DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 11, 2026) – Daytona International Speedway announced today that the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500 is officially sold out, with fans expected to pack the historic racing venue once again for NASCAR’s 2026 season opener along with featuring the largest purse in the event’s history – $31,045,575.
Year after year, The Great American Race reigns as one of the most anticipated events in the motorsport world, and starting today, fans can sign up for exclusive pre-sale access for infield camping and tickets to next year’s event to ensure they secure their seats in advance by visiting www.DAYTONA500.com.
“The DAYTONA 500 continues to be a national moment and cultural landmark woven into the fabric of American sport and identity,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “The demand for fans to experience NASCAR is at an all-time high and their continued support of the sport starts at DAYTONA. With drivers competing for another record purse of over $31 million in the 68th running of The Great American Race, the history books will be rewritten once again at The World Center of Racing.”
Last year, William Byron came out on top, earning his second straight DAYTONA 500 win. He crossed the finish line 0.113 seconds ahead of runner-up Tyler Reddick in overtime, becoming the first driver since Denny Hamlin in 2019 and 2020 to win the DAYTONA 500 consecutively. Byron now has the chance to become the first driver to secure three DAYTONA 500 wins in a row at the 68th running of The Great American Race.
Though grandstand tickets and camping are sold out for Sunday’s marquee event, limited upgrades and premium packages are still available. Fans can also catch plenty of the action during the multi-day racing and entertainment extravaganza that is Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth.
The competition begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying presented by Busch Light, setting the front row for The Great American Race. Qualifying also sets the field for a pair of head-to-head battles in the America 250 Florida Duel At DAYTONA on Thursday, Feb. 12, where drivers fight for their starting position in the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500.
The intensity increases on Friday, Feb. 13 as the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 takes the green flag under the lights of the famed track. Then on Saturday, Feb. 14, fans can enjoy a jam-packed day of on-track action with the kickoff to the ARCA Menards Series season with the General Tire 200 followed by the United Rentals 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
On Sunday, three-time GRAMMY-award winning country music star Miranda Lambert will kick things off as the pre-race performer before the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds soar above The World Center of Racing. Following the famed flyover, the nicest man in stand-up comedy, Nate Bargatze, will command the drivers to start their engines. Finally, acclaimed actor Kurt Russell will lead the field to the green flag to officially start the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
With all three national series kicking off their season at DAYTONA, each driver will be fighting to start their year with a win, putting everything on the line at one of the biggest races on the schedules. Fans can enjoy the fierce competition all week long, as well as multiple different entertainment performances, fan activations and race day festivities.
For ticket information on the DAYTONA 500, as well as all Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth events, log onto www.
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts such as Welcome to Rockville, sporting events including CLASH DAYTONA, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.
