallace 124-130;R. Stenhouse Jr. 131-133;B. Wallace 134-136;*. Heim(i) 137-138;B. Wallace 139;C. Bell 140;*. Heim(i) 141;B. Wallace 142-144;C. Bell 145;B. Wallace 146;C. Bell 147-148;*. Heim(i) 149;C. Bell 150-151;B. Wallace 152;*. Heim(i) 153-156;C. Bell 157;B. Wallace 158-162;C. Bell 163-164;B. Wallace 165-180;C. Buescher 181-184;K. Busch 185;R. Chastain 186;C. Elliott 187;J. Logano 188;M. McDowell 189-198;C. Hocevar 199;T. Reddick 200.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Bubba Wallace 9 times for 40 laps; Chase Briscoe 1 time for 23 laps; John Hunter Nemechek 4 times for 19 laps; Kyle Busch 7 times for 19 laps; Ross Chastain 4 times for 12 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 10 laps; Christopher Bell 6 times for 9 laps; Joey Logano 5 times for 9 laps; Zane Smith 1 time for 9 laps; * Corey Heim(i) 4 times for 8 laps; Kyle Larson 4 times for 7 laps; Austin Cindric 2 times for 5 laps; Chris Buescher 1 time for 4 laps; Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2 times for 4 laps; * Justin Allgaier(i) 3 times for 3 laps; Ty Dillon 1 time for 3 laps; Denny Hamlin 2 times for 3 laps; Shane Van Gisbergen 1 time for 3 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 2 laps; Cody Ware 1 time for 2 laps; Ryan Blaney 1 time for 2 laps; AJ Allmendinger 1 time for 1 lap; Todd Gilliland 1 time for 1 lap; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 1 lap; Carson Hocevar 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 38,2,12,77,7,17,71,60,48,4

Stage #2 Top Ten: 23,12,42,8,35,67,17,45,22,7