William Byron is set to compete in NASCAR’s Daytona 500 on Sunday seeking to make history as the first driver ever to win three consecutive editions of the race. After his primary No. 24 Chevrolet was damaged during a qualifying event at Daytona International Speedway, Byron will rely on a backup car for the main race. His determination remains strong despite the setback, as he demonstrated resilience winning the 2024 Daytona 500 with a backup vehicle from Hendrick Motorsports.
Though Byron will start near the back of the 41-car field in 39th position, he remains undeterred by the tough starting spot. His previous victories in 2024 and 2025 were marked by strategic positioning rather than ongoing dominance, leading only 14 laps combined across those wins. Success at Daytona often hinges on timing and opportunity, a pattern Byron has seized skillfully.
The rarity of a three-peat victory at the Daytona 500
No driver in the event’s 67-year history has managed to win three times consecutively. Near misses include legendary racers such as Richard Petty in 1975, Cale Yarborough in 1985, Sterling Marlin in 1996, and most recently, Denny Hamlin in 2021, all of whom were unable to achieve the elusive three-peat. The difficulty and unpredictability of the race underscore how rare and challenging Byron’s goal is.
Denny Hamlin, a formidable competitor himself, acknowledged the challenge Byron faces.
“It’s hard. You’re going to need things to fall your way,”
Hamlin said.
“In 2021, I legit thought we were going to get [it]. We led the most laps in that race, was really fast, but didn’t work out on the last pit sequence.”
Hamlin emphasized the role of luck and positioning in the Daytona 500.
“There’s an element of fortune there that has to fall your way. Last year, he was fortunate on the last lap there, but if you put yourself in the top eight you can get fortunate at times. He puts himself in the top eight, which is what matters.”
Byron’s skillful navigation through unpredictability
Byron’s recent Daytona wins have involved capitalizing on chaotic moments. In the 2025 race, he soared from ninth place at the start of the last lap, taking advantage of a massive crash in front to slide through and capture victory after leading only 10 laps all day. His breakthrough win in 2024 featured an even more dramatic finish, with Byron dropping as low as 34th at one point before maneuvering through the pack and claiming the lead just before a caution frozen the field, resulting in a win under yellow flag conditions.
While some attribute these wins to luck, Byron insists staying in the right place and making smart decisions during critical moments reflects genuine racing acumen. He said,
“It just feels like I’ve been, at this track in particular, able to have some things go my way and also make good decisions in those moments that I had opportunities,”
followed by
“It’s a mix of being in the right place and then having those chances to make good decisions.”
This emergence as a powerful contender is remarkable given Byron’s earlier struggles at Daytona, where he crashed out eight times and finished only half of 16 starts. Reflecting on his past difficulties, Byron commented,
“I feel like for a while it was a joke; I couldn’t finish a race here,”
adding,
“My first six years, I couldn’t finish the race, but I was always in the mix. I think it’s kind of finally tipped the other way.”
Mastering drafting and speedway dynamics
Byron’s strength lies in his proficiency at drafting and navigating tightly packed racing conditions typical of Daytona and similar high-speed tracks. His five career victories at drafting-heavy tracks, including two wins at Atlanta and three at Daytona — the summer race in 2020 among them — highlight his growing expertise. He credits Talladega as a turning point in his drafting skill, where consistent top-five finishes helped him refine his approach and build confidence that translated well to Daytona.
Byron explained,
“I feel like we’ve had some things go our way, and then we’ve been good at the speedways. Really, it started at Talladega. I think we were better at Talladega for a while,”
noting,
“We weren’t finishing at Daytona, and once we figured out a way to finish the races at Daytona, it seemed like it started to go the other way.”
He remains humble about his skill level, stating,
“You just try to do the best job you can, learning the little nuances of the draft. I don’t think I’m the best at drafting at the moment. I think there’s still more to learn.”
Rick Hendrick praises Byron’s talents beyond luck
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, whose team holds the NASCAR record with 20 Daytona 500 wins, insists Byron’s success isn’t mostly luck-based. Hendrick underscored Byron’s steady career progress, citing his three consecutive championship bids and 16 overall victories in the No. 24 Chevrolet as evidence of his skill and maturity as a racer.
“I don’t know if you can really luck into it. You’ve got to put yourself in position to do it,”
Hendrick remarked. He added,
“William is probably underestimated as a plate racer; he’s one of the best out there. If you watch his way through traffic and the success he’s had, not just because he’s won the two Daytona’s back-to-back, because he’s been up there, he’s just getting more mature — not mature — more seasoned.”
Kyle Busch seeks to break prolonged Daytona 500 drought from the pole
Kyle Busch headlines the Daytona 500 starting lineup from the pole position for the first time in his 21 attempts at the race, despite holding a winless streak stretching 93 races since 2023. His long drought at Daytona, now standing at 0 for 20, is the lengthiest among active drivers competing this season. This marks a frustrating chapter for the two-time NASCAR Cup champion who has amassed 63 victories over his career.
Busch’s 10-year-old son Brexton, an aspiring racer, watched his father earn the pole from their infield motorhome and expressed intense excitement throughout. Busch shared the personal motivation he draws from his son, stating,
“It’s been a rough stretch. It’s no secret, right? Seeing my son and his passion that he has, he really, really is probably my biggest cheerleader,”
further adding,
“He wants to see me run well. He wants to see me win races. He wants to celebrate in victory lane like he sees other drivers’ kids being able to do. So there’s nothing more that drives me every single weekend than seeing him see me, be proud of me.”
Busch’s pole-winning effort coincides with Richard Childress Racing’s ongoing attempt to restore its championship form, which has faced inconsistency since the death of Dale Earnhardt in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. Earnhardt, a legendary six-time NASCAR champion, holds six Daytona 500 victories for Childress. Notably, no driver has ever won the prestigious race within their first 20 tries, with Earnhardt achieving his first win in his 21st attempt in 1998.
Reflecting on his opportunities, Busch said,
“It’s a box we’ve got to check,”
emphasizing,
“This is an opportunity to be able to do that. I’ve come down here a lot of years. I think I finished in about every position possible. It would be nice to (open) 2026 with a victory here in the Daytona 500.”
Denny Hamlin aims for record-tying fourth Daytona 500 victory
While Hamlin fell short of capturing three consecutive Daytona 500 victories, he remains focused on other historic milestones. A win at this year’s event would be his fourth, drawing him level with Cale Yarborough for the second-most Daytona 500 wins. The only driver with more victories is NASCAR legend Richard Petty, who claimed the event seven times and is also a seven-time series champion.
Hamlin remarked on the prestige associated with winning the Daytona 500 multiple times, stating,
“Every win that you get here puts you in a certain list,”
and added,
“The list is so small at that four number, it certainly was on my mind on the last lap last year when we were leading, that we are going to get another one. I feel as though the opportunity will be there, and hopefully we can put ourselves in position to move ourselves up that Daytona 500 winners board.”
Brad Keselowski battles injury to compete in Daytona 500
Brad Keselowski faces significant challenges as he enters his 16th attempt to claim a Daytona 500 victory, with an ongoing winless record for the event. His efforts have been hampered by a broken right leg sustained during a December family ski trip. The injury forced Keselowski to miss the recent preseason exhibition race, yet he arrived at Daytona pushing his recovery to participate in the points-paying season opener.
Discussing his condition, Keselowski said,
“When I’m in the car, I know I’ve got an injury, don’t get me wrong, but I feel the best in the car,”
and noted,
“The seat is molded to me really well and you get a little adrenaline flowing, so I felt pretty good.”
Having raced while injured before, Keselowski compared this injury to past experiences, emphasizing the severity of his current recovery timeline.
“This is way more serious. When I broke my ankle that sucked. Don’t get me wrong, it was very painful, but in a couple weeks, I was fairly mobile,”
he explained, continuing,
“This is a much more significant injury, unfortunately. It’s hard to explain to people that have never broken their femur before what it’s like.”
He added,
“A normal broken leg is eight to 12 weeks. This is more like six months, so it’s just totally different.”
Other notable competitors and race dynamics
Joey Logano and Chase Elliott emerged as strong competitors by winning their respective qualifying races earlier in the week, signaling their potential as frontrunners in the Daytona 500. The last driver to win the race from the pole position was Dale Jarrett back in 2000. Adding a unique dynamic to the field, veteran Jimmie Johnson, 50, and rookie Connor Zilisch, 19, will start side-by-side in row 16, blending experience and youth on the track.
Logano, alongside his Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, enters the race as the betting favorites at odds of plus-1200, highlighting them as major contenders to watch in the upcoming event.
Looking ahead to a dramatic Daytona 500 showdown
William Byron’s historic attempt to become NASCAR’s first three-time consecutive Daytona 500 champion underscores the intense competition and unpredictability that make this race an enduring spectacle. Despite setbacks and starting near the back of the pack in a backup car, Byron’s demonstrated skill and tactical racing shine as he pursues a feat unmatched in the event’s long history.
Kyle Busch’s quest to end an extensive winless streak and Denny Hamlin’s pursuit of a record-tying fourth victory add further drama to a field packed with talent and determination. Meanwhile, Brad Keselowski’s perseverance through injury exemplifies the resilience demanded by NASCAR’s grueling schedule.
As Daytona Beach prepares to host the season’s premier race, fans anticipate a clash of skill, strategy, and chance that could reshape the record books and deepen the legacies of the sport’s top drivers.
