Qualifying for the 1976 Daytona 500 was unusual. A.J. Foyt, in Hoss Ellington's
#28 Chevrolet, was quickest with a speed of 187.477 mph. Aside from the quick laps turned in by Darrell Waltrip and Dave Marcis, virtually all of the others were 8-10 mph off the pace. The discrepancy led NASCAR to reinspect the quick cars. The times of Foyt, Waltrip, and Marcis were disallowed; Foyt and Waltrip because nitrous oxide bottles were found in their cars; Marcis for a radiator technicality.
