The starting grid for NASCAR’s biggest race will be decided tonight during the NASCAR America 250 Florida Duel races at Daytona International Speedway. The results of the two 60-lap, 150-mile races will fill the field for the Daytona 500, which is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15.
Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe earned front-row starting positions during single-car qualifying on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and they lead the field in tonight’s Duels. William Byron is seeking his third consecutive Daytona 500 win.
We will have live leaderboard updates and highlights throughout, so please remember to refresh.
Complete 2026 Daytona 500 Starting Grid
Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe will start the Daytona 500 in the lead row after having the fastest lap times on Friday. Joey Logano and Chase Elliott will be in the second row after winning Duel 1 and Duel 2, respectively, on Thursday.
William Byron, who has won the last two Daytona 500s, will start in the second row from the back. Chandler Smith, Corey LaJoie, B. J. McLeod and J. J. Yeley did not qualify for the race.
The Daytona 500 will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and will be broadcast on Fox.
Here is the full starting grid for this year’s race.
Elliott holds on to win Duel 2
Despite brief pushes from Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott held them off to win Duel 2. Unlike the crash-filled finish to Duel 1, this duel never went to a caution. This is Elliott’s third duel win in his career. He will look for his first Daytona 500 win on Sunday.
Elliott was followed by Hocevar, Larson, Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell.
Field reorganizes again following more pit stops
Chase Elliott has made his way back toward the front, as Chase Briscoe has fallen over 15 seconds behind after not pulling into his box far enough during his pit stop. Briscoe will still start in the front row on Sunday, but his chance at points today is likely over. Three laps remain.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
Top of field pits, causing momentary shakeup
Several cars that led this race have begun to pit for their lone moment of Duel 2. After 46 laps, Connor Zilisch is in front.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
Chase Briscoe continues to dominate Duel 2 at midway point
Chase Briscoe has led all 30 laps of Duel 2, as the top of the leaderboard remains fairly stagnant. Hamlin, Elliott and Larson continue to trail Briscoe at the front of the pack. Each car will need to pit once before the 60-lap race ends.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
Front of pack remains unchanged through 10 laps
Despite already sealing the No. 2 starting position for the Daytona 500, Chase Briscoe remains near the front of the pack. So do Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
How the starting grid looks after Duel 1
Here’s how the starting grid looks following Joey Logano’s win in Duel 1.
Joey Logano wins Duel 1 as an overtime crash occurs
Overtime brought another crash, as Corey LaJoie wrecked on the final lap. As a result, LaJoie will not be in the race, but Casey Mears, who was at the back of the field, will be in Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Joey Logano won the duel as a caution flag on the final lap ended the race. Ryan Blaney came in second, Austin Dillon placed third, John Hunter Nemechek was fourth and Brad Keselowski was fifth.
Large wreck occurs near end of race
As Bubba Wallace, who won Duel 1 last year, made a push toward the top of the grid, a multicar accident occurred. Wallace was rear-ended by Austin Dillon, and Wallace, Chris Buescher, William Byron and Chandler Smith wrecked. Two laps remain after the caution.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
Casey Mears and Noah Gragson collide with less than 20 laps left
With this race 75% finished, we had not yet seen a crash. As several cars entered pit road for their lone pit stop of the night, the back of Casey Mears’s car hit Noah Gragson’s on their way to pit road. The duel is now under caution with 13 laps to go.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
1. 8, Kyle Busch
2. 19, Chase Briscoe
3. 41, Cole Custer
4. TBD
5. 48, Alex Bowman
6. TBD
7. 3, Austin Dillon
8. TBD
9. 23, Bubba Wallace
10. TBD
Preece stays ahead halfway through Duel 1
After 30 laps, Ryan Preece remains in first place. The top of the leaderboard stays true to where it was through a fourth of the race.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
1. 8, Kyle Busch
2. 19, Chase Briscoe
3. 60, Ryan Preece
4. TBD
5. 17, Chris Buescher
6. TBD
7. 99, Corey LaJoie
8. TBD
9. 6, Brad Keselowski
10. TBD
Preece holds field off at start
While Austin Dillon and John Hunter Nemechek made an early push toward the front of the pack, Ryan Preece remains atop the leaderboard in Duel 1. He’s in first place through 14 laps.
Top 10 qualifying leaderboard
NASCAR Daytona 500 Duel 1 starting grid lineup 2026
(with starting position, car number, driver)
NASCAR Daytona Duel 2 starting grid lineup 2026
(with starting position, car number, driver)
When is the NASCAR Duels at Daytona today, Feb. 12, 2026? Start time for NASCAR America 250 Florida Duel races at Daytona tonight, Feb. 12
Duel 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 12; Duel 2 is scheduled for approximately 8:45 p.m.
What channel are the NASCAR Duels at Daytona today, Feb. 12? Where to watch 250 Florida Duel races at Daytona tonight, Feb. 12
TV: FS1
Watch NASCAR races with a free Fubo trial
Where to stream the NASCAR Duels at Daytona today, Feb. 12, 2026? Where to watch 250 Florida Duel races at Daytona tonight, Feb. 12
Stream NASCAR races on Sling
Where to listen to the NASCAR Duels at Daytona on tonight, Feb. 12, 2026? Where to listen to 250 Florida Duel races at Daytona tonight
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
NASCAR Daytona 500 weekend schedule 2026: What time does the NASCAR Daytona 500 start? Start time for the 2026 Daytona 500 tonight
The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Here is the schedule for the full weekend.
NASCAR Daytona 500 weather forecast 2026. Daytona Beach weather today
Tonight’s qualifying session will include clouds and fog late with a high of 64 and low of 52, per AccuWeather.
Sunday’s race features a 55% chance of thunderstorms with a high of 79 and low of 62, per AccuWeather. Here is the full weekend forecast.
How does single-car qualifying establish the NASCAR Duels lineup?
Drivers who place first, third, fifth, etc., make up the Duel 1 lineup; drivers who place second, fourth, sixth, etc., make up the Duel 2 lineup.
How do the NASCAR Duels set the NASCAR Daytona 500 lineup?
The finishing order from Duel 1 will establish the inside driver for each row in the Daytona 500. The finishing order from Duel will establish the outside driver for each row in the Daytona 500. The top 10 finishers in each Duel earn regular-season points.
NASCAR Cup drivers 2026
(with team, car number and driver)
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motorsports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2026 Daytona 500 Duels qualifying leaderboard results. NASCAR race highlights today
Reporting by Chris Sims, Scott Horner, Zion Brown and Aaron Ferguson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
