Kyle Busch isn’t worried about his contract for next year 👀 pic.twitter.com/TmvQK3vE4p

— Sportskeeda NASCAR (@NASCARatSK) February 11, 2026

Kyle needs to win this year. He can't possibly have the bad luck he had last year.

My guess is that we see him in a Spire car next year.

Garage open here at Daytona. pic.twitter.com/RtL8NO3J9O

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 11, 2026

ncsupack1 said:

---

My guess is that we see him in a Spire car next year.

---

Wonder who RCR has waiting in the wings? Jesse Love? Austin Hill?

Glasswolf said:

---

ncsupack1 said:

---

My guess is that we see him in a Spire car next year.

---

Wonder who RCR has waiting in the wings? Jesse Love? Austin Hill?

---

Either of those two would be my guess.

ncsupack1 said:

---

Glasswolf said:

---

ncsupack1 said:

---

My guess is that we see him in a Spire car next year.

---

Wonder who RCR has waiting in the wings? Jesse Love? Austin Hill?

---

Either of those two would be my guess.

---

NASCAR needs Austin Hill LOL

Glasswolf said:

---

ncsupack1 said:

---

The biggest race deserves the biggest prize. 💰 pic.twitter.com/1ZjH83wJ3C

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 11, 2026

Lot of money.

---

Ready for cars to hit the track at 10.

---

Maybe this has been like this for longer than I realize, but something seems inherently wrong with the Cup cars not even touching the track surface prior to 10:00AM on the Wednesday morning of actual race week.

I mean the race is barely four days away at this point. Just seems like they just don't want to capitalize upon the natural excitement that comes with the start of the season and our most prestigious race.

I just can't grasp that mentality for some reason.

Kroger's NASCAR vendor partners for '26: Kimberly Clark, Bimbo Bakeries, Coke, Danone, Celsius, Kraft, Blue Buffalo, Riviana, Schwan's, Tree Top, Opella, Farm Rich, Pepsi Muscle Milk (new), Athletic Brewing (new), ForceFactor (new), Jack Link's (new), Ferrara (Nerds candy - new).

Kroger's NASCAR vendor partners for '26: Kimberly Clark, Bimbo Bakeries, Coke, Danone, Celsius, Kraft, Blue Buffalo, Riviana, Schwan’s, Tree Top, Opella, Farm Rich, Pepsi Muscle Milk (new), Athletic Brewing (new), ForceFactor (new), Jack Link’s (new), Ferrara (Nerds candy - new). pic.twitter.com/YNQEr40cGl

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) February 11, 2026

February 11, 1995: Sterling Marlin qualified for the Daytona 500 with a radically different sounding car

The car used an "X-pipe" exhaust system developed by Dr Gas that got the exhaust out quicker and gave a horsepower boost. pic.twitter.com/pwf8u2eRM1

— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) February 11, 2026

NASCAR
NASCAR Cup Series
Duel at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
Practice FS1/Fox One, 10 a.m.
Qualifying FS1/Fox One, 8:15 p.m

32 years ago today, Neil Bonnett passed away from injuries suffered in a crash @ Daytona. pic.twitter.com/WRY5jQFJZK

— Andrew (@Basso488) February 11, 2026

Probably another dumb question, but is it better to go out earlier or later in the qualifying order?

Late, for multiple reasons.

I would agree later normally works in your favor, unless there are changing weather conditions or cloud cover and then it can change the track; sometimes for the worse. But, this normally seems to affect tracks more in the heat of the summer when a "loose" track in the sun can suddenly become "tight" in the cloud cover.

But, like ncsupack1 said, it's normally better to go out later if conditions are somewhat the same throughout the duration.

Agree, it's crazy just a little bit of cloud cover over in a turn can make a difference.

ge_traveler said:

---

I would agree later normally works in your favor, unless there are changing weather conditions or cloud cover and then it can change the track; sometimes for the worse. But, this normally seems to affect tracks more in the heat of the summer when a "loose" track in the sun can suddenly become "tight" in the cloud cover.

But, like ncsupack1 said, it's normally better to go out later if conditions are somewhat the same throughout the duration.

---

So, I take it that the conventional wisdom is the more rubber on the track, the better...

Wolfer79 said:

---

NASCAR
NASCAR Cup Series
Duel at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
Practice FS1/Fox One, 10 a.m.
Qualifying FS1/Fox One, 8:15 p.m

---

Well. I managed to miss this morning's anyway as it turned out.

Got back from doing what I was doing right around 12:30, and if I was on the right channel (FS1), I was too late.

Will try to do better tonight. Key word here being "try".

TheStorm said:

---

Wolfer79 said:

---

NASCAR
NASCAR Cup Series
Duel at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
Practice FS1/Fox One, 10 a.m.
Qualifying FS1/Fox One, 8:15 p.m

---

Well. I managed to miss this morning's anyway as it turned out.

Got back from doing what I was doing right around 12:30, and if I was on the right channel (FS1), I was too late.

Will try to do better tonight. Key word here being "try".

---

Checking out the channel guide for the Cup qualifying and it doesn't even come onto the channel until 8:00 PM… and of all things, they have on just another one of a million college basketball games right now leading right up to it.

NASCAR should be leading in at least with a 1 hour pre-qualifying studio show or something… the lack of marketing is almost to the opposite of the realm of where it should normally be. I don't care if it's just qualifying or not. We've been waiting 3 months. Take advantage of us!

I just don't get it… and I'm not even smart.

TheStorm said:

---

TheStorm said:

---

Wolfer79 said:

---

NASCAR
NASCAR Cup Series
Duel at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
Practice FS1/Fox One, 10 a.m.
Qualifying FS1/Fox One, 8:15 p.m

---

Well. I managed to miss this morning's anyway as it turned out.

Got back from doing what I was doing right around 12:30, and if I was on the right channel (FS1), I was too late.

Will try to do better tonight. Key word here being "try".

---

Checking out the channel guide for the Cup qualifying and it doesn't even come onto the channel until 8:00 PM… and of all things, they have on just another one of a million college basketball games right now leading right up to it.

NASCAR should be leading in at least with a 1 hour pre-qualifying studio show or something… the lack of marketing is almost to the opposite of the realm of where it should normally be. I don't care if it's just qualifying or not. We've been waiting 3 months. Take advantage of us!

I just don't get it… and I'm not even smart.

---

FS2 showing practice

Kyle Larson signs five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, keeping him with the team at least through the 2031 season. https://t.co/AFAOAyZBoY

— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) February 12, 2026

Not surprised.

I know, I wouldn't have guessed it was his first pole for the 500. I know it doesn't much matter where you start for these super speedway races but at least he knows that he has a fast car this year and can compete

This should be an interesting watch tonight.

Heim and Allgaier locked in. Other two spots determined in the duels with best of those left in each duel getting a spot. LaJoie CSmith and Mears in first duel. Alfredo McLeod and Yeley in second duel.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 12, 2026

Dale Earnhardt won the 1999 Gatorade 125 #2 at Daytona 27 years ago today. 🏁

It was the 10th straight year that Earnhardt won his Daytona 500 qualifying race.#TheIntimidator 🏁 pic.twitter.com/Uy7y6veiu4

— NASCAR Legends (@LegendsNascar) February 12, 2026

Justin Allgaier is locked in! @DaleJr and @EarnhardtKelley are with @ReganSmith. pic.twitter.com/I0tNewbhhf

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 12, 2026

Ricky Rudd’s terrifying crash in the 1984 Busch Clash 42 years ago today.#Rooster pic.twitter.com/p2zYj1VQNP

— NASCAR Legends (@LegendsNascar) February 12, 2026

I guess we can count on Honda not coming to NASCAR, just announced that they are staying in Indy Car.

ncsupack1 said:

---

I guess we can count on Honda not coming to NASCAR, just announced that they are staying in Indy Car.

---

Thank the Lord for small miracles

Good to see long standing partners stay.

.@CocaCola is extending its premier partnership/official soft drink deal with @NASCAR and adding @DrinkBODYARMOR as official sports drink, per a press release today. pic.twitter.com/tPPfiiI7ms

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) February 12, 2026

Glasswolf said:

---

ncsupack1 said:

---

I guess we can count on Honda not coming to NASCAR, just announced that they are staying in Indy Car.

---

Thank the Lord for small miracles

---

A lot of industry insiders and current OEM's somewhat wanted this. But I get your point.

ncsupack1 said:

---

Good to see long standing partners stay.

.@CocaCola is extending its premier partnership/official soft drink deal with @NASCAR and adding @DrinkBODYARMOR as official sports drink, per a press release today. pic.twitter.com/tPPfiiI7ms

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) February 12, 2026

---

Wow. I don't remember Hamlin and the #11 in the Coca-Cola wrapper... now that is one damn sharp paint job and graphics. Must have been a weekend where the wife had other activities already planned for us. I would have remembered that paint job for sure.