The NASCAR Cup Series season will conclude with a high‑stakes qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway, locking 16 drivers into The Chase and awarding a purse of $11,233,037 that is split across three stages worth 35, 95 and 160 points.
A new rules package has been introduced for the event, cutting car power and reshaping aerodynamic elements to produce larger racing runs. This is the first time the package has been tested at Daytona, promising a different style of competition compared with previous years.
Pole Position and a Second Chance for Ty Gibbs
Ross Chastain secured pole position with a blistering lap of 48.808 seconds, edging out a competitive field that included a surprise twist: Ty Gibbs was granted a second qualifying attempt after an official error was identified by NASCAR staff.
In the opening round, Ryan Preece posted the fastest time of 48.897 seconds, while several notable drivers such as Corey Heim, Chase Briscoe and William Byron failed to advance, their laps falling just above the cutoff threshold.
Points leader Denny Hamlin heads into the race with 1,001 points, underscoring the importance of a strong finish as the series moves toward the playoffs. The event will be broadcast live at 7:30 PM ET on August 29, 2026, across NBC, HBO Max and MRN.