NASCAR’s new ‘world-class driver’ rule makes Daytona 500 qualifying extra sophisticated than ever

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona 500 has NASCAR’s most unusual — and complex — qualifying format.

And it bought extra convoluted this yr with the biggest variety of entrants in a decade and a brand new rule that would add a forty first driver to the 40-car subject.

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 crammed by non-chartered automobiles, sometimes called “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 mentioned. “If you look by the affiliations and the way these automobiles play out, it’s going to be a really traumatic qualifying.”

They’ll 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 enables 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 approach in, and if he does, the Daytona 500 can be a 40-car subject — and 5 open automobiles would miss the race. If he doesn’t qualify, he would get in through the provisional — and the five hundred would have 41 automobiles.

Right here’s a have a look at the 9, in alphabetical order:

Anthony Alfredo

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 making an attempt to make the sector for the seventh time since 2017.

Justin Allgaier

The reigning Xfinity Collection champion shall 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.

Helio Castroneves

Castroneves will make his NASCAR debut within the No. 91 Chevrolet no matter how he qualifies. The 49-year-old Brazilian is certainly one of 4 drivers to have gained the Indy 500 4 occasions (2001, ’02, ’09, ’21). He has discovered success at Daytona, too, having gained the 24 Hours at Daytona thrice.

Jimmie Johnson

The seven-time Cup champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner, now the bulk proprietor of Legacy Motor Membership, is coming into two races this yr. The 49-year-old Johnson shall be trying to make his twenty second look within the 500 however must qualify for the third straight yr. Johnson’s paint scheme was designed with enter from NBA nice Shaquille O’Neal.

Corey LaJoie

LaJoie, 33, is operating a partial schedule for Rick Ware Racing and making an attempt 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.

B.J. McLeod

McLeod, proprietor and driver at Stay Quick Motorsports, offered 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 checklist. The 41-year-old McLeod has 5 Daytona 500 begins, with a finest end of nineteenth.

Chandler Smith

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 exhibiting within the 2023 summer time race.

Martin Truex Jr.

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 help from Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex, 45, is winless in 20 Daytona 500 begins however got here dwelling second in 2016 in one of many closest finishes in NASCAR historical past.

J.J. Yeley

Yeley is making an attempt 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 Workforce to pilot the No. 44 Chevrolet.

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