The 2026 NASCAR season kicks off with high-octane excitement during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, culminating in the iconic Daytona 500 on February 15. As fans search for the latest NASCAR schedule for 2026 Speedweeks at Daytona, this guide provides everything you need: full event dates, start times, TV channels, streaming options, and real-time weather updates. Whether you're looking for the Daytona 500 2026 date, NASCAR Cup Series schedule, or Truck Series opener details, we've got you covered with expert insights drawn from official sources.
Speedweeks 2026 marks the start of a thrilling year, featuring the NASCAR Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity), Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. With William Byron aiming for a historic third straight Daytona 500 win, searches for 2026 Daytona 500 predictions, odds, and picks are trending. This E-E-A-T optimized article, based on authoritative NASCAR reporting, ensures you have trustworthy, up-to-date information to plan your viewing.
Key Highlights of the 2026 Daytona Speedweeks Schedule
The 2026 Speedweeks at Daytona runs from February 11 to February 15, packed with practices, qualifying, and races across multiple series. Trending Google searches like "NASCAR TV schedule Daytona 2026" and "Daytona 500 start time" reflect the buzz, especially with the race start adjusted to 1:30 p.m. ET due to weather concerns. Here's the day-by-day breakdown, including all NASCAR Cup Series events, Truck Series races, ARCA qualifying, and more.
Wednesday, February 11: Kickoff Practices and Qualifying
- Garage Open: NASCAR Cup Series from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET.
- Track Activity:
- 10-10:50 a.m. ET: Cup Series practice (FS1).
- 8:15-10 p.m. ET: Cup Series qualifying (FS1).
This day sets the tone for the week, with fans eagerly searching for "2026 Daytona 500 qualifying results" as drivers like Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe battle for pole position. Kyle Busch secured the pole with a lap of 183.651 mph, making him a top pick in 2026 Daytona 500 odds discussions.
Weather: Partly cloudy with highs of 73°F, winds 10-15 mph. Low 3% chance of rain during qualifying.
Thursday, February 12: Duel Qualifying Races and More
- Garage Open: Cup Series 4-11 p.m.; ARCA 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Truck Series 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. ET.
- Track Activity:
- 4-4:55 p.m. ET: ARCA practice.
- 5-5:50 p.m. ET: Truck Series practice (FS1).
- 7 p.m. ET: Cup Duel #1 (60 laps, 150 miles; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).
- 8:45 p.m. ET: Cup Duel #2 (60 laps, 150 miles; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).
Searches for "NASCAR Duel at Daytona 2026" spike here, as these races determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. Winners like Joey Logano and Chase Elliott from past Duels add to the hype.
Weather: Partly cloudy, highs of 66°F, 5% rain chance at race start.
Friday, February 13: Truck Series Opener and Practices
- Garage Open: Cup 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; ARCA 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Truck 11:30 a.m.-11:55 p.m.; O'Reilly Auto Parts 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET.
- Track Activity:
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. ET: ARCA qualifying.
- 3-4:30 p.m. ET: Truck qualifying (FS1).
- 4:30-5:20 p.m. ET: O'Reilly Auto Parts practice (CW app).
- 5:35-6:25 p.m. ET: Cup practice (FS1).
- 7:30 p.m. ET: Truck race (100 laps, 250 miles; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).
The Fresh From Florida 250 Truck race is a fan favorite, with trending queries like "NASCAR Truck Series schedule 2026" and "Daytona Truck race results."
Weather: Cloudy intervals, highs near 70°F, 4% rain chance.
Saturday, February 14: ARCA and O'Reilly Auto Parts Races
- Garage Open: Cup 12:30-7 p.m.; ARCA 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.; O'Reilly Auto Parts 7 a.m.-11 p.m. ET.
- Track Activity:
- 10-11:30 a.m. ET: O'Reilly Auto Parts qualifying (CW app).
- 12 p.m. ET: ARCA race (80 laps, 200 miles; FOX, MRN, SiriusXM).
- 3-3:50 p.m. ET: Cup practice (FS1).
- 5 p.m. ET: O'Reilly Auto Parts race (120 laps, 300 miles; CW, MRN, SiriusXM).
With the United Rentals 300 and General Tire 200, searches for "ARCA Menards Series 2026" and "O'Reilly Auto Parts Series opener" are on the rise.
Weather: Mix of sun and clouds, highs of 72°F, 4% rain chance.
Sunday, February 15: The Daytona 500
- Garage Open: Cup Series 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m. ET.
- Track Activity:
- 1:30 p.m. ET: Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles; FOX, MRN, SiriusXM). Note: Start time moved up from 2:30 p.m. due to weather.
The Great American Race is the highlight, with 2026 Daytona 500 picks favoring drivers like Joey Logano (+1000 odds), Ryan Blaney (+1100), and Kyle Larson (+1700). William Byron seeks a three-peat, boosting searches for "Daytona 500 winners history."
Weather: Cloudy with possible thunderstorms, highs of 80°F, 23% rain chance overall but 1% at start. Real-time updates from Weather Underground show winds up to 25 mph.
How to Watch the 2026 NASCAR Speedweeks and Daytona 500
- TV Channels: FOX for the Daytona 500 and ARCA race; FS1 for practices, qualifying, Duels, and Truck race; CW for O'Reilly Auto Parts events.
- Streaming: FOX Sports app, FS1 app, CW app, or services like HBO Max for select coverage.
- Radio: MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for live audio.
Trending searches like "how to watch Daytona 500 2026" and "NASCAR live stream Daytona" point to FOX as the primary broadcaster.
2026 Daytona 500 Predictions, Odds, and Expert Picks
Expert models project strong finishes for superspeedway specialists. Favorites include Joey Logano and Kyle Busch at +1000, with longshots like Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell offering value. Fantasy picks highlight stacking the back for DFS, focusing on place differential. For a cheat sheet, key stats show defending champ William Byron as a top contender.
Why Daytona Speedweeks 2026 Is a Must-Watch
With a new championship format and the Clash at Bowman Gray already in the books (won by Ryan Preece), the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule promises intensity. Searches for "NASCAR news Daytona 2026" and "Speedweeks events" underscore the event's global appeal at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Stay tuned for live updates on race day!
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