Ryan Preece captured the Daytona 500, marking his first NASCAR Cup Series victory on his 249th career start and securing the 16th seed in the 2026 Chase for the Championship.
Daytona Clips Preece into the Chase
The chaotic finish at Daytona saw Preece surmount a late‑race swing to claim the win, filling the last spot in the sixteen‑driver playoff field that will battle over ten races for the title.
Top Seeds Locked In After the 500
Joe Gibbs Racing dominates the top corner of the reset standings with five seats, including Denny Hamlin at 2,100 points, Tyler Reddick at 2,065, Ty Gibbs at 2,060, Chase Briscoe at 2,055, and Christopher Bell at 2,050. Team Penske also commands a presence with Ryan Blaney (2,075 pts) and Joey Logano (2,035 pts), while Hendrick Motorsports fans can root for Chase Elliott (2,045 pts), Kyle Larson (2,040 pts), and William Byron (2,015 pts).
Key Team Representation
RFK Racing and Spire Motorsports each add depth to the field: Chris Buescher stands at 2,030 points, Daniel Suarez on 2,025 and Carson Hočevar at 2,020. 23XI Racing provides Bubba Wallace with 2,010 points and Austin Cindric with 2,005.
Complete 2026 Chase Grid
- 1. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing – 2,100 pts
- 2. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske – 2,075 pts
- 3. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing – 2,065 pts
- 4. Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing – 2,060 pts
- 5. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing – 2,055 pts
- 6. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing – 2,050 pts
- 7. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports – 2,045 pts
- 8. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports – 2,040 pts
- 9. Joey Logano – Team Penske – 2,035 pts
- 10. Chris Buescher – RFK Racing – 2,030 pts
- 11. Daniel Suarez – Spire Motorsports – 2,025 pts
- 12. Carson Hočevar – Spire Motorsports – 2,020 pts
- 13. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports – 2,015 pts
- 14. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing – 2,010 pts
- 15. Austin Cindric – Team Penske – 2,005 pts
- 16. Ryan Preece – RFK Racing – 2,000 pts
Future Landscape of the Chase
With the field locked in, the final stretch of the season will test the resilience of the top teams and the whether newcomers like Preece can disrupt the usual dominance of established powerhouses. The series will now head into the red‑shirt window, where strategic gambits and tire selections will shape the final ten races that decide the champion.
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