NASCAR at Daytona 2026 Speedweeks: Essential Info & Schedule
NASCAR at Daytona: Essential Info for 2026 Speedweeks
Daytona Speedweeks 2026 kicks off the NASCAR season with high-stakes action across Cup Series, Trucks, ARCA, and O'Reilly Auto Parts at Daytona International Speedway. Bookmark this hub for evolving updates on schedules, live links, and results as the 68th Daytona 500 approaches on February 15, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET due to weather concerns[1][3].
Schedule Highlights and Viewing Guide
From Wednesday's Cup practice and qualifying on FS1, through Thursday's Duels, Friday's Truck qualifying, Saturday's ARCA and O'Reilly races on Fox and CW, to Sunday's marquee 200-lap Great American Race on Fox, MRN, and SiriusXM. Front row features Kyle Busch in No. 8 Chevrolet alongside Chase Briscoe in No. 19 Toyota, with William Byron chasing a historic three-peat[1][3][5].
Results and Key Moments to Watch
Expect stage points from Duels and the 500, dramatic four-wide battles, and potential rain delays. Miranda Lambert performs pre-race, Kurt Russell waves the green. Stay tuned post-event for full standings, penalties, and highlights as Speedweeks crowns early leaders[2][3][6].
About the People Mentioned
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, born May 2, 1985, in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a professional stock car racing driver renowned for his aggressive style and versatility across NASCAR's top series.[1][3] Nicknamed "Rowdy," he began racing go-karts at age six, won over 65 Legends car races from 1999-2001, and secured 10 Late Model victories in 2001 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring.[1][3] Busch debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004 with Hendrick Motorsports at his hometown Las Vegas track, earning multiple wins as a rookie in 2005 and becoming NASCAR's youngest pole winner that year at age 19.[1][3] He drove full-time for Hendrick from 2005-2007, then joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 in the No. 18 Toyota, where he claimed the 2009 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and Cup Series titles in 2015 and 2019—the first with a Toyota.[1][2][3] A two-time Cup champion, he holds 63 Cup wins entering 2024, plus victories in prestigious races like the Brickyard 400 (2015, 2016), Southern 500 (2008), and Coca-Cola 600 (2018).[1][3] He is one of six drivers with championships in both Cup and Xfinity, and the 14th to win in all three national series (Cup, Xfinity, Truck).[3][4] In 2023, Busch moved to Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet full-time, with his last Cup win that year at Gateway.[2][4] He owns Kyle Busch Motorsports, a Truck Series powerhouse with seven titles before selling it late 2023.[1][2] Busch swept all three series in one weekend twice (2010, 2017 at Bristol) and won two top-tier races the same day in 2009.[3][4] Residing near Lake Norman, North Carolina, with wife Samantha, son Brexton, daughter Lennix, and dog Piper, Busch remains a polarizing elite competitor as of 2024, finishing 20th in Cup standings that year.[1][2][4] (298 words)
William Byron
William Byron, born November 29, 1997, in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a professional stock car racer competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 24 Chevrolet.[1][2][3] He is renowned for his rapid ascent from virtual sim racing on iRacing—where he amassed over 100 wins before driving a real car at age 16—to becoming one of NASCAR's elite drivers.[1][3][5][6] Byron's career highlights include a record seven wins as a rookie in the 2016 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, earning Rookie of the Year honors there and in the subsequent Xfinity Series, where he claimed the 2017 championship with four victories, including at Daytona and Indianapolis.[1][2][3][5][6] He became only the second driver, alongside Erik Jones, to win Rookie of the Year in all three national series consecutively.[1][2] Debuting in the Cup Series in 2018, he secured that series' Rookie of the Year award and has since logged 14 wins in 265 races, with 112 top-10 finishes.[2][4][6] Key achievements encompass his first Cup win at Daytona in 2020, a breakout 2023 season with six victories (including Watkins Glen and Darlington), and leading Hendrick to its 300th Cup win.[4][5][6] In 2024, he triumphed in the Daytona 500—Hendrick's seventh—and added wins at Circuit of the Americas and Martinsville, reaching the Championship 4 and finishing third overall.[1][2][5] He repeated as Daytona 500 winner in 2025 and captured his first Cup Regular Season Championship in August at Richmond, earning 15 playoff bonus points.[2][3] Entering his ninth Cup season in 2026 at age 28, Byron remains a title contender with 42 top-10s over two years, the series-best 11.9 average finish, and nine recent wins, solidifying his status among NASCAR's top talents.[1][3][5][6]
About the Organizations Mentioned
NASCAR
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC) is a premier American auto racing sanctioning and operating company, best known for stock car racing and recognized as one of the world’s top motorsports organizations and largest spectator sports leagues in the U.S.[1] Founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr., NASCAR evolved from informal races among Prohibition-era moonshine runners in the southeastern U.S., especially North Carolina, who competed for pride and speed[1][2][3]. The organization formalized racing rules and schedules, addressing past issues with unfair promoters and chaotic events, establishing a stable, regulated sport[3][6]. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, NASCAR annually sanctions over 1,500 races across more than 100 tracks in 48 U.S. states and internationally in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe[1]. Its racing hierarchy features the premier NASCAR Cup Series at the top, followed by the Xfinity and Truck Series, with Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota as the main competing manufacturers[1][5]. NASCAR has historically been dominated by American manufacturers, though Toyota joined in 2007, and Dodge has come and gone[5]. Key milestones include hosting its first 500-mile race in 1950 and the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959, which solidified its signature event’s prestige and national appeal[2][4]. The 1979 live flag-to-flag TV broadcast of the Daytona 500 dramatically boosted NASCAR’s visibility, coinciding with a major snowstorm that drove large audiences indoors[4]. The France family has maintained leadership since inception, with Jim France as CEO since 2018, continuing a private family ownership model that has fostered stability and growth[1][4][6]. NASCAR’s blend of technological innovation, competitive racing, and entertainment has expanded the sport from regional roots to a global enterprise. It combines tradition with modern business and technological advancements, appealing to motorsports enthusiasts and business
Daytona International Speedway
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Daytona International Speedway: A Racing Legacy of Innovation and Speed</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; } h1 { color: #d00; text-align: center; } h2 { color: #333; border-bottom: 2px solid #d00; padding-bottom: 10px; } p { margin-bottom: 1em; } ul { margin-bottom: 1em; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Daytona International Speedway: A Racing Legacy of Innovation and Speed</h1> <p>Daytona International Speedway, the **World's First Motorsports Stadium**, stands as a cornerstone of American motorsports, hosting high-stakes NASCAR events and drawing global fans to its 500-acre Daytona Beach complex[4]. Founded by NASCAR pioneer Bill France Sr., it revolutionized racing by replacing the perilous Daytona Beach Road Course with a state-of-the-art banked superspeedway[1][2][3].</p> <h2>Rich History from Beach to Banking Glory</h2> <p>Racing in Daytona traces to 1902 on the beachfront A1A highway, evolving through 1930s sand races organized by France, who settled there after a 1934 car breakdown[1][2]. By the mid-1950s, surging crowds prompted a permanent track. Construction began November 25, 1957, funded by oil tycoon Clint Murchison's $600,00
Fox
Fox Corporation, established in 2019 following the $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, is a leading American multinational media company headquartered in New York City. It was formed as a spin-off to retain 21CF's television broadcasting, news, and sports assets not acquired by Disney[1][4]. Controlled by media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s family, with Lachlan Murdoch as chairman and CEO, Fox Corp’s portfolio includes flagship brands such as Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News Media, Fox Sports, Fox Entertainment, Fox Television Stations, and the streaming service Tubi[1][4][6]. Fox Broadcasting Company, launched in 1986 to compete with the traditional Big Three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC), rapidly became the most successful fourth network in the U.S., dominating key demographics and total viewership during several periods[2]. As a broadcast network, Fox focuses on entertainment programming but relies on its separate 24-hour channels—Fox News and Fox Business—for news content[2]. Since its inception, Fox Corp has expanded its digital and streaming presence through acquisitions like Tubi in 2020 and TMZ in 2021, enhancing its footprint in digital advertising and original content production[3][4]. Fox Entertainment, restructured in 2019, produces popular scripted and unscripted shows such as *The Simpsons*, *The Masked Singer*, *Hell’s Kitchen*, and culinary content through Studio Ramsay Global, founded in partnership with Gordon Ramsay[5]. Fox Corporation remains a dominant force in news, sports, and entertainment, consistently investing in content innovation, live sports programming, and digital platforms to adapt to evolving media consumption[4][6]. In November 2023, Rupert Murdoch retired as chairman, marking a new leadership era under Lachlan Murdoch[1]. Today, Fox Corp continues to thrive as a major media player, balancing legacy broadcast strengths with growing digital initiatives, making it a critical
CW
# The CW Television Network: A Major American Broadcast Institution **The CW** is an American commercial broadcast television network controlled by **Nexstar Media Group**, which holds a 77.1% ownership stake as of October 2022[3]. The network's name derives from the first letters of its two founding co-owners: **C**BS Corporation and **W**arner Bros[3]. ## History and Formation The CW was established following an announcement on January 24, 2006, when executives from CBS and Warner Bros. decided to shut down their respective networks—UPN and The WB—to combine resources[3]. The network officially launched on September 20, 2006, with the two-hour premiere of *America's Next Top Model*[3]. CBS chairman Les Moonves famously joked about the naming choice, noting "We couldn't call it the WC for obvious reasons," while research indicated 48% of the target demographic were already aware of the "CW" name before launch[3]. ## Programming and Target Audience The CW was designed to produce inexpensive programming that could be sold internationally[3]. Initially targeting viewers aged 18-34, the network shifted its focus between 2008-2011 to appeal primarily to women in that demographic, though by August 2017 its audience had become evenly split between men and women[3]. ## Current Status Today, The CW operates as a joint venture among Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Nexstar Media Group[2]. Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery each retain 12.5% ownership stakes following Nexstar's acquisition of controlling interest in 2022[3]. The network continues to serve as a significant player in American broadcast television, maintaining its position as a major affiliate network across numerous markets
MRN
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Medical Research Network (MRN): Revolutionizing Clinical Trials</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px; } h1 { color: #333; } h2 { color: #555; } p { margin-bottom: 15px; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Medical Research Network (MRN): Pioneering Patient-Centric Clinical Trials</h1> <p>Founded in November 2006, the **Medical Research Network (MRN)** stands as the world's leading provider of home-based healthcare for clinical trial patients, transforming how pharmaceutical research reaches diverse communities.[1][2][3]</p> <p>Headquartered in the UK with offices in the US, MRN operates across **99+ countries**, delivering specialized services like at-home clinical trial visits, site support with deployed nurses and coordinators, and a global site network.[1][2][4] Their patient-centric model reduces site visits, eases burdens on overstretched research sites, and boosts recruitment from 60% while achieving retention rates above 95%.[3] Involved in over 150 trials across nearly 20 countries and four continents, MRN excels in therapeutic areas from oncology and rheumatology to neurology and cardiovascular studies.[3]</p> <p>Key achievements include a strategic partnership with World Courier, combining MRN's home trial expertise with top-tier logistics for fully turnkey direct-to-patient trials, ensuring product integrity and data quality.[1][3
SiriusXM
SiriusXM Holdings Inc. is a leading North American audio entertainment company formed by the 2008 merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, creating a dominant satellite radio and streaming service provider[6][4]. Headquartered in New York City, SiriusXM combines satellite radio broadcasting with digital streaming platforms, serving approximately 34 million subscribers as of mid-2022 and reaching around 150 to 160 million listeners monthly across its portfolio, which includes SiriusXM's flagship subscription service, Pandora’s ad-supported and premium streaming services, and an expansive podcast network[5][6][7]. The company operates a robust satellite network infrastructure, covering about 98% of the continental U.S. through five active satellites supporting both Sirius and XM platforms[2]. It offers exclusive, commercial-free programming spanning music, sports, news, talk shows, and live events, alongside personalized radio stations and a large podcast library, setting it apart from traditional broadcast radio[1][3]. This content ecosystem is bolstered by partnerships with music labels, sports leagues, and on-air talent, ensuring unique and premium offerings[1][4]. SiriusXM’s business model centers on subscription revenue complemented by advertising sales, generating approximately $8.7 billion in revenue with a significant portion from advertising—$482 million annually as of 2023[2][4]. It invests heavily in technology, with an annual technology budget of $325 million supporting cloud and proprietary streaming solutions, maintaining a 99.97% platform uptime[2]. The company also dedicates substantial resources to original content production, spending $150 million annually on exclusive podcasts and audio entertainment[2]. Strategically, SiriusXM continues to sharpen its focus on its core subscription business, driving profitability through operational efficiencies and leveraging its unique position in vehicles and curated content[7]. Its acquisition of Pandora in 2019 expanded its digital footprint significantly, blending satellite and streaming audio to meet evolving consumer preferences[6][5]. SiriusXM remains
O'Reilly Auto Parts
```html <!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>O'Reilly Auto Parts: A Legacy of Automotive Excellence</title> <style> body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 40px; max-width: 800px; } h1 { color: #2c3e50; } h2 { color: #34495e; } p { margin-bottom: 1em; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>O'Reilly Auto Parts: From Family Store to Automotive Giant</h1> <p>O'Reilly Auto Parts, officially O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., is a leading North American retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories, serving both professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers.[3][5]</p> <h2>Foundational Roots</h2> <p>Founded in 1957 in Springfield, Missouri, by Charles F. O'Reilly and his son Charles H. 'Chub' O'Reilly, the company emerged after they parted ways with Link Motor Supply over reorganization plans.[1][2][3] Starting with one store, 13 employees, and a focus on superior customer service and parts availability, O'Reilly hit $700,000 in sales by 1958.[2][4] Early growth included launching Ozark Automotive Distributors in 1960, reaching $1.3 million combined sales by 1961, and opening its first branch in 1965.[1][3]</p> <h2>Expansion and Milestones</h2> <p>By 1975, annual sales reached $7 millio
