By Holly Cain and Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service

Jimmie Johnson announces 2027 DAYTONA 500 as last NASCAR Cup race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced Saturday morning at Daytona International Speedway that he will make his final Cup start in the 2027 DAYTONA 500.

Jimmie Johnson. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The 83-race winner and two-time DAYTONA 500 champion will take his 23rd green flag in The Great American Race on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) driving the No. 84 Toyota for the Legacy Motor Club team that he owns.

Daytona seemed like an appropriate place to announce his departure, as it has played a big role in his NASCAR Hall of Fame career. He won the first pole position of his career in his first DAYTONA 500 start in 2002 and went on to win the storied race twice, in 2006 and 2013.

His five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series titles between 2006-2010 comprise a streak that is unmatched and likely never to be equaled.

Since retiring from full-time competition following the 2020 season, Johnson has made 13 assorted starts and is slated to race in the inaugural race on June 21 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, just miles from his hometown El Cajon, Calif.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity that’s been granted to me through my career,” Johnson said Saturday morning at Daytona ”I didn’t use the word retirement way back when in 2020. I still love to compete and want to be on the track and racing.

“The journey as an owner, and certainly where I am in life right now, to compete at the Cup level, week in and week out, is just a door that’s shutting from here now. I’ll be able to enjoy it a bit more this year with the race this weekend and getting in San Diego, and then put a bow on everything, Cup wise, when we come back in ‘27.

“It doesn’t mean I’m not going to race and do other fun things. As you guys know, I’ve got plenty planned this year and hope to have some more fun later in the year as well, but a quick start to the year with this race.  … just trying to find, you know, fun bucket list things to do.”  — Holly Cain.

Richard Childress Racing off to promising start at Daytona

With Kyle Busch on pole position for the DAYTONA 500 and Austin Dillon fastest in Friday practice, it’s safe to say Richard Childress Racing has upped its game and shown up ready to contend for the sport’s most iconic trophy.

Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet, speaks to the media after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Busch’s No. 8 RCR Chevrolet issued a bold statement in pole qualifying Wednesday night, setting fastest time in both rounds to earn the first front-row start for the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion in 21 DAYTONA 500 appearances.

Busch’s teammate Dillon, the 2018 DAYTONA 500 champion, also has turned in encouraging results this week, after an offseason that included several changes to team leadership as well as a new Chevrolet Camaro body.

“We’re just proud of the effort that we’ve made in the offseason,” said Dillon, driver of the iconic No. 3 RCR Chevrolet. “I think ECR horsepower is, again, showing how dominant they are. We get to these speedways, and they always seem to give us a shot, and job well done to Chevrolet with the new Camaro. We feel like we can take the fight on offense more.

“It’s been a struggle, I feel like, the last couple years on speedways for us, and this time around you feel like you can push and compete up there, and it’s a lot more fun. I know that.”  — Holly Cain

NASCAR announces earlier start to DAYTONA 500 because of weather

With inclement weather expected in the evening hours on Sunday, NASCAR has announced an earlier start to the DAYTONA 500, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET instead of the originally scheduled 2:30 p.m. ET.

Gates and hospitality will now open at 9 a.m. ET, and the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone will open at 8:30 a.m. ET. Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. ET.

Broadcast coverage will continue as planned on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Pre-race coverage on FOX will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Country music star Miranda Lambert will perform a pre-race concert, and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will provide a spectacular air show before the 68th running of the Great American Race.

The DAYTONA 500 opens the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and features the largest purse in motorsports–$31 million. —Reid Spencer

Defending winner William Byron happy with backup car as practice concludes

Toyotas were in short supply during final NASCAR Cup Series practice for the DAYTONA 500. In fact, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson was the only Camry driver to shake down his car during 50-minute session on Wednesday.

All told, only 18 of the 41 drivers who will take the green flag on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) posted lap times during “Happy Hour.”

Pole winner Kyle Busch did not participate. Third-place starter Joey Logano, the 2015 winner of the Great American Race, ran a session-high 32 laps.

Drafting in a group of eight cars, Cook Out Clash winner Ryan Preece topped the speed chart at 192.818 mph, followed by Roush Fenway Keselowski teammate Chris Buescher (192.785 mph), who was driving a backup No. 17 Ford after falling victim to a multicar wreck in Thursday night’s first Duel.

Ross Chastain and two-time defending DAYTONA 500 winner William Byron also were driving backups for the same reason.

“I told my guys it felt just like the primary car,” Byron said of the backup in an interview with FOX Sports. “The guys back at Hendrick Motorsports in the shop worked extremely hard overnight on Thursday night into Friday morning, and it feels identical, honestly.

“So big credit to them, and I couldn’t really tell any differences. We worked on a couple of things yesterday to try to get handling off of both ends of the corners, and I think it’s going to be good.”

It’s noteworthy that Byron won the first of his two straight DAYTONA 500s in 2024 in a backup car. —Reid Spencer