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U.S. President Donald Trump is driven around the track prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The 2026 Daytona 500 ran on February 15 at Daytona International Speedway and opened the NASCAR Cup Series season with a fast and competitive race. The event marked the 68th running of NASCAR’s biggest race and featured tight pack racing, long green-flag stretches, and constant battles for the lead.
Tyler Reddick won for 23XI Racing with a last-lap move, finishing ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano.
According to official NASCAR race results, this edition stood out for its competitive balance, limited cautions, and dramatic finish.
Record Number of Different Leaders at Daytona 500
The race featured a record 26 different drivers leading at least one lap, the highest total in Daytona 500 history. The previous mark was 20, set in 2011. The number showed how often drivers rotated to the front and how evenly matched the field remained throughout the event.
The record reflects the intense drafting battles typical of superspeedway racing, as noted in the 2026 Daytona 500 race summary, which highlights the unusually high number of leaders.
One of the Highest Lead-Change Totals Ever
The 2026 Daytona 500 recorded 65 official lead changes, ranking among the highest totals in the race’s history. Only the 2011 Daytona 500 had more, with 74.
Most of the lead changes occurred under green-flag conditions as drivers used the draft to build runs and swap positions on the straightaways. Tight-pack racing kept the front unsettled for much of the afternoon, forcing drivers to rely on timing and positioning rather than a clear track advantage.
These numbers, confirmed on the official NASCAR page, underline how competitive the field remained from start to finish.
Only 5 Cautions Slowed the Race at Daytona International Speedway
Despite intense racing, the event had five caution periods for 32 total laps, tying the fewest cautions recorded in the Daytona 500 since 2005.
Several green-flag runs stretched beyond 50 laps, keeping speeds high and placing greater importance on fuel management, tire wear, and pit strategy. With fewer restarts, teams had fewer chances to regain lost track position after slipping back.
The caution totals and lap breakdown appear in the official Daytona 500 lap report, confirming the unusually long uninterrupted racing stretches.
Most of the Field Is Involved in Incidents
Even with the low caution count, crashes affected a large portion of the field. Thirty-seven of the 41 starting cars were involved in at least one incident during the race, one of the highest totals in recent Daytona 500 events.
A major multi-car crash late in Stage 2 damaged many front-running cars and reshaped the running order heading into the final segment. Several teams continued after repairs, but avoiding serious damage became critical to staying in contention near the finish.
Race coverage from the APNews.com Daytona 500 report detailed how the incidents impacted the field and the late-race fight for the win.
Final-Lap Pass Seals the Victory for Tyler Reddick
The race ended with a pass for the lead on the final lap, marking the 15th time in Daytona 500 history that the winner moved ahead on the closing circuit.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. led at the white flag, with Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick close behind. Reddick used the draft to build momentum on the backstretch, moved forward in the final turns, and crossed the finish line first.
The move secured his first Daytona 500 victory and decided the race in the closing seconds of the season opener, as confirmed in the official race recap.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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