After 21 attempts spanning nearly two decades, Kyle Busch secured his first-ever pole position for the Daytona 500 on Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion clocked a blazing lap of 183.651 mph (49.006 seconds) during the final round of single-car qualifying, earning the top starting spot for the 2026 Great American Race.
Driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, Busch edged out defending pole winner Chase Briscoe by a mere 0.017 seconds. Briscoe, who drives the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, will join Busch on the front row for the second straight year in the Daytona 500 lineup.
Strong Performances Highlight Qualifying Results
Following the front-row starters, Ryan Preece secured third place in the No. 60 Ford, while veteran Denny Hamlin took fourth in the No. 11 Toyota. Both drivers claimed prime starting positions ahead of Thursday night’s Duel races that will finalize the rest of the field.
Among the Open entries, Corey Heim stood out by posting the fifth-fastest overall time in the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, solidifying his entry into Sunday’s race. Justin Allgaier followed in 14th place, also clinching one of the two guaranteed Open spots.
The remaining six Open competitors—Corey LaJoie, Anthony Alfredo, JJ Yeley, BJ McLeod, Chandler Smith, and Casey Mears—will battle for the final two positions on Thursday during the Duels, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
Busch’s Pole Marks a Major Career Milestone
Despite holding two Cup Series championships and numerous wins, Kyle Busch has not yet captured a victory at NASCAR’s crown jewel event. Entering the 68th running of the Daytona 500, Busch carried the longest active winless streak in the race, having started 20 times without a win.
Claiming the pole position offers renewed optimism for Busch and Richard Childress Racing as they approach Speedweeks, setting the stage for a compelling battle against Briscoe, who has quickly earned a reputation as a Daytona specialist.
“It sounds really good right now. Certainly, here on Wednesday night, being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special. I’ve had one other speedway pole down here in Daytona for the summer race. This feels good. Feels really good for RCR as a group. Everybody from ECR, thanks to Bob and his whole team there. Thanks to zone Nicotine Pouches being on board for us. Maybe it was the flames that brought us all the speed and heat we needed for tonight. But also Lucas Oil, obviously their fuel treatments and oil treatments, everything that we run in this race car to give us the speed we need to be up front. Just a valiant effort by everybody here. It would be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being No. 1 come Sunday night.”
— Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver
Adding a personal touch to his memorable qualifying run, Busch appeared in custom Olympic-themed racing shoes as he celebrated his long-awaited achievement.
Next Steps Leading into Daytona 500
The full Daytona 500 field will be finalized following Thursday’s Duel races, which set the remaining starting positions for the event. Throughout the remainder of Speedweeks, drivers will participate in practice sessions and final preparations ahead of the green flag on Sunday, February 15.
For Kyle Busch, earning the Daytona pole is not just about starting order; it represents a crucial step toward breaking his winless streak at this prestigious race and adding the iconic Daytona 500 trophy to his career accomplishments.
