The 2026 Daytona 500 runs Sunday (February 15) at 2:30 p.m. ET and brings the Cup field back to Daytona International Speedway for the season’s biggest race. Forty-five entries will take part in Speedweeks, with qualifying and the Duels finalizing the 41-car lineup.
A total of 37 drivers are already locked in, while eight drivers will fight for the final four spots. Two positions will be secured in single-car qualifying, which also sets the front row. The remaining two will be decided in the Duel races.
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Daytona’s pack racing rewards clarity. Paint schemes that read fast, show strong contrast, and survive spray will win attention regardless of finish. While many teams bring familiar liveries for the season opener, several cars will debut new ones. Here are the five best paint schemes for the 2026 Daytona 500.
5 best NASCAR paint schemes for the 2026 Daytona 500
5. Michael McDowell – No. 71 MODO Casino Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
MODO Casino trades elegance for spectacle, which is smart at Daytona. When the camera cuts to a multi-line restart, Michael McDowell’s Spire Motorsports Chevy captures eyeballs, exactly what a gaming brand wants for the sport’s biggest stage. The No. 71 Chevrolet combines red, white, and blue with a pop-art collage of card suits, stars, and graphics that make the car impossible to miss.
Entering his second season with Spire, the 2026 edition will be McDowell’s 14th Daytona 500. He won the event in 2021 and has four top ten finishes.
4. Noah Gragson – No. 4 Rush Truck Centers Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson’s Rush Truck scheme uses a black front punched with yellow and red blocks. The truck-center logo sits large and simple on the door, built to be legible at 200 mph. The heavy contrast and hard edges will stand out under lights.
It’s a design that matches Noah Gragson’s aggressive on-track persona and the sponsor’s “workhorse” identity. His ninth-place finish in the 2024 Daytona 500 remains his best finish in four attempts.
3. Austin Dillon – Bass Pro Shops/Winchester No. 3 RCR Chevrolet
The Bass Pro/Winchester Richard Childress Racing car uses deep, outdoorsy tones with orange highlights. The paint scheme is a nod to classic NASCAR heritage without feeling dated, with a balanced layout and prominent logos.
At Daytona, familiarity breeds fan affection. And Austin Dillon will need some support. The 2019 Daytona 500 winner has not finished inside the top 20 in the last four races and has an average finish of 18 at the track.
2. Shane van Gisbergen – No. 97 SuperFile Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
The Trackhouse Racing No. 97 brings electric presence to the 2.5-mile tri-oval, with its neon green lightning across a black base, giving the car a modern, tech-brand look that pops under TV lights.
It’s a departure from classic stock-car paint schemes, matching the driver at the helm. SVG enters his sophomore Cup season as the Rookie of the Year after a record-breaking 2025, where he won five road-course races. His Daytona 500 debut saw him finish 33rd, something he will look to improve on in the new car.
1. Denny Hamlin No. 11 National Debt Relief Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin will drive a clean, patriotic paint scheme that balances sponsor polish with racing aggression. The white base keeps the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota bright, while the navy and red accents add sharpness, with a prominent National Debt Relief logo.
Denny Hamlin has had an eventful offseason after coming close to his first championship. He settled the antitrust lawsuit, lost his father, and while he hasn’t ‘locked in for the season’ yet, the three-time Daytona 500 winner is no stranger to the Great American Race.
Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar
