In Daytona Beach, Florida, Denny Hamlin is demonstrating that his competitive spirit remains intact, despite a brief period of pause that was understandable given the circumstances. The 45-year-old driver had dedicated himself fully to capturing the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2025, showing strong preparation and an impressive performance at the title event held at Phoenix Raceway.
Hamlin led for 208 laps out of 319, secured a stage win, and was poised for a commanding victory until an untimely caution disrupted his momentum just three laps from the finish. Following this setback, Hamlin faced a deeply personal loss when his father, Dennis Hamlin, died after a house fire on December 28, while his mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, was critically injured.
Given these challenges, Hamlin is gradually regaining his form this season but remains confident he will be fully poised by September’s introduction of the new 10-race Chase championship format.
We’re kind of getting back into the swing of things,
Hamlin said during media interviews at Daytona International Speedway on DAYTONA 500 Media Day.
Certainly, would be lying if I said I was as highly motivated as I have been in years past, but I think that—I said it last week—it would just take some time.
And I think that every day at the race track is certainly getting there. I know I’m way too competitive to just go through the motions. So, as we get on the racetrack, go through practices and qualifying, we’re slowly getting there.
Throughout this difficult period, Hamlin has relied heavily on his team owner, Joe Gibbs, who offered support immediately after the tragedy.
I mean, Joe beat me to the hospital the night of,
Hamlin recalled.
The guy is just unbelievable in how he is as a leader, and obviously he has been through it (with the loss of sons J.D. Gibbs and Coy Gibbs).
So, my connection really on that personal level is more so with Joe, and it’s always been that way since he kind of took over as my at-track dad.
Hamlin’s drive will be on full display Sunday as he aims to claim his fourth DAYTONA 500 victory, a feat matched only by legends Richard Petty, with seven wins, and Cale Yarborough, with four.
Connor Zilisch Faces Big Expectations in DAYTONA 500 Debut
Another rookie to watch this season is Connor Zilisch, a formidable road racing talent who already has a remarkable track record. Before being old enough to drive on the street, Zilisch won a class at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Transitioning last year to full-time NASCAR competition, he captured 10 wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and established a record with 18 straight top-five finishes. His achievements earned him Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and a spot as the championship runner-up.
Zilisch will enter the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series as a rookie, piloting the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. This Sunday marks his full-time debut in the DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway, a circuit he first visited as a fan four years ago with little access to the garage area or pit passes.
Despite facing immense pressure due to his prior success, the 19-year-old Charlotte native embraces the challenge with optimism. His goal for the DAYTONA 500 is to complete every lap and, if possible, earn a top-10 finish. A win would make him the youngest driver ever to claim victory at this prestigious race.
I appreciate the excitement, I think it’s really cool that there’s a lot of people excited to watch how I’m going to do this season, whether it’s fans or media,
Zilisch explained, referencing his 27th-place finish in the 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener at Daytona, which was marred by a late multi-car accident.
I do think it sometimes gets a little outlandish… a lot of people maybe expecting a lot of me in my first year. I don’t think people realize how big of a jump it is from Saturday to Sunday. But I try not to pay too much attention to it. I know what my personal goals are throughout the year. I know what I want to accomplish and my long-term goals. I find it cool mostly.
Chase Elliott Praises the Return of the 10-Race Chase Format
Chase Elliott joins the group of NASCAR drivers enthusiastic about the reinstatement of the 10-race Chase to decide the series champion. He appreciates the authentic nature of the format, which he feels embodies the essence of motorsports in a way that other sports do not replicate.
Motorsports is just a little different, and I think we’ve spent an awful lot of time trying to be like everybody else,
Elliott stated during DAYTONA 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway.
I’m really proud of leadership of saying, ‘Hey look, let’s be us and let’s go do our own thing.’
The Chase format was really unlike anything else in sports that I could remember at that time when it came out. Very genuine, very original. I think it fits. It never felt like a playoff to me, and not because of my name, but ‘The Chase’ does sound good. It sounds like racing. It sounds like a racing term.
Kyle Busch Seeks First DAYTONA 500 Victory in 21st Start
Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the winningest driver in the sport’s three national series with 232 victories, prepares for his 21st DAYTONA 500 start without yet claiming a win at the iconic event. The 40-year-old from Las Vegas has triumphed at the 2.5-mile speedway in each of NASCAR’s major series—the Cup Series in summer 2008, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2007, and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2014.
Busch has registered five top-10 finishes at Daytona, including a third-place finish in 2016, a race won by his then Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin.
Coming to Daytona, as you’re coming in (to your career) maybe four, five years in, you’re a young guy, you’re pumped up and amped for the DAYTONA 500,
Busch reflected.
As you go on through the years, you’ve got to figure out a way to be in the right ‘mind place’ and figure out how to go out there, excel and be in the right place at the right time (to win).
He noted how unpredictable the race can be, with leaders suddenly falling out of contention and drivers seemingly mid-pack emerging as winners. Busch remains motivated by the desire to check off a DAYTONA 500 victory as a crowning achievement in his career.
Being able to win Daytona, that’s obviously sort of the last box to check in my career, and getting that done would be a lot of fun,
Busch said with a broad grin.
We’d celebrate that really, really big.
Brad Keselowski’s Progress Following Broken Leg Injury
Brad Keselowski arrived at DAYTONA 500 Media Day supporting his healing right leg with a cane adorned with logos tied to his No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford. The cane’s decorations caught attention, which Keselowski anticipated.
I knew I was probably going to get picked on a little bit,
Keselowski said, noting he embraced the attention on the cane.
So, I might as well just at some point own it. I won’t say it (the decals) was my idea, but I actually thought it was a good one.
The injury happened when Keselowski slipped on ice during a family ski trip in mid-December. He described the pain as far worse than a previous broken ankle sustained in 2011 at Road Atlanta. Lying immobile on the ice, Keselowski’s mind drifted to the hardships soldiers endured during the Civil War.
When I was laying on the ground and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was like, ‘Oh my God.’ Like, think about the soldiers in the Civil War,
Keselowski shared.
Like, they just would cut their leg off right here.
And I understood why they would do it, because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I’ve ever went through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was a part of me that was like, that might actually feel better.
Keselowski expects to race at Daytona, with David Ragan prepared to serve as a relief driver if needed. However, his fitness for the demanding Circuit of The Americas road course race on March 1 remains uncertain, prompting the team to bring on sports car star Joey Hand as a backup for that event.
