It’s that time of year when we take a deeper look at the reported Lead Changes to see how they break down for the race and for the season. Here we not only break down the various types of Lead Changes but look at how the drivers stack up when it comes to Racing Lead Changes, those true Green Flag overtakes for the lead not influenced by Start/Restart bunching or the Leader pitting and giving the lead up to 2nd Place. Where 2nd Place passes 1st Place to take and hold the lead to the line.
Wallace’s Eight Racing Lead Changes Tops the Field
The 2026 Daytona 500 saw a total of 65 Lead Changes, with 43 being Racing Lead Changes. Bubba Wallace made Green Flag passes for the Lead eight times, the most of the 15 drivers who scored Racing Lead Changes. He went to the point the first time passing Denny Hamlin on Lap 77. He scored his second RLC on Lap 124 immediately before Caution Flag #4 taking the lead from Justin Allgaier. Over the next 41 laps Wallace was on the point of the three-wide fuel conserving pack going back and forth with the likes of Corey Heim and Christopher Bell to rack his remaining six RLCs.
Wallace Sets New Daytona RLC Record
Wallace’s eight RLC’s set a new record for the 500, topping Kyle Busch’s previous record of six from the 2024 edition of the 500.
Christopher Bell followed Wallace with six RLC’s, with 2025 Cup Champ Kyle Larson and pole-sitter Kyle Busch tied for third with four RLCs. Wallace’s 23XI teammate, Tyler Reddick scored the last RLC of the race and his only one of the day to bring home the Harley J. Earl trophy for his Daytona 500 win.
RLCs Upward Trend in the GEN7 Era Continues
The number of Great American Race RLCs continues to climb from 18 in 2022 to 36 last year to 43 for this year’s race. Drivers’ RLCs have doubled since 2022 from Wallace’s and Busch’s 4 each in 2022 to Wallace’s 8 this year.
Many attribute these trends to changes in SuperSpeedway racing strategy. The shift to running laps in fuel saving mode to gain advantage and track position on pit stops is now the style of racing of choice and is reflected in this trend.
Wallace Bests 14 Other Racing Lead Change Drivers
Below is a breakdown of the 15 drivers who had Racing Lead Changes Sunday. See where your favorite driver ranked
Notable Absences Up Front
Several drivers made it to the front but did it by other means besides Racing Lead Changes. Those include Michael McDowell, Zane Smith, Chris Buescher, Ricky Stenhousem Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, AJ Allmendinger, and Todd Gilliland who found a way to the lead, just not by passing for a Racing Lead Change. Two-Time Daytona 500 winner, William Byron and teammate Alex Bowman were some of several who failed to lead a lap.
Other Lead Changes Stats of Note
Daytona saw 57 Green Flag Lead Changes.
Of the 57 Green Flag Lead Changes, 43 or 75.44% were Racing Lead Changes with Leader Pit Green and turning over the Lead making up another 14.04% of those Lead Changes.
RLCs made up two-thirds of the overall Lead Changes with Caution Flag Lead Changes and LPGs accounting for eight apiece.
Other Passing Stats
This piece focuses on the passes up from for the Lead, other passes took place throughout the field that need to be acknowledged. NASCAR Loop Data recorded over 15,000 Green Flag Passes for position at their scoring loops around the track. This was down from 16,389 Green Flag Passes from last year’s race.
44.61% of those passes were Quality Passes, meaning they took place in the Top 15 or 36.59% of the field. This indicates passing occurred more to the front of the field than in the back, which is not unexpected with the large packs running three wide throughout the race.
Ross Chastain had the most Green Flag Passes for positions. Teammate Shane Van Gisbergen made the most Quality Passes. Christopher Bell was passed the most and William Byron had the best Passing Differential (Times Pass – Times Passed). A breakdown with their specific numbers follows.
Final Daytona Comments
We’re off and running on Season 2026. Last season ended after a long grind that wore teams and fans alike into the ground and the off-season legal proceedings and the Championship change drama provided little relief. But cars on the track helps a lot. Hope this is the start of the recharge and rebuild the sport has been missing.
The fuel-saving pack racing that has become the recent norm in SuperSpeedway racing had to be a major contributing factor to this year’s numbers. It produced much fan outcry during and after the race as the field running half-throttle to save fuel through significant portions of the race is hardly what fans wanted to see at “The World Center of Speed”. Unfortunately, no solution seems to be surfacing and NASCAR Leadership hasn’t recognized it as an issue. Until that happens, or teams find an advantage by somehow pressing the throttle down more, this appears to be our future.
But with all that said there were several positive takeaways:
· All the drivers got away safely. In the 25th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death, safety is foremost.
· They beat the rain. Moving the race up to beat the weather was a good call.
· It was refreshing to have the focus on the race and not the Playoffs. Will be interesting to see how this goes as the season progresses.
· Viewership numbers up over the previous two years. A nice start to the season.
· No cars got airborne.
· Appear to have found a solution to flat tires stranding cars. It’s a bit clunky, but it’s a major improvement over the last four year’s efforts.
· SVG showed in an oval race. Having the most Quality Passes should catch some attention.
· Rookies Corey Heim and Connor Zilisch should be fun to watch this season.
· Not exactly a comeback story, but 23XI who finished 2025 as an Open Team, won their Charters back in the off-season Lawsuit Settlement and started with the biggest win of the season and the most Racing Lead Changes in the race.
What’s Next?
It’s on to the 1.5 miler that identifies as a SuperSpeedway – EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Goodyear is bringing a new tire. Weather may be an issue.
Last year’s race saw Christopher Bell win in a race that saw 50 Lead Changes, 25 Racing Lead Changes among 10 Drivers, with Josh Berry taking a race high 5 RLCs.
Will this year’s race produce better? Tune in and find out! Till then…
Thunder On… and Stay Safe!
David Nance
Photo Credit: James Gilbert/Getty Images