Austin Cindric, Team Penske's past Daytona 500 champion, was fastest in the first practice for the 2026 Daytona 500.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Austin Cindric, Team Penske's past Daytona 500 champion, was fastest in the first practice for the 2026 Daytona 500.
Cindric ran around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway in 48.025 seconds Wednesday, about a tenth faster than Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain.
RFK Racing's Corey LaJoie timed in third – best of the eight open cars vying for four available spots in the Daytona 500. 23XI Racing's Corey Heim, who is also in an open car, was eighth-fastest.
The top 12 drivers clocked in their fastest lap in the draft. 2025 Daytona 500 pole winner Chase Briscoe clocked in the fastest, non-draft lap, running around the 2.5-mile track in 48.815 seconds.
Open drivers Justin Allgaier, Anthony Alfredo, Chandler Smith, BJ McLeod, Casey Mears and JJ Yeley were 19th, 26th, 35th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd on the speed chart.
Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland did not turn a lap in practice.
All 45 drivers will take to the high banks of Daytona on Wednesday night for qualifying, set for 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1. Qualifying will determine who starts on the front row – first and second – for the Daytona 500 and the first two open drivers who will make the race.
Then, Thursday night, two 60-lap Duel races will set the rest of the lineup for the Daytona 500, including the other two open drivers who will make the race.
Another practice for the Daytona 500 is set for Friday at 5:35 p.m. Then, final practice is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. The sessions will air live on FS1.
The Daytona 500 is set to go green Sunday at around 3 p.m. ET on FOX, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
William Byron has won the last two Daytona 500s and is trying to become the first driver to win three in a row. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won in 2023 while Cindric won in 2022, the first Daytona 500 with the current NextGen car.
Every year, the race has taken place in front of a sold out crowd – and NASCAR announced Wednesday that this year will be no different, with a large purse to boot no less:
