The race to make the 2025 Daytona 500 could also be simply as thrilling as the five hundred itself with the biggest subject of ‘open’ entries in a decade. Among the many entrants are two former Cup champions and a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. In the end, 9 drivers can be combating for the ultimate 4 spots on the grid (doubtlessly 5 spots however we’ll clarify {that a} bit afterward). First, let’s meet the drivers and groups who can be battling to be a part of the 67th operating of ‘The Nice American Race.’
Corey LaJoie – No. 01 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Corey LaJoie, Rick Ware Racing, Mighty Fireplace Breaker Ford Mustang
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Corey LaJoie is at a crossroads in his Cup profession. After a tough 2024 the place he struggled for outcomes and was compelled to vary groups mid-season, it was unclear if we’d even see him on the observe this yr. It’s not a full-time trip, however he has secured a partial schedule with Rick Ware Racing, driving a quantity that hasn’t been seen on the Cup stage in 17 years (and pays tribute to his ‘Stacking Pennies’ mantra). He’s a superbly succesful superspeedway racer with a fourth-place end in final yr’s Daytona 500, but when he needs to make a ninth consecutive begin on this crown jewel occasion, he must beat some actually spectacular names.
Justin Allgaier – No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Champion Champion Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports, BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
The Earnhardt-owned group is lastly going Cup racing. With assist from the mighty Hendrick Motorsports and sponsorship from nation music legend Chris Stapleton, they’ve put collectively a group for this yr’s 500. Defending Xfinity Sequence champion Justin Allgaier will pilot the No. 40 Chevy and whereas he’s an skilled Cup racer, he hasn’t participated on this occasion since 2015.
J.J. Yeley – No. 44 NY Racing Workforce Chevrolet
J.J. Yeley, Rick Ware Racing, Nabor Drive Ford Mustang
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
A real underdog story. Yeley is a veteran journeyman racer with practically 400 Cup begins during the last twenty years. In his ten Daytona 500 makes an attempt, he has didn’t make the present on 4 events. His final begin got here ten years in the past regardless of three makes an attempt with three completely different groups over the previous few years, which at all times resulted in a DNQ. Final season was particularly merciless as he by some means discovered himself in a switch spot, moments away from beating seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson in a shock upset. Sadly, a stack-up within the last nook opened the door for Johnson and denied Yeley a spot within the huge race. And past the 2 Cup champions on this listing, Yeley is by far probably the most skilled driver trying to race their approach into the present.
Martin Truex Jr. – No. 56 TRICON Storage Toyota
Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing, Bass Professional Retailers Toyota Camry
Photograph by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
That is an intriguing one. The 2017 NASCAR Cup champion retired from full-time competitors on the finish of final yr, however he’s nonetheless trying to find that elusive Daytona 500 victory. He can be in unfamiliar territory as an open entry, however he can have sturdy assist from Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing (his former group). The group he’ll formally be driving for is TRICON Storage, a Truck Sequence operation hoping to make its first begin within the Cup Sequence. Truex has 20 earlier appearances within the 500, however zero victories. Of word, he can be reuniting along with his former crew chief Cole Pearn, who guided Truex to the Cup title in 2017. We’ll see if he also can information him into the Daytona 500 towards a stacked subject of rivals.
Anthony Alfredo – No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
Anthony Alfredo, Beard Motorsports, Fortify Constructing Options Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Beard Motorsports is a part-time group that completely runs superspeedways today. Partly attributable to their shut relationship with RCR, they’ve had some spectacular showings over time, together with a top-five end. This may mark the ninth consecutive yr they’ve tried the five hundred, solely lacking it twice. Historical past does favor them as this duo of Anthony Alfredo and Beard Motorsports already made the five hundred collectively one yr in the past.
Chandler Smith – No. 66 (previously MBM Motorsports) Storage 66 Ford
Chandler Smith, Kaulig Racing, Fast Tie Inc. Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
The story of this entry is a tumultuous one with Storage 66 – which was often known as MBM Motorsports till very lately – having to scramble to discover a driver after NASCAR threw a wrench into their authentic plans. Veteran driver Mike Wallace was set to pilot the entry, however this was introduced earlier than the 65-year-old gained official approval from NASCAR. With no superspeedway begins in over a decade, NASCAR determined towards permitting Wallace to aim the five hundred, leaving him lower than happy. The group made a public plea for any drivers with funding who can be inquisitive about driving the automotive as Wallace’s substitute, all whereas concurrently going by its ‘Storage 66’ rebrand. Finally, they secured younger racer Chandler Smith, who has received on the Xfinity and Truck ranges. Smith was not sure if he’d even be racing this yr after dropping his full-time Xfinity trip, however he’s since discovered a touchdown spot within the Truck Sequence. This can be his second Daytona 500 try, having didn’t make the present two years in the past.
B.J. McLeod – No. 78 Stay Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
B.J. McLeod, Stay Quick Motorsports, Chevrolet
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Driver/proprietor B.J McLeod earned an enormous payday when he bought his constitution for upwards of $40 million two years in the past and has since grow to be a part-time driver, displaying up for occasions right here and there as he pleases. He has 5 begins within the 500, however didn’t make the race in his first yr as an open entry in 2024. Whereas the chances are towards him, he has loads of buddies within the storage and that’s one thing you at all times want at a drafting observe like Daytona.
Jimmie Johnson – No. 84 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Jimmie Johnson, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, Carvana Toyota Camry
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion is again once more, driving the automotive he co-owns in hopes of constructing his twenty second begin within the 500. Johnson has received this race twice however even along with his in depth expertise behind the wheel, he narrowly prevented lacking the present one yr in the past. It was a nail-biting end with Johnson making the required go within the last seconds of his Duel race. This yr, he’ll as soon as once more drive a 3rd entry for his personal group as a teammate to John-Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones. Johnson can be partnering with basketball legend Shaq for his 500 effort.
Helio Castroneves – No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Workforce Chevrolet
Helio Castroneves, Workforce Penske
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
Solely two drivers in historical past have received each the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 and they’re the legendary Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt. Helio is aiming to grow to be the third, teaming up with Trackhouse’s Undertaking 91 program. This automotive has featured each Kimi Raikkonen and Shane van Gisbergen previously, taking a shock victory within the 2023 Chicago Road Course race that served as a launching pad for SVG’s NASCAR profession. Helio is in a novel place as an open entry as a result of he’s not feeling the strain of the eight others on this listing. He’s eligible for the newly-created ‘Open Exemption Provisional,’ which NASCAR says can be made out there to “world-class drivers” and ensures them a spot within the subject. If Helio fails to make the race on benefit, a fifth open spot can be added to the grid, bringing the automotive rely to 41 for Sunday’s race.
The race to make the race
Excluding Helio, who can fall again on the OEP if wanted, the remaining eight groups will put a whole lot of effort into qualifying day, the place they’ll management their future a bit greater than the dash races to observe. Single-car qualifying units the grid for the 2 Duel qualifying races, however extra importantly, the 2 quickest open entries will robotically lock themselves into the sphere. Allgaier with the Hendrick energy underneath the hood seemingly has the very best shot of taking that route, but it surely’s no assure. For the six drivers who don’t finish their worries in qualifying, their destiny can be determined over the course of dual 150-mile warmth races.
Within the Duel races, teammate and producer alliances can be paramount on the 2.5-mile superspeedway the place the draft is the whole lot. Some drivers are extra lucky on this space than others, comparable to Truex and Johnson whereas the likes of Yeley and Smith will in all probability be fending for themselves. The open entries can be evenly break up between the 2 Duel races, and the highest-finishing open entry from every Duel race will take the ultimate two spots on the grid. Now, if a kind of two drivers who locked in by way of qualifying velocity additionally beats the opposite open entries of their respective Duel race, issues get a bit extra difficult. Ought to certainly one of them pull off such a feat, the third quickest open entry from qualifying turns into locked into the present. If each of them handle to greatest the remainder of the open subject in qualifying and the races, then the third and fourth quickest open entries from qualifying will be a part of them within the 67th operating of the Daytona 500. Once more, the significance of qualifying can’t be understated.
That is the largest open entry subject for the reason that system was launched in 2016, and an open entry has by no means gone on to win the Daytona 500. Ryan Preece did the very best of any when he raced his approach into the sphere for the 2021 Daytona 500 and went on to complete sixth. With the caliber of drivers and groups entered this yr, that would actually change and the Duel races are certain to be stuffed with each excessive feelings and gripping drama. When the smoke clears on Thursday the thirteenth, 4 to 5 drivers can have their 500 hopes dashed as the total subject of starters is confirmed for the 67th operating of NASCAR’s crown jewel occasion.
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Helio Castroneves
Jimmie Johnson
JJ Yeley
Martin Truex Jr
Justin Allgaier
BJ McLeod
Corey Lajoie
Anthony Alfredo
Chandler Smith
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