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NASCAR will open its 2026 season at Daytona International Speedway with strong participation across all four national divisions. Officials confirmed a combined 181 entries for the Speedweeks races, including the Daytona 500, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opener, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener, and the ARCA Menards Series event.
The large entry list points to a busy start to the year as teams begin their championship runs on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Daytona remains one of the most important stops on the schedule and often sets the tone for the season ahead. The event will feature past champions, former race winners, and new drivers chasing early results.
According to a report by Nick DeGroot of Motorsport.com, all four divisions will officially begin their 2026 campaigns during Daytona Speedweeks, creating a packed weekend of on-track action.
2026 Daytona 500 Draws Deep Field
The 68th running of the Daytona 500 has 45 entries, but Cup Series drivers are not the only ones on track during the week. Daytona will also host the season openers for the Craftsman Truck Series, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and the ARCA Menards Series.
The Daytona 500 entry list includes eight former winners of the race and seven NASCAR Cup Series champions. Eight open entries will compete for the final four starting positions. Jimmie Johnson will appear in a ninth open entry and use an Open Exemption Provisional, ensuring that 41 cars will start the race.
Confirmed drivers include Ross Chastain for Trackhouse Racing, Austin Cindric for Team Penske, Kyle Larson for Hendrick Motorsports, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace. Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota all have strong representation in the field as teams prepare for qualifying.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Truck Series Open With Full Grids
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener has 42 drivers and teams entered, with 38 spots on the starting grid available. Carson Hocevar is the only NASCAR Cup Series driver entered in the race and is scheduled to compete in multiple events during the weekend.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series opener features 44 entries, with 36 trucks set to make the field. The race includes the return of Tony Stewart and the debut of the Kaulig Ram effort. Several full-time Cup Series drivers are also entered, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Michael McDowell, John-Hunter Nemechek, and Hocevar. NASCAR has also approved a provisional rule to ensure at least four Ram entries qualify for the race.
Both races provide teams an early opportunity to earn points and evaluate performance at the start of the season.
ARCA Field Leads the Weekend in Entries
The ARCA Menards Series will feature the largest field of the weekend with 50 entries, while 40 cars are scheduled to make the race.
The entry list includes drivers such as Travis Pastrana, Stewart Friesen, Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, and Corey LaJoie. The race offers a national stage for young drivers while also giving experienced competitors a chance to start the season strong.
With more than 180 vehicles entered across four divisions, Daytona Speedweeks will place heavy demands on teams and officials. As reported by Motorsport.com, the combined entry total highlights the scale of the opening weekend as NASCAR launches its 2026 season at one of the sport’s most historic venues.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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