Full starting grid for 2021 Daytona 500 after 8 cars moved to the back

Raceday update: Bubba Wallace has been moved to the back of the field after twice failing pre-race inspection. He was previously set to start sixth. He joins the nine below at the back of the pack.

Saturday update: The starting lineup will see some changes heading into race day. The following drivers are being moved to the back of the starting lineup due to a variety of reasons. Martin Truex Jr. is moving back because of a radiator/oil cooler change, Erik Jones is moving back because of an engine change, and the rest are moving back because they are moving to backup cars. We’ll update the starting lineup once it’s made official.

Brad Keselowski
Chase Briscoe
Kaz Grala
Anthony Alfredo
William Byron
Cole Custer
Ross Chastain
Erik Jones
Martin Truex Jr

The 2021 Daytona 500 will have a limited crowd, but if the racing from the Duel races on Thursday night is any indication, there won’t be much room on the track at all.

Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports is scheduled to start on the pole, but his engine looked to have problems during Duel 1, and if it’s replaced he’ll be forced to start from the back of the field. His teammate William Byron was supposed to be on the outside of Row 1, but he got in wreck with four to go in Duel 2, and his car looked torn up enough where he might be in the back as well.

Aric Almirola won Duel 1, keeping the streak of Tampa Bay winning everything in a pandemic world still intact. A great piece from driving from Austin Dillon moved him under Bubba Wallace just yards from the checkered flag, and he gets the win in Duel 2. And with the issues above, that might be enough to put him on the front row for the Great American Race.

Here is the full lineup for Sunday’s 2021 Daytona 500 as of now, but this is subject to change if cars or engines are needed to be changed.