Daytona 500 information originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Most sports end with the biggest event. NASCAR starts with it.
On Sunday, Feb. 19 the Daytona 500 will drop the green flag for the 65th year with one of the best driver fields we've ever seen.
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This go-round, it'll feature several drastic changes in the field with drivers in new rides and burgeoning teams flexing their new muscles at The Great American Race. Joey Logano was just crowned a two-time champion, becoming just the second active driver to win multiple titles. The other? Kyle Busch has left Joe Gibbs Racing after a storied 15-year stretch that turned him into one of the all-time greats.
Kyle Larson is still perhaps the top talent in the sport, a year removed from one of the best individual season performances in NASCAR history. Three-time Daytona champ Denny Hamlin is aiming for a historic fourth win in the event. Then, there's the rest of the field who feel the playing field may have been leveled with last year's NexGen car and are ripe for the opportunity for another underdog chance to win the most prestigious trophy in NASCAR.
During superspeedway races, manufacturer alliances (Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota) are often the storyline, as specific drivers only worked with those who they were told to.
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Here's a look at all the important information you need to know ahead of the 2023 Daytona 500.
2023 DAYTONA 500 INFORMATION:
WHEN IS THE 2023 DAYTONA 500?
The 65th edition of the Daytona 500 is on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
HOW TO WATCH THE 2023 DAYTONA 500?
FOX will broadcast the 2023 Daytona 500, as they have done every year since 2007.
HOW TO LISTEN TO THE 2023 DAYTONA 500?
The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will provide radio coverage for the 2023 Daytona 500. Find your local provider here. The race will also be broadcast nationally on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90.
HOW TO STREAM TO THE 2023 DAYTONA 500?
FOX Sports and the FOX Sports App have the live online stream of the 2023 Daytona 500.
WHO IS THE DEFENDING DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION?
Rookie Austin Cindric won the 2022 Daytona 500 on his boss's Roger Penske 85th birthday ahead of Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe.
Past Champions:
2022: Austin Cindric
2021: Michael McDowell
2020: Denny Hamlin (3)
2019: Denny Hamlin (2)
2018: Austin Dillon
2017: Kurt Busch - retired
2016: Denny Hamlin
2015: Joey Logano
2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2) - retired
2013: Jimmie Johnson (2) - retired
2012: Matt Kenseth - retired
2011: Trevor Bayne
STARTING ORDER FOR THE 2023 DAYTONA 500:
Qualifying on Wednesday, Feb. 15 determined the pole position and front row for the Daytona 500.
The rest of the starting order was set based on the finishing order of Thursday, Feb. 16's duel races.
1. Alex Bowman - #88 (four-time Daytona 500 pole winner)
2. Kyle Larson - #5
3. Joey Logano - #22
4. Aric Almirola - #10
5. Christopher Bell - #20
6. Austin Cindric - #2
7. Ryan Blaney - #12
8. Chase Elliott - #9
9. Chris Buscher - #17
10. Brad Keselowski - #6
11. Michael McDowell - #34
12. Corey LaJoie - #7
13. Kevin Harvick - #4
14. Todd Gilliland - #38
15. Bubba Wallace - #23
16. Martin Truex Jr. - #19
17. Zane Smith - #36
18. Denny Hamlin - #11
19. Harrison Burton - #21
20. Ryan Preece - #41
21. William Byron - #24
22. Noah Gragson - #42
23. Ross Chastain - #1
24. Daniel Suarez - #99
25. Erik Jones - #43
26. Tyler Reddick - #45
27. Austin Dillon - #3
28. Justin Haley - #31
29. AJ Allmendinger - #16
30. Chase Briscoe - #14
31. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - #47
32. BJ McLeod - #78
33. Ty Gibbs - #54
34. Conor Daly - #50
35. Cody Ware - #51
36. Kyle Busch - #8
37. Ty Dillon - #77
38. Riley Herbst - #15
39. Jimmie Johnson - #84
40. Travis Pastrana - #67
