Tyler Reddick drove his No. 45 Toyota through the smoke and chaos to capture the Harley J. Earl trophy Sunday afternoon, February 15, 2026, winning the 68th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The Great American Race kicked off the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season in classic style — full of big wrecks, bold moves, and a dramatic finish. Reddick held off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano over the final laps to claim his first Daytona 500 victory and become the 44th different driver to take the checkered flag in the event’s history.
The race saw 40 cars take the green flag, but only a handful remained on the lead lap at the end. Reddick crossed the line ahead of Stenhouse (No. 47) in second and Logano (No. 22) in third.
Top 10 Finishers
Here’s how the leaders finished:
- Tyler Reddick (No. 45)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47)
- Joey Logano (No. 22)
- Chase Elliott (No. 9)
- Brad Keselowski (No. 6)
- Zane Smith (No. 38)
- Chris Buescher (No. 17)
- Riley Herbst (No. 35)
- Josh Berry (No. 21)
- Bubba Wallace (No. 23)
Record-Breaking Purse for 2026
The total prize pool for the 2026 Daytona 500 reached $31,045,575, an increase of nearly $700,000 from 2025 and more than $13 million higher than the purse in 2015.That figure makes the Daytona 500 the highest-paying race on the NASCAR calendar, far outpacing other events. The massive payout reflects the race’s status as the season opener and its ability to draw huge television audiences and sponsor interest.
How Much Did Reddick Earn?
NASCAR stopped publicly releasing individual driver payouts after Joey Logano won in 2015 and took home $1.58 million. Since then, exact winnings for the winner have not been officially announced. According to a report from USA Today, estimates suggest the first-place prize typically falls between $1.5 million and $2 million, depending on several factors.
One key element is an allocation based on a driver’s three-year season-ending points performance in the charter system. Given the 2026 purse is almost double the $18 million pool from Logano’s victory year, experts project Reddick’s earnings could top $2 million. The Daytona Beach News-Journal, noted that the larger overall pot makes a higher winner’s share realistic.
Why the Daytona 500 Pays So Much
The race’s massive purse comes from a combination of ticket sales, television rights, sponsorships, and other revenue streams tied to its status as “The Great American Race.” For nearly 70 years, it has delivered unmatched excitement and tradition, drawing fans and drivers from across the country.
