NASCAR
Who Can be Next Cup Champion to win the Daytona 500?
Newly minted NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch has a very unique distinction. His Daytona 500 triumph from eight years ago was the last time a past Cup champion won The Great American Race. For almost a decade, the best and most decorated NASCAR stars have been shut out of the sport’s biggest victory. Of the active past Cup champions, only Joey Logano owns a past Harley J. Earl Trophy. Six past winners of the Bill France Cup will try to end this streak in two weeks. Here are each of their respective chances at ending this unlikely Daytona 500 drought.
Brad Keselowski
Past champion, decorated drafter, and team co-owner Brad Keselowski has seemingly won everything possible in NASCAR. The one blank space in his trophy case is perfectly sized for the Daytona 500’s Harley J. Earl Trophy that he’s been chasing for 16 years. The RFK Racing veteran will make his first start since a December leg injury in next week’s Great American Race. Despite the recovery, he remains as locked in and focused as ever at taming this beast.
The Michigan driver has been painfully close to a Daytona 500 victory before, his best finish was third in 2014. 2025 was the first Next Gen Daytona 500 where Keselowski failed to lead, despite being a late contender. RFK’s last Daytona 500 glory likewise came 14 years ago. Can the 6 return to prominence on Daytona’s high banks? 2026’s Daytona 500 will be run while honoring RFK Racing’s fallen friend Greg Biffle.
Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. It was substitute driven by Corey Lajoie in this race. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Busch
Seemingly the sentimental favorite every year now at Daytona is Kyle Busch. Much like Keselowski, Busch has conquered every NASCAR mountaintop except Daytona 500 victory lane. Richard Childress Racing’s No. 8 Chevrolet has been within eyesight of the checkered flag here but struck out three times. Now making his 21st bid at The Great American Race, Busch hopes to erase his 93-race losing drought.
Many may forget one important fact about RCR’s maiden Daytona 500 win with Dale Earnhardt in 1998. 28 years ago, The Intimidator also ended his own lengthy dry spell from victory lane with this career-defining win. Can similar fortunes fall in Busch’s favor this time around? The No. 8 was wrecked while running sixth a season ago. Busch will likely be a stout superspeedway threat once again.
Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Zone Chevrolet Camaro at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Joey Logano
It’s now been over a decade since Joey Logano’s Daytona 500 triumph. Team Penske’s 22 has been an almost annual threat for another victory ever since 2015. The next four years after his win saw Logano earn a top-10 each February at The World Center of Racing. Ever since the Next Gen era, the 22 has seen a Daytona 500 runner-up (2023), the most laps led (2024), and another 43 circuits paced a season ago. 2025’s race also saw Logano partly cause the first Big One while running in the top-five.
Penske and Ford superspeedway prowess alike each put Logano near the top of a heavyweight favorites list. Out of all seven past Daytona 500 champions looking to repeat, Logano may be best poised to pull off this feat.
Joey Logano’s No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chase Elliott
Already a drafting winner twice apiece between Talladega and Atlanta, Chase Elliott still searches for similar Daytona fortunes. Driver 9 has Daytona 500 prestige in his bloodline—father Bill Elliott took the checkers in 1985 and 1987. The younger racing pride of Dawsonville, Georgia has matched his father in Cup titles, but has not been better than second (2021) in the season opener. Elliott showed his deft drafting skills in a last-lap stunner at Atlanta in July. Can NASCAR’s Most Popular man pull off a similar move for the biggest win of his life?
Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Larson
Reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson has checked off every box possible in the NASCAR crown jewel list, except the Daytona 500. Still 0-53 on taming any drafting race, Larson’s been trending towards victory. Talladega last fall saw Larson run out of fuel while leading on the last lap. Past that, he’s seen three more 2025 superspeedway top-10s. Dating back to 2024, the Hendrick No. 5 has earned four top-10s across the last six drafting starts.
“I would say, honestly I always have confidence when we go to superspeedways because I feel like we do a good job,” Larson said. “Just prior to last year, I would just get caught up in wrecks and whatnot. Last year just worked out where the wrecks avoided me. So, you know, I wouldn’t say I have any more confidence this year than I did last year. I just hope that we have the same sort of good fortune as we did last year… maybe it can be a few spots better to get a win.”
In a similar vein to both Keselowski and Busch, Larson chases a possible career Grand Slam with a Daytona 500 win. Seventh has been the Californian’s best ever 500 finish. Recent results may point him a few steps higher this February.
Kyle Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.Com Chevrolet Camaro at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ryan Blaney
Few have been as close to a Daytona 500 win and struck out as Ryan Blaney. Penske’s No. 12 Mustang is as cunning and calculated in the draft as anyone out there today. This was shown in last summer’s Daytona race, where Blaney went from 12th to the win in just two laps. Blaney has been a Daytona 500 bridesmaid twice before, and hopes attempt number 12 is the lucky one.
“Looking forward to going down there to Daytona,” Blaney said. “Try to see if we can make William [Byron] not win one, but yeah. I look forward to getting back with my guys and getting the year rolling and you know, seeing how the week goes in Daytona.”
Aside from his two runner-ups (2017, 2020), Blaney’s also been top-10 in four of the last six Daytona 500s. If August proved anything, Blaney can never be counted out until the checkered flag waves. The 2023 Cup champion hopes to add another ring to his collection in a matter of days.
Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Great Lakes Flooring/Menards Ford Mustang at Bowman Gray Stadium before the Cook Out Clash on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Photo Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Eight seasons without a past Cup champion being victorious is an unmatched Daytona 500 record across its 67-year history. Can this unlucky streak by NASCAR’s best drivers end in 2026? With a pool of six very talented contenders aiming to end this trend, odds are high one of them finds victory lane. Be sure to not miss a lap of action in The Great American Race. The 2026 Daytona 500 green flag will fly on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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