Daytona pre-race practice entry list for 2026

This weekend, Daytona International Speedway will host the unofficial beginning of the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season when more than 70 drivers travel to the Florida speedplant to take part in the annual pre-race practice.

The practice, which takes place Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, is the first opportunity for teams and drivers to prepare for the Feb. 14 running of the Daytona ARCA 200. For many, the two-day session will be the first opportunity to turn laps at the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway.

For others, this will be the first chance for new driver-team pairings to work together as they prepare to chase the ARCA Menards Series championship.

Leading the charge will be Nitro Motorsports, a team that will field cars for seven drivers this weekend. Included among them are Jake Bollman, Isabella Robusto, Thomas Annunziata, Gus Dean, Jake Finch, Jade Avedisian, Gavan Boschele and Wesley Slimp.

Pinnacle Racing Group, which captured the 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship with Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, will also bring a full roster of drivers to Daytona this weekend. Jack Wood, Taylor Reimer, Landon S. Huffman, Carson Brown and Austin Green will all take part in the pre-race practice with Pinnacle Racing Group.

Not one, but two popular YouTube stars will be taking part in the pre-race practice this season. The first is Garrett Mitchell, known by his pseudonym Cleetus McFarland, who will again pilot a Rette Jones Racing entry during the pre-race practice. The other is Mitch Stapleton, who will be among four drivers practicing for team owner/driver Willie Mullins.

Joe Gibbs Racing will bring its potent Toyota program back to Daytona for the pre-race practice with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner Gio Ruggiero and Max Reaves scheduled to represent the program.

Seven drivers taking part in the Road to Daytona program will also be among those hitting the track this weekend. They include ARCA Menards Series East champion Isaac Kitzmiller, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Craig Lutz, ARCA Menards Series West Rookie of the Year Robbie Kennealy, ASA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year Kody King, multi-time New Smyrna Speedway track champion Brad May, ASA Southern Super Series representative Hudson Bulger and ASA CRA Super Series driver Albert Francis.

In addition to helping most of the Road to Daytona drivers get on track this weekend, Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track Racing will also bring a full squad of drivers to Daytona. Fast Track’s roster includes Takuma Koga, Presley Sorah, Dustin Hillenburg, Ed Pompa, Austin J. Hill, Paul Fodde, Trent Curtis and Ron Vandermeir Jr.

Other notable pre-race practice participants this year include Bobby Dale Earnhardt, the grandson of Dale Earnhardt, popular Late Model racer Mini Tyrrell, ASA STARS National Tour champion Cole Butcher, Jason Kitzmiller, Andy Jankowiak, Glen Reen, Amber Balcaen, Logan Misuraca, Ryan Vargas and Alli Owens, among many others.

Below is the complete entry list for the 2026 ARCA Menards Series Daytona pre-race practice.

Daytona pre-race practice entry list