WILLIAM BYRON AT DAYTONA IN 2025 – TEAM CHEVY PHOTO
NASCAR will step onto its biggest stage at the “World Center of
Racing”, Daytona International Speedway, this week to officially wave
the green flag on the 2026 season.
The infamous Daytona Speedweek will once again feature five days of
on-track action for NASCAR’s three national touring series – kicking
off Wednesday evening under the lights with the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
qualifying session as 21 Team Chevy drivers compete for the coveted pole
position of the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500, followed by
Thursday’s pair of Duels to complete the lineup for Sunday’s crown
jewel event.
Friday marks the first of three days of points-paying racing action at
the 2.5-mile Florida superspeedway, starting with the NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series (NCTS) season opener – a race that will also feature a
handful of Team Chevy NCS regulars including past DAYTONA 500 champions,
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell, and one of the sport’s
rising stars, Carson Hocevar. Chevrolet will then begin its journey
towards a title-defending season in NASCAR’s top-two divisions with
the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) taking its turn on
Saturday and NASCAR’s premier series culminating the weekend with the
“Great American Race” where Team Chevy will have its sights set on a
fourth-straight Harley J. Earl trophy.
Decorated Daytona History
Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to sweep wins across all three series
in NASCAR’s season-opening weekend at Daytona International Speedway
more than once (2018, 2024). In the NOAPS, Richard Childress Racing has
earned the past four victories in the season-opening event – most
recently by the series’ reigning champion, Jesse Love, to kickstart a
sophomore campaign that turned into a title-earning season.
Chevrolet’s most recent trip to victory lane at Daytona International
Speedway in the NCTS came in Feb. 2024 when Nick Sanchez and the No. 2
Rev Racing Chevrolet team earned the Bowtie brand its milestone 100th
all-time points-paying NASCAR win at the “World Center of Racing”.
WILLIAM BYRON ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY
A trip to Daytona International Speedway in Aug. 2020 made a lasting
mark in William Byron’s racing career with the Charlotte, North
Carolina, native becoming a first-time winner in NASCAR’s top
division. Fast forward to today, the 28-year-old Team Chevy driver will
return to the “World Center of Racing” with the opportunity to make
history as the first driver in NASCAR history to earn three-straight
DAYTONA 500 titles.
One year ago, Byron found himself in the ninth position on the final lap
and what would seem like an unfavorable position for a shot at another
DAYTONA 500 victory. But in true Daytona fashion, a last-lap wreck
ensued, allowing Byron to navigate his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet through the chaos to the top of the leaderboard to take home
the Harley J. Earl trophy for the second-straight season – further
etching his name into the record books as just the fifth driver in
history to win consecutive DAYTONA 500 titles.
JRM, ALLGAIER READY TO RUN IT BACK
After making a monstrous splash in their NCS debut one year ago, JR
Motorsports is back for their second attempt at securing a starting
position for the DAYTONA 500 – fielding the No. 40 Chevrolet with Team
Chevy veteran driver Justin Allgaier. In the organization’s one and
only start at NASCAR’s highest level, the 39-year-old Riverton,
Illinois, native not only raced his way into the “Great American
Race”, but took the checkered flag in NASCAR’s biggest race with a
ninth-place finish. JR Motorsports’ return to the series comes after a
record season in the NOAPS that saw the organization earn its milestone
100th all-time victory (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) and 17 wins.
Allgaier, JR Motorsports’ winningest driver, powered his No. 7
Chevrolet to three wins in 2025 to earn the ninth position on the
series’ all-time wins list.
BUILDING OFF A RECORD SEASON
One year ago at the “World Center of Racing”, Richard Childress
Racing’s Jesse Love took Chevrolet to victory lane to kickstart what
culminated into a record-breaking season for the Bowtie brand in the
NOAPS. Chevrolet made 26 trips to victory lane throughout the series’
33-race schedule, making it the winningest season by a single
manufacturer in series history. Throughout the already monumental
season, two of Chevrolet’s long-time team partners, Richard Childress
Racing and JR Motorsports, earned their milestone 100th all-time win;
Connor Zilisch turned in a history-making rookie campaign with 10 wins;
Chevrolet swept the Championship Four for the second time in history;
and Love became a first-time champion in the NASCAR national ranks. With
the bar already set high, Chevrolet is setting up to have yet another
strong campaign in the division with a stout driver lineup that includes
both veterans and some of the sport’s rising stars.
Climbing the Ranks
A pair of Rev Racing graduates have inked their first full-time
contracts in the NOAPS this season. Two-time NCTS Most Popular Driver,
Rajah Caruth, is slated to step up into the NOAPS for his rookie
campaign – competing in a unique split schedule between the No. 88 JR
Motorsports Chevrolet and the No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet.
The 23-year-old Atlanta, Georgia, native is coming off his third
full-time season in the NCTS – a stint that saw the Team Chevy driver
make the playoffs for back-to-back seasons. Caruth has made a handful of
NOAPS starts throughout his young career with a pair of best finishes of
12th – both coming at Martinsville Speedway.
Eckes Back for Redemption
After a one-year stint in the NOAPS, Christian Eckes will return to
familiar territory at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing as the pairing has their
sights set on their first NCTS championship. In their sophomore campaign
together in 2024, the 25-year-old Middletown, New York, native proved to
be a title contender all season long – earning an impressive 21-straight
top-10s, including 12 podium finishes.
Doing the Daytona Double
A trio of Team Chevy NCS regulars will also hit the high banks of
Daytona International Speedway behind the wheel of a Silverado RST this
weekend, including Spire Motorsports teammates, Carson Hocevar and
Michael McDowell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Prior to making the jump into NASCAR’s premier series, Carson Hocevar
spent three full-time seasons in the NCTS with Niece Motorsports. The
23-year-old Portage, Michigan, native is a five-time winner in the
division, with his most recent coming just last season at Kansas
Speedway in a Spire Motorsports entry. Hocevar’s start in Friday’s
season-opener will mark his first of eight appearances behind the wheel
of the No. 77 Silverado RST this season as the driver will play a
pivotal role in the team’s run at the owner’s championship title.
Earning his first career NCS win on the sport’s biggest stage, the
2021 DAYTONA 500 champion, Michael McDowell, will complete the two-truck
lineup for Spire Motorsports – marking just his fifth career start in
the division.
While a veteran of the sport, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is on the horizon of a
‘first’ this weekend as the 38-year-old Olive Branch, Mississippi,
native is set to make his first career NCTS start. There’s no better
place for Stenhouse Jr. to make his series’ debut than the “World
Center of Racing”. The Team Chevy driver is a two-time Daytona winner
at NASCAR’s highest level, including the 2023 DAYTONA 500
QUOTABLE QUOTES:
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
What would it mean to you to be able to get that crown jewel of the
Daytona 500?
“Yeah, it’d be beyond words that I can really put out right now. And I
can usually ramble about anything, but I don’t know what that would feel
like. I mean, until I do it, and what I’ve learned through winning a
couple of races now in the Cup Series is that first one was worth it. It
was worth all of the sacrifice. If I never raced again, it was an
accomplishment that I never thought I would get to, but that I had
worked a long time to achieve. To win the Daytona 500 and the Harley J.
Earl trophy, and having learned about the history, knowing what the
France family has built over several generations, coming from the beach
and building a superspeedway a couple miles from the coast it would be
incredible. All of the greats that have competed at Daytona. Some of
them have won, a lot of them have lost, and they’ve all lost a lot more
than they’ve won. So I don’t know what it’ll feel like, but I’m excited
to find out one day, and I’ll work a long time to try to make that
happen.”
For somebody that’s never been behind the wheel of a Cup car, the
superspeedways are such a different animal than any other racetrack.
What is the mentality that you have to have to battle for multiple hours
at 200 miles per hour, inches away from each other, knowing that there
is going to be a big crash and you just have to do your best to not be
there when it happens?
“Daytona and superspeedways, are the easiest tracks to drive by
myself. Qualifying is not challenging. I hold it wide open. I can hold
it wide open until I run out of gas. They can come put gas in my car and
I can go back out and do it again on the same tires and be fine. You put
all the competitors out there and it is challenging. The draft that we
have, the car that qualifies on the pole could be in last on the first
lap, just the way the draft works. If they go to the very top, they’ll
get passed by everybody. So it definitely is challenging when
everybody’s out there. And then, like you said, trying to navigate the
wrecks. I’ve finished 40th in this race twice. I don’t want to do that
again.”
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
How excited are you to get to Daytona and to try and win another Daytona
500?
“I can’t wait to get to Daytona. Daytona always presents different
opportunities, and the most important one is the opportunity to become a
Daytona 500 Champion. I’d love to become a two-time champion of the
race. It’s so much fun driving through the tunnel and knowing the
history behind the track as you arrive, and to know you have an
opportunity to put your name on the Harley J. Earl Trophy.”
You’re the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion. Talk about Daytona International
Speedway. RCR is always a force there. Talk about your chemistry with
your teammate, Kyle Busch, at Daytona.
“I remember our first race together in the No. 3 and the No. 8. We
won the Daytona 500, but we didn’t win the Daytona 501 or 502 or
whatever the race ended up being once it went into overtime. We were
first coming to the white flag, so that would have been an epic start to
Kyle’s career at RCR if we could have won the Daytona 500 for RCR.
Still, he won three races that year. We’ve done a good job at RCR
having fast racecars at Daytona International Speedway. I guess we’re
pretty good at drafting, and that’s what you can attribute our success
to. I’m looking forward to the new style body on our Chevrolets”.
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
What would it take to be a Daytona 500 winner? And what would it mean to
you?
“I wouldn’t know what it takes to be a Daytona 500 winner; I have
never done it before. I’ve been oh so close, so many times. I’ve
finished second, third, fourth, whatever, you name it, I have probably
finished there. I remember in 2023, I think it was, myself and Austin
Dillon, teammates at RCR, we were 1-2 coming down to the final laps, and
of course coming out of turn four, I can see the flagman with the white
flag in his hand. And as I get closer to the start finish line to take
the white flag, he switches hands and throws the yellow as someone
behind us spun out. Had to go into overtime, and I just wasn’t able to
make it happen through overtime. But I have been right there. I have led
the Daytona 500; it just turned into the Daytona 515 or whatever.
It would be huge. I’ve been trying for so long to win that race,
it’s the one race I haven’t checked off the box. I’ve been oh so
close, many, many times. I’ve finished second, third, fourth. I’ve
about accomplished every single finishing position in that race and so
it would be nice to check off the number one spot.”
, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
“The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year, and it’s so
unique. I know we all say that a lot, but there’s so much that builds
up to it with all the hard work the team puts in during the off-season.
Driving into Daytona International Speedway still gives me chills. All
the pre-race ceremonies and standing by the car—to this day—it’s
emotional. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be part of the
Daytona 500.
We’re happy CELSIUS is back. It’s been an honor to see how CELSIUS
has grown over the years. It’s cool for me because I’ve been able to
see their growth firsthand. I remember walking into the Kaulig Racing
shop back in 2019 and just seeing CELSIUS coolers. To be quite honest,
I’d never seen it before. Now, they’re not just a North American
product, but a global product. They went from supplying us with product
to being on the race car.”
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet
“I am definitely excited about Daytona, and honestly all of the
superspeedways were really strong points races for our team last year
and we had some really good runs, close to a few wins! It’s exciting
to get our first race at Daytona underway, and with it being a Crown
Jewel race, everyone wants to try and get the Harley J. Earl trophy in
their trophy case.”
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“There’s a lot of excitement around Daytona; we’ve had a lot of
good runs there the last couple of years. Being a Crown Jewel event, the
one that kicks off our season, it’s a big deal. At the same time, it
is just another race and having a solid run would be a great way to kick
off the season. We have a lot of new faces on the 48 team, most of them
have worked together in the past and I’m excited to get to work with
everyone.”
Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
You’re back at Daytona for your third consecutive Speedweek with Beard
Motorsports, and you’ll be looking to make your sixth Cup Series start
with the team. What’s your mindset and that of the team as you head to
track this week?
“We are as focused as ever on making the Daytona 500 this year.
Honestly, I have a lot of confidence because, back in 2024, not only did
we time our way into race in qualifying, we were the fastest open car
overall. Everybody at Beard Motorsports has been putting in the effort
they always do and, honestly, missing the Daytona 500 last year was
obviously a huge disappointment, but I think it motivated us to excel at
the two Talladega races we did, where we led a lot of laps, making our
rocket ship a lot faster and giving us something to build on as we go
back to Daytona this year.”
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
It’s been five years since your first win at Daytona. How can you pick
up your second win in the Daytona 500?
“Five years is a long time. There’s nothing cooler than winning the
Daytona 500, except for maybe winning it twice. I don’t know, but that’s
the goal. The goal is to have a shot, put ourselves in position to be
there on the last lap, but nothing has really changed. Everybody goes
down to Daytona with the same goal: it is not to score points, and it’s
not to run good. It’s to try to win the Daytona 500.
I felt like we
had great speed last year on superspeedway tracks. We sat on the pole at
Talladega in the fall, and we are going to bring the same car back for
Daytona. So, hopeful with this new Chevy body, we can put it on the
front row for the Daytona 500 and make for an exciting weekend.”
You’ve been vocal about your goal to win in all three series. What do
you need to do to make that happen on Friday?
“The truck race is going to be fun. I was super nervous going into
last year, not racing a truck on a superspeedway, and I had not been in
a truck for over 10 years. I feel much more confident now, just knowing
the shift points, getting through the gears, how the trucks race, and
how they draft. We weren’t able to get where we wanted to last year, but
we were in that front pack when we all crashed”
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Describe your change in your mindset between last year’s Daytona 500
and Atlanta the very next week.
“Well we had a fuel pump issue in the 500 last year, and never really
got to race. So when we got to Atlanta, I didn’t want to ride around
for another 267 laps just to have something go wrong. So we went full
offense at the rest of the superspeedways, and didn’t finish outside
the top 10 in any of them. I think it’s worked out pretty well so far,
and we are prepped and ready for the Daytona 500.”
Talk about the Spectrum partnership and how it is a full-circle moment
for you and your family.
“I think my dad is somehow even more excited for it than I am! He
feels he is a part of it. He did a trade deal with the with Charter to
get the coin and jewelry store some commercials, and in turn they got to
be on my quarter midget and eventually my Late Model. With Spectrum, it
is almost like him putting his own logo on the car for the Daytona 500.
I just think the coolest thing is seeing how excited he is and to get to
be there to watch it.”
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97
Last year was your first DAYTONA 500, what did you take away from the
experience?
“I enjoyed it last year. The race buildup is epic, like how much
everyone is in to it, seeing the stands full, it’s an amazing racetrack.
The race didn’t go very well for us last year; we got crashed early and
limped around the rest of the race. So, hopefully
we can have a bit of a better result this year. As an event, it’s
different to open the season with the biggest race of the year but it’s
a pretty cool way to start as well! I’m looking forward to it.”
What is it like racing on a big stage like the DAYTONA 500?
“I’ve done a few big races, like a Bathurst 1000 and Le Man 24, I’ve
been lucky enough to do those races. You get that vibe and buzz on the
pre-race grid; all the drivers and teams are nervous but then the crowd
is super excited. It’s a real mix
of energy, it’s so cool to soak in these moments and to have the
privilege of being a part of something so big like the DAYTONA 500.
There is nothing like it.”
How much confidence does last year give you heading into the 2026
season?
“It gives me a bit – just got to keep building. I felt like we ended
last year really strongly, we had a really good upward trajectory on the
ovals – our road courses were really strong. We just have to keep that
momentum going. We have great continuity on
the team, everyone on the 97 team are the same guys from the 88 team
last year, I think we are in a really good spot to keep building up.”
Are you still enjoying the challenge of NASCAR?
“It’s been so fun! It’s been good to have a fresh challenge, but also
every week is something different, still learning something new. It’s
been a lot of fun and a good change for me. The group of guys and girls
I have on my car are really fun people to go
to the racetrack with every weekend. I’m really enjoying it and looking
forward to seeing what we can accomplish this season. I’m excited!”
Austin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
What is your mindset heading into Daytona International Speedway?
“I’m in a really good spot mentally for this season. The No. 21 team
has spent a lot of time together preparing and figuring out what we need
to be a little bit better. We have some good ideas on things to touch up
on. It doesn’t need a full rebuild, it doesn’t need to be anything
special. It’s simply being a little better in certain areas and if we
do that, this team can win the championship this year. I have all the
confidence in Chad (Haney, crew chief) and my entire group of guys. I
think 2026 will be a good one for us. We know RCR can win championships
– that was proven again last year with Jesse (Love) and the No. 2 team
– and it would be special to bring Richard (Childress) and all the men
and women in Welcome a title two years in a row.”
How will the new Chase format change the overall outlook for the 2026 season?
“This year is going to be different that’s for sure. You will have
to be consistent each and every week. You can’t have a bad week and
run 20th or worse. The goal has to be a top-five finish each race. Wins
still matter, with the points increasing, but it’s a different mindset
than win and you’re in. You still want to go win races and earn stage
points; those will add up and matter. I think you can go run second,
third, fourth, or fifth during the Chase and have a shot at winning the
championship. You need to get the best position for any given day and
maximize what the car has to offer.
If it’s a third, take your
third-place finish and move on to the next week. It’s better than
ending up on the hook and finishing 30th or worse. I could be wrong
saying this, but I think this format and the way that you have to be
consistent each week fits into the No. 21 team’s wheelhouse. I feel
really strong about our chances going into this season.”
Your record at Daytona International Speedway speaks for itself. What
does it mean to have the target on your back when you go to one of the
biggest races of the year?
“I actually have a lot of fun with it. Everyone talks about pressure
and questions if the pressure is going to get to you. But for me, I just
go into Daytona weekends with the same mindset that I always do. We try
to run up front, do our thing, stay out of wrecks, and hope that it’s
enough at the end.
Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet has
been fortunate year after year in the season openers, so hopefully we
can do it again this year. Everyone at RCR and ECR Engines works
extremely hard to bring fast racecars and strong motors to every race,
but especially at drafting tracks. Our cars are always fast and up front
in qualifying which lets the rest of the competition know that you have
a car capable of winning. Once the race starts and drafting begins
though, anyone in the field can win at a place like Daytona. Where the
No. 2 and No. 21 teams shine is making the moves at the right time.”
Talk about your relationship with spotter, Derek Kneeland.
“My spotter, Derek Kneeland, and I have built a great relationship
over the years. This will be our fifth season working together. I know
when he keys up on the radio, I need to move left, right, or there is a
run coming. I know it a split-second sooner than he starts speaking, so
I start moving immediately.
Every second, every hundred of a second
matters, especially when you are talking about a place like Daytona or
Talladega. That’s one of the reasons why we are so good, because we
are one step ahead of the competition. I trust him fully and don’t
second guess anything he says. Not sure I could have won 10 races at
drafting tracks without him.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics
Manufacturer Championships:
Total (1949-2025): 44
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)
Most recent: 2025
Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978,
1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993,
1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Driver Championships:
Total (1949-2025): 34
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)
Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29
Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985,
1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025
Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)
CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 881 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 766
Laps led to date: 256,734
Top-fives to date: 4,436
Top-10s to date: 9,151
Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:
General Motors: 1,215
Chevrolet: 881
Pontiac: 154
Oldsmobile: 115
Buick: 65
Ford: 847
Ford: 747
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
Dodge: 217
Plymouth: 191
Chrysler: 59
Toyota: 203