NASCAR: The one remaining possible Daytona 500 addition
By Asher Fair
Following the news that Tommy Baldwin Racing will not compete, there is still one more reasonably possible addition to the Daytona 500 entry list to get the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season underway.
Tommy Baldwin Racing, which had been aiming to bring a car to Daytona International Speedway to compete in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500, confirmed that they will unfortunately not be able to do so.
They have not competed in that race since 2017, when Elliott Sadler piloted the #7 Chevrolet. They attempted to do so again with Ryan Truex behind the wheel of the #71 Chevrolet in 2019, but he ultimately failed to qualify.
As a result, there is just one remaining realistic possible addition to the entry list for this year’s Daytona 500.
That is the #44 Chevrolet for NY Racing Team.
More from NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
- NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500
NY Racing Team, which have never competed full-time in the Cup Series, haven’t competed in a Cup Series race since May of 2018 and haven’t competed in the Daytona 500 since 2015, confirmed in early January that they had plans to run the full 36-race schedule in 2021.
But nearly a month later, they have not yet confirmed any drivers or sponsors for the upcoming season. However, they do still have plans to go to Daytona International Speedway.
There are currently 44 confirmed cars on the entry list for the 63rd annual Daytona 500, so the #44 Chevrolet would become the 45th overall and ninth non-chartered car entered for this 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked oval in Daytona Beach, Florida.
With 36 of the 40 starting lineup positions guaranteed to go to the 36 chartered entries, this means that the NY Racing Team car and driver would be battling with eight other cars and drivers to land one of the four remaining open spots.
So with 44 cars currently on the entry list, the #44 Chevrolet would have a 44.4% chance to get into the race if it is indeed added.
Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark
Front row qualifying and the Bluegreen Vacations Duels are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11, respectively. Both are set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on their respective dates. The Daytona 500 itself is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 14.