Daytona International Speedway announced today that Sky Formation is the winner of the fan-voted ballfield grass design. The patriotic design is set to pay tribute to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and will be on display at the 68th running of The Great American Race.
“The tradition of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flyover exemplifies what it means to be a part of The Great American Race,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “The Sky Formation design will showcase exactly what it feels like to witness the power of the Thunderbirds roar over our incredible venue to kick off the 2026 NASCAR season at DAYTONA.”
For the 11th consecutive year, fans were encouraged to cast their vote on one of three designs to be displayed on the ballfield at DAYTONA. With the other options being World Center of Racing and Legendary Stars, the picture of the well-loved tradition of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds came out on top.
Sky Formation paints a thrilling picture of both the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and racing tradition, capturing a still image of power, speed and American pride. The Thunderbirds roaring flyover is one of the greatest traditions at DAYTONA, bringing high-flying thrills to the race.
The months long process of creating the ballfield lies in the hands of the Daytona International Speedway grounds team. Two types of seed are distributed to create different shades of green, with the initial seeding taking 20 hours to complete. By the time the green flag waves for the DAYTONA 500, the grounds team will have put out 2,000lbs of seed per acre of each variety. Along with the equipment used, this year’s design required a multitude of hand work. The team takes great pride in this project and spends several hours each week touching up the 4.25-acre stretch for the upcoming race.
The action begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light, setting the field for the America 250 Florida Duel At DAYTONA, which occurs the following night on Thursday, Feb. 12, where drivers will battle it out for a spot in the coveted Great American Race.
The season-opening races for all three NASCAR national series as well as the ARCA Menards Series kick off on Friday, Feb. 13, starting with the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250. Saturday, Feb. 14, will feature an action-packed double-header with the ARCA Menards Series race followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals 300.
Then Sunday, Feb. 15, the USAF Thunderbirds will perform their flyover, preparing both fans and drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series for an intense battle in the DAYTONA 500.
— Daytona International Speedway —