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NASCAR driver guaranteed to miss Daytona 500 after Trackhouse decision?

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It has been officially announced by Trackhouse Racing that they plan to include a fourth vehicle in their lineup for the Daytona 500, which will be driven by four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves starting in February.

Among the vehicles on the roster for the upcoming 200-lap race at the Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile, four-corner oval is Castroneves’ unchartered Chevrolet numbered 91, joining four other open cars on the grid.

Here are the vehicles in question:

1. The No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet driven by J.J. Yeley.
2. The No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet raced by Anthony Alfredo.
3. The No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford piloted by Mike Wallace.
4. The No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet manned by B.J. McLeod.

Each of these cars is part of a race team, with the drivers listed alongside their corresponding vehicle numbers and team names.

The number of cars eligible for the Cup Series is limited to 40, while 36 of these spots are already guaranteed through charter agreements for each race. However, currently, there are 41 vehicles listed as potential participants.

Initially, it might seem that Castroneves isn’t fully committed to the race compared to his three permanent teammates. However, co-owner Justin Marks, well-versed in the rules, understood the nuances of NASCAR’s latest charter agreement. This agreement includes a “world-class driver” provisional, and Castroneves undeniably fits that description.

So Castroneves is locked in regardless.

Participants of open entries have two paths to become eligible for the “Great American Race.” One method is by securing either the first or second fastest speed during the individual qualifying session, or alternatively, by winning their respective Bluegreen Vacations Duel race (among open entries) and clinching a spot based on the final race results.

If a driver locks in twice, any remaining open spots will be given to the swiftest drivers, following the single-car qualifying session in order of their speed.

Castroneves has a chance to secure his spot by placing among the top four racers. If he fails to do so, the number of racers will increase from 40 to 41.

In other words, all the drivers presently included in the entry list are eligible to participate in the Daytona 500, despite the fact that the number of competitors in a typical NASCAR Cup Series race is usually limited to 40.

But if there are any further additions to the Daytona 500 entry list, somebody will fail to qualify for sure.

Up to ten applications might be competing for the available positions, since there are still five possible candidates whose acceptance has not been finalized.

Martin Truex Jr. is predicted to pilot a Toyota (apparently numbered 56) for a Joe Gibbs Racing-linked Tricon Garage team, which hasn’t previously participated in the Cup Series. Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson is expected to continue driving the No. 84 Toyota for the Legacy Motor Club team he shares ownership with.

It’s possible that Richard Childress Racing might schedule their No. 33 Chevrolet for the Daytona 500 as part of its partial racing calendar. Moreover, Rick Ware Racing’s No. 15 Ford, previously a chartered car until the end of 2024, could potentially join the races too.

After undergoing a name change from The Money Team Racing to Team AmeriVet, they appeared twice during the previous season. In both 2022 and 2023, their No. 50 Chevrolet participated in the Daytona 500.

As a die-hard racing enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the qualifying session for the Daytona 500, held at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, is set for Wednesday, February 12. The preliminary Bluegreen Vacations Duel races are slated for Thursday, February 13, airing on Fox at 7:00 p.m. ET. Lastly, mark your calendars for Sunday, February 16, where the main event of Daytona 500 will unfold on Fox, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. Buckle up, it’s going to be an exhilarating ride!

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2025-01-13 16:02

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