DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Daytona 500 features NASCAR’s most distinctive and intricate qualifying process. This year, it has become even more complex with a record number of participants in the past decade and a new regulation that may bring a 41st driver into the 40-car lineup.
Thirty-six drivers are already secured spots in Sunday’s 500-mile race due to their teams owning charters, granting them entry into all Cup Series events. The remaining four positions are contested by non-chartered teams, known as “open teams.”
Nine drivers, the highest number since 2015, are competing 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. The battle for these spots promises to be intense, with implications extending beyond mere numbers.
The contenders have two paths to secure a place in “The Great American Race”: two spots for the fastest qualifiers on Wednesday, and two more through Thursday’s qualifying races.
Despite driving for an open team, Castroneves has a guaranteed entry through a new rule allowing NASCAR to invite a “world-class driver” to each event. His Trackhouse Racing team was the sole applicant, making him the sole consideration for the provisional spot. However, if he uses the provisional, his team will not be eligible for prize money. Therefore, Castroneves is aiming to qualify outright, potentially resulting in a 40-car field, leaving five open cars out of the race. Alternatively, if he fails to qualify, the race would expand to 41 cars.
Here’s a closer look at the nine contenders in alphabetical order:
– Anthony Alfredo: 25 years old, driving for Beard Motorsports, aiming for his third Daytona appearance and boasting two top-10 finishes in his Cup Series career.
– Justin Allgaier: The reigning Xfinity Series champion, set to compete for JR Motorsports in his Daytona 500 debut.
– Helio Castroneves: Making his NASCAR debut at 49 years old, a four-time Indy 500 winner, and three-time 24 Hours at Daytona champion.
– Jimmie Johnson: The seven-time Cup champion back for his 22nd Daytona 500, now a team owner at Legacy Motor Club.
– Corey LaJoie: Running a partial schedule for Rick Ware Racing, seeking his ninth consecutive Daytona 500 appearance.
– B.J. McLeod: Driver and owner at Live Fast Motorsports, who recently sold his charter to Spire Motorsports.
– Chandler Smith: A young talent looking to secure his spot in the prestigious race.
– Martin Truex Jr.: A seasoned driver aiming for success in this year’s Daytona 500.
– J.J. Yeley: A familiar name in NASCAR,
Having the freedom to select and decide on the timing and location of his races, Daytona ranks high on the list for the 41-year-old McLeod. McLeod has participated in five Daytona 500 events, achieving a top finish of 19th.
Chandler Smith is striving to secure a spot in the race with Garage 66, taking over from Mike Wallace in the No. 66 Ford car. Smith, who is set to compete in a full Truck Series calendar, previously attempted (unsuccessfully) to qualify for the 500 in 2023 with Kaulig Racing. The 22-year-old Smith has competed in three Cup races, with his best result being a 15th-place finish in the summer race of 2023.
Although Martin Truex Jr. retired from full-time racing last season, the 2017 Cup champion has made an appearance in the race with TRICON Garage. His No. 56 Toyota is receiving technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex, aged 45, has yet to secure a victory in 20 Daytona 500 races, but he finished as the runner-up in 2016 in one of the most closely contested finishes in NASCAR history.
J.J. Yeley is aiming to compete in his sixth Daytona 500, the first time since 2015. The 48-year-old driver has not clinched a win in his 386 Cup starts and is teaming up with NY Racing Team to drive the No. 44 Chevrolet.
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