Race Details
- Flag drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT, 4:00 p.m. CT).
- Venue: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114.
- TV/Streaming: The CW, Fubo, NASCAR.com (live stream), MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The United Rentals 300 kicks off the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series) season at the “World Center of Racing.” This 120-lap (300-mile) superspeedway event on the 2.5-mile tri-oval is known for pack racing, high speeds (averaging 150-180 mph), and multi-car crashes (“The Big One”). With 42 entries for 38 spots, four drivers will miss the race via qualifying. The race format includes two stages of 30 laps each, followed by a 60-lap final stage, emphasizing strategy on fuel and tires.
Expected Weather Conditions
Daytona Beach will see mild conditions on race day with a high of 70°F and low of 57°F. Expect partly cloudy skies, winds from the E at 2-10 mph, humidity around 87%, and no significant precipitation (0 inches expected). Sunrise at 7:04 a.m., sunset at 6:13 p.m. These conditions favor a smooth race without delays, though high humidity could slightly affect tire grip.
Track Conditions
Daytona’s 2.5-mile asphalt tri-oval with 31-degree banking in turns is expected to be Fast and dry, promoting high-speed drafting packs. No recent resurfacing reported, so tire wear will be moderate on Goodyear Eagles. If unexpected showers hit, the track could turn Good, slowing laps by 1-2 seconds and emphasizing handling over raw power.
Race History
The United Rentals 300, formerly the DRIVE4COPD 300 (2010-2014) and others, has been the Xfinity season opener at Daytona since 1982. It’s known for chaotic finishes, with 15 of the last 20 races decided by less than 0.2 seconds. Past winners include Jesse Love (2025), Austin Hill (2024, 2023, 2022), Cole Custer (2021), Noah Gragson (2020), Michael Annett (2019), Tyler Reddick (2018), Ryan Reed (2017, 2015), Regan Smith (2014), Tony Stewart (2013), and James Buescher (2012). Average winners start from 8th position, with 10 cautions typical (lasting 35 laps). Race record: 1:59:53 by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs in 2022. Trends favor Chevrolet (won 8 of last 10) and Richard Childress Racing (4 straight wins 2022-2025).
Recent Driver Forms
The 2026 season opener follows the 2025 campaign, where Justin Allgaier won the championship. Key drivers’ recent forms (based on 2025 end-of-season and preseason testing):
- Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing, #21 Chevrolet): Won 4 races in 2025, including Daytona opener for 3rd straight year. Last 5: 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 1st. Dominant on superspeedways (7 wins career).
- Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing, #2 Chevrolet): 2025 Daytona winner as rookie; 2 wins overall. Last 5: 1st, 4th, 6th, 2nd, 8th. Strong closer.
- Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team, #00 Chevrolet): 3 wins in 2025. Last 5: 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 1st. Excellent drafter.
- Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports, #7 Chevrolet): 2025 champion with 5 wins. Last 5: 1st, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 4th. Veteran superspeedway master (2 Daytona wins career).
- Sam Mayer (JR Motorsports, #1 Chevrolet): 4 wins in 2025. Last 5: 3rd, 1st, 5th, 2nd, 6th. Aggressive in packs.
- Cole Custer (Stewart-Haas Racing, #00 Ford): 3 wins in 2025. Last 5: 4th, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 2nd. Solid but inconsistent at Daytona.
- Chandler Smith (Joe Gibbs Racing, #81 Toyota): 2 wins in 2025. Last 5: 5th, 3rd, 1st, 4th, 6th. Rising star.
- AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing, #16 Chevrolet): Road course ace but 1 superspeedway win. Last 5: 6th, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 3rd.
- Riley Herbst (Stewart-Haas Racing, #98 Ford): 1 win in 2025. Last 5: 7th, 5th, 4th, 6th, 3rd. Plate track specialist.
- Brandon Jones (JR Motorsports, #9 Chevrolet): No wins in 2025 but strong finisher. Last 5: 8th, 4th, 6th, 5th, 7th. Sneaky good at Daytona.
Driver Matchups
- Austin Hill vs. Jesse Love (RCR Teammates): Hill (3 straight Daytona wins) vs. Love (2025 winner). Hill’s experience edges Love’s youth; Hill 1.5x more likely to lead laps.
- Justin Allgaier vs. Cole Custer: Allgaier (veteran with 2 Daytona wins) vs. Custer (consistent but 0 Daytona wins). Allgaier favors in head-to-head (65% win probability).
- Sam Mayer vs. Chandler Smith (JR Motorsports vs. JGR): Mayer’s aggression vs. Smith’s drafting skill; Mayer edges in pack racing (recent top-5 rate 60% vs. 50%).
- AJ Allmendinger vs. Riley Herbst: Allmendinger (road ace but plate solid) vs. Herbst (superspeedway specialist); Herbst favored at Daytona (average finish 12th vs. Allmendinger’s 18th).
- Rookie Watch: Corey Day vs. Gio Ruggiero: Day (Hendrick) vs. Ruggiero (JGR); both debuting, Ruggiero edges with ARCA experience.
Driver Odds
Austin Hill + 450
Jesse Love + 550
Justin Allgaier + 800
Sammy Smith + 1000
Sheldon Creed + 1200
Ryan Sieg + 1400
Carson Hocevar + 1400
Sam Mayer + 1600
Carson Kvapil + 1600
Rajah Caruth + 1800
Taylor Gray + 2200
Brandon Jones + 2500
William Sawalich + 2800
Jeb Burton + 2800
Harrison Burton + 2800
Giovanni Ruggiero + 2800
Nicholas Sanchez + 3500
Corey Day + 3500
Jordan Anderson + 5500
Dean Thompson + 5500
Daniel Dye + 5500
Anthony Alfredo + 5500
Patrick Staropoli + 6500
Parker Retzlaff + 7000
Brennan Poole + 8000
Jeremy Clements + 9000
Ryan Ellis + 10000
Natalie Decker + 10000
Luke Fenhaus + 10000
Kyle Sieg + 10000
Blaine Perkins + 10000
Josh Bilicki + 15000
David Starr + 15000
Patrick Emerling + 20000
Mason Maggio + 20000
Lavar Scott + 20000
Josh Williams + 20000
Joey Gase + 20000
Garrett Smithley + 20000
Carson Ware + 20000
Caesar Bacarella + 20000
Austin Green + 20000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 13, 2026
