2026 Daytona 500 Sells Out, Track Announces

The 2026 Daytona 500 has sold out, according to an announcement from Daytona International Speedway. The 68th running of the Great American Race will be offering the largest purse in the history of motorsports: $31,045,575 will be offered to the winner of Sunday's race. With the news that the race has sold out, Daytona International Speedway can now tout 11 straight years of its marquee event selling all available grandstand tickets. Though exact figures remain unclear, the speedway says it expects to have over 100,000 fans in attendance this weekend. Part of the prestige of the most famous stock car race in the world comes from the perennially sky-high prize money awarded to its competitors. This year's $31,045,575 payout is up from $30,331,250 in 2025. "The Daytona 500 continues to be a national moment and cultural landmark woven into the fabric of American sport and identity," said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. "The demand for fans to experience NASCAR is at an all-time high and their continued support of the sport starts at Daytona. With drivers competing for another record purse of over $31 million in the 68th running of The Great American Race, the history books will be rewritten once again at the World Center of Racing." The 68th running of the Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, February 15 at 2:30 p.m. The command to start engines will be delivered by standup comedian Nate Bargatze, Hollywood icon Kurt Russell is set to be the honorary pace car driver, and country music star Miranda Lambert will perform a pre-race concert.