NASCAR: Updated 2025 Daytona 500 entry list after late driver change

MBM Motorsports, having just rebranded their NASCAR Cup Series team as Garage 66, declared that Chandler Smith will pilot car number 66 during Speedweeks with the aim of making it into the starting lineup for the 2025 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Originally, Mike Wallace was set to race for a team owned by Carl Long, but NASCAR determined that he doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria due to insufficient recent involvement in significant motor racing events since 2015.

The No. 66 Ford has been added to the roster of 44 participating cars for the upcoming 200-lap race held on the Daytona Beach, Florida oval track, which spans four turns and measures approximately 2.5 miles (4.023 kilometers). Typically, Cup Series races allow 40 vehicles, but there might be an additional 41st car for the “Great American Race”, a point that will be discussed further later on.

As a gamer, I’ve got 36 spots reserved for me in this event, no matter how my performance is during the solo qualifying round on Wednesday, February 12, or the Bluegreen Vacations Duel races on Thursday, February 13 (7:00 p.m. ET on Fox).

Chevrolet

Hendrick Motorsports

No. 5 – Kyle Larson
No. 9 – Chase Elliott
No. 24 – William Byron
No. 48 – Alex Bowman

Hyak Motorsports

No. 47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Kaulig Racing

No. 10 – Ty Dillon
No. 16 – A.J. Allmendinger

Richard Childress Racing

No. 3 – Austin Dillon
No. 8 – Kyle Busch

Spire Motorsports

No. 7 – Justin Haley
No. 71 – Michael McDowell
No. 77 – Carson Hocevar

Trackhouse Racing

No. 1 – Ross Chastain
No. 88 – Shane van Gisbergen
No. 99 – Daniel Suarez

Ford

Front Row Motorsports

No. 4 – Noah Gragson
No. 34 – Todd Gilliland
No. 38 – Zane Smith

Haas Factory Team

No. 41 – Cole Custer

RFK Racing

No. 6 – Brad Keselowski
No. 17 – Chris Buescher
No. 60 – Ryan Preece

Rick Ware Racing

No. 51 – Cody Ware

Team Penske

No. 2 – Austin Cindric
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney
No. 22 – Joey Logano

Wood Brothers Racing

No. 21 – Harrison Burton

Toyota

23XI Racing

No. 23 – Bubba Wallace
No. 35 – Riley Herbst
No. 45 – Tyler Reddick

Joe Gibbs Racing

No. 11 – Denny Hamlin
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe
No. 20 – Christopher Bell
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs

Legacy Motor Club

No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek
No. 43 – Erik Jones

Let’s examine the eight unofficial entries (the ones not chartered), among them, only one has been officially secured for the race.

Chevrolet

Beard Motorsports

No. 62 – Anthony Alfredo

Live Fast Motorsports

No. 78 – B.J. McLeod

JR Motorsports

No. 40 – Justin Allgaier

NY Racing Team

No. 44 – J.J. Yeley

Trackhouse Racing

No. 91 – Helio Castroneves

Ford

Garage 66 (MBM Motorsports)

No. 66 – Chandler Smith

Toyota

Legacy Motor Club

No. 84 – Jimmie Johnson

Tricon Garage

No. 56 – Martin Truex Jr.

Of these eight open entries, only Castroneves’ No. 91 Chevrolet is locked into the race.

In a single-car qualifying round and a Duel race for other drivers, speed determines who qualifies first, while race results decide the rest. However, if Helio Castroneves doesn’t make it among the top four qualifiers, he is assured of a spot in the race due to his “exceptional driver” provisional. If granted, this could potentially increase the racing field from 40 to 41 cars.

More vehicles might potentially be included in the roster. The No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford is seen as a likely candidate, while both the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and the No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet are also possibilities.

The upcoming 67th Daytona 500, happening at Daytona International Speedway, will air live on Fox starting at 2:30 p.m. ET this coming Sunday, February 16. To catch all the excitement of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season opener, sign up now for a free trial with FuboTV!

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2025-01-27 15:02

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