DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona 500 has NASCAR’s most unusual – and sophisticated – qualifying format.
And it acquired extra convoluted this yr with the most important variety of entrants in a decade and a brand new rule that would add a forty first driver to the 40-car discipline.
There are 36 guys already locked into Sunday’s 500-mile race as a result of their groups personal charters, which assure them entry into each race on the Cup Collection schedule. The remaining 4 spots are stuffed by non-chartered vehicles, also known as “open groups.”
There are 9 drivers – essentially the most since 2015 – vying for these spots: Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, Helio Castroneves, Jimmie Johnson, Corey LaJoie, B.J. McLeod, Chandler Smith, Martin Truex Jr. and J.J. Yeley.
“It’s not simply seven whatevers,” Johnson stated. “Once you look by the affiliations and the way these vehicles play out, it’s going to be a really demanding qualifying.”
They will get into “The Nice American Race” two methods, with two spots going to the drivers who flip the quickest laps in qualifying Wednesday and two extra spots being decided by qualifying races Thursday.
Though Castroneves is driving for an open staff, the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner is locked into the sector by a brand new rule that permits NASCAR to ask a “world-class driver” to every occasion. His Trackhouse Racing staff was the one one to use earlier than the deadline, so he was the one driver NASCAR thought-about for the provisional spot.
However there’s a catch. If Castroneves makes use of the provisional, his staff will get no prize cash. So he’ll attempt to qualify his method in, and if he does, the Daytona 500 could be a 40-car discipline – and 5 open vehicles would miss the race. If he doesn’t qualify, he would get in through the provisional – and the five hundred would have 41 vehicles.
Right here’s a take a look at the 9, in alphabetical order:
Alfredo, 25, returns to Daytona with Beard Motorsports. Alfredo completed twenty seventh with the staff final yr. He has two top-10s in 41 profession Cup begins. Based by the late Mark Beard Sr., Beard Motorsports is attempting to make the sector for the seventh time since 2017.
The reigning Xfinity Collection champion can be behind the wheel for JR Motorsports’ first try at making the Daytona 500. JRM is owned by two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose entry is being sponsored by nation music star Chris Stapleton. Allgaier, 38, is winless is 82 Cup begins.
Castroneves will make his NASCAR debut within the No. 91 Chevrolet no matter how he qualifies. The 49-year-old Brazilian is one among 4 drivers to have gained the Indy 500 4 instances (2001, ’02, ’09, ’21). He has discovered success at Daytona, too, having gained the 24 Hours at Daytona thrice.
The seven-time Cup champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner, now the bulk proprietor of Legacy Motor Membership, is getting into two races this yr. The 49-year-old Johnson can be trying to make his twenty second look within the 500 however should qualify for the third straight yr. Johnson’s paint scheme was designed with enter from NBA nice Shaquille O’Neal.
LaJoie, 33, is operating a partial schedule for Rick Ware Racing and attempting to make his ninth consecutive Daytona 500. He has three top-10 finishes within the season opener, together with a career-best fourth final yr.
McLeod, proprietor and driver at Dwell Quick Motorsports, bought his constitution for a reported $40 million to Spire Motorsports in 2023. It gave McLeod the liberty to choose and select when and the place he races, and Daytona is excessive on the listing. The 41-year-old McLeod has 5 Daytona 500 begins, with a finest end of nineteenth.
Smith is trying to make the race with Storage 66, changing Mike Wallace within the No. 66 Ford. Smith, who’s slated to drive a full Truck Collection schedule, final tried (and failed) to make the five hundred in 2023 with Kaulig Racing. The 22-year-old Smith has began three Cup races, together with a Fifteenth-place displaying within the 2023 summer season race.
Truex retired from full-time competitors final season, however the 2017 Cup champion entered the race with TRICON Storage. His No. 56 Toyota is getting technical assist from Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex, 45, is winless in 20 Daytona 500 begins however got here house second in 2016 in one of many closest finishes in NASCAR historical past.
Yeley is attempting to make his sixth Daytona 500 and first since 2015. The 48-year-old driver is winless in 386 Cup begins and is partnering with NY Racing Crew to pilot the No. 44 Chevrolet.
