Chase Elliott Calls Daytona 500 a Lottery—And He’s Buying Another Ticket

gettyimages-2261348601 — DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads the field during Duel 2 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

list of champs who have won the DAYTONA 500 includes Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2015) and Legacy Motor Club’s Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013). And although Logano now owns three season titles, when he scored his Daytona victory 11 years ago, he wasn’t a season champion yet.

“It’s always been kind of a lottery in some capacity and you have to have a lot of things go your way,” Elliott said of scoring a win in the sport’s grandest race.

“And there’s positives and negatives to that. It’s produced a lot of great underdog stories that you wouldn’t have if it wasn’t that way. I think it’s just the nature of the race, and honestly it’s been that way since I’ve been around.

“There’s just not a lot once the race gets going that’s in your hands, but there are some things, and it’s important to try and execute those things, whatever they are—no matter how big or how small they are—to the best of your ability.”

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will be starting the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet from pole position for the first time in his career, hoping his 21st DAYTONA 500 start will be the charm.

Elliott, the 2020 series champion will start the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports on the second row alongside Logano in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford. Logano’s teammate, 2023 champ Ryan Blaney will roll off fifth in the No. 12 Penske Ford.

Two-time and reigning series champion Kyle Larson starts eighth, and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski lines up ninth on the starting grid—both also racing for their first trophy.

“You’re just hedging your bet, doing everything you can to put the numbers as much in your favor as you can, and from there you have to have some things go your way,” Elliott said. “From our standpoint, that’s all we can do.

“Unfortunately, that hasn’t worked out to this point but also really fortunate to have another opportunity with HMS and come down to my 11th DAYTONA 500, and every time I’ve driven through the tunnel I know I have a shot. I know I have a shot when I get here, so what else can I ask for.”