Daytona 500 Lineup: Official Starting Order for the 2025 Great American Race

The field is set for the 2025 Daytona 500 — but not without a little hint of controversy.

There was nothing contentious about Daytona 500 qualifying earlier in the week, where pole winner Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric claimed the front row spots. During the second Duel race on Thursday night (Feb. 13), however, things got a little more interesting.

With the field coming to the checkered flag, a late wreck entangled multiple cars. NASCAR decided to throw a virtually last-second caution, freezing the field when the yellow lights came on.

That ended up making a difference, as Erik Jones thought he won the race and even went to get the flag. After review, Cindric was found to be leading the field at the time of the caution and declared the winner.

Amidst Jones’ disappointment and fan bewilderment over the call, it’s important to remember that the Duel 2 result didn’t affect the Daytona 500 lineup at all. Jones will still start fourth, the same position he’d have earned with a victory, with Cindric locked into the front row thanks to his qualifying effort.

If nothing else, it sets the scene for Sunday and adds another talking point or two. With the Duels now done, here’s a look at how the drivers will line up for the Great American Race.

2025 Daytona 500 Lineup

1. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyta
2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
3. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
4. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
5. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6. Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
7. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
8. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
9. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
10. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
11. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
12. Corey LaJoie, No. 01 Rick Ware Racing Ford
13. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Ford
14. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
15. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
16. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
17. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
19. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
20. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
22. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
23. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
24. Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
25. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
26. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
27. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
28. Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
29. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
30. Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
31. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
32. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
33. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
34. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
35. Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
36. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
37. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
38. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
39. Martin Truex Jr., No. 56 Tricon Garage Toyota
40. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
41. Helio Castroneves, No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Which Drivers Didn’t Make the Daytona 500?

With 45 drivers vying for 40 or 41 spots, that meant at least four drivers were going home without making the race. As it turned out, Helio Castroneves was slow enough in qualifying and finished far enough back in his Duel (coming home 22nd out of 23 cars in Duel 1) that he ended in the extra 41st spot on the grid permitted by NASCAR’s new Open Exemption Provisional.

But while Castroneves didn’t prevent any open cars from earning a spot, that will come as small consolation to Chandler Smith, JJ Yeley, Anthony Alfredo and BJ McLeod. Corey LaJoie and Justin Allgaier were the non-chartered drivers who raced into the field thanks to their performance in the Duels, with former Cup Series champions Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson earning spots thanks to their qualifying speed.

Coverage of the 2025 Daytona 500 begins at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, live on FOX and Max.

Nick Tylwalk

Frontstretch Managing Editor