There are just three non-chartered entries confirmed for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway thus far.
The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 is just three weeks away, and there is still a chance that the 64th annual running of the “Great American Race” could be the first not to feature at least 40 cars.
In fact, no race at the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida has featured fewer than 40 cars since the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway featured just 37 back in July 1968.
A total of 106 races, including 53 of the 63 Daytona 500s, have been contested since that race.
So far, there are just three non-chartered entries confirmed for this year’s running of the race.
With 36 chartered entries, that brings the entry list to 39, which is one shy of a full field. For reference, the entry list for last year’s Daytona 500 saw 44 entries, meaning that eight battled for the final four spots. Four of those eight made it, and the other four went home.
Let’s take a look at the three non-chartered entries lined up to attempt to qualify for this year’s running of the race via the single-car qualifying session and the Bluegreen Vacations Duels.
- #27 Ford: This is a new entry fielded by Team Hezeberg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing, and it is set to be driven by 1995 Indy 500 champion, 1995 CART champion and 1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.
- #62 Chevrolet: This entry is set to return for another attempt after failing to make it into the race last year. Noah Gragson, who has still not yet competed in a Cup Series race, is set to pilot this entry again for Beard Motorsports. Beard Motorsports most recently competed in a Cup Series race in October 2020 with Brendan Gaughan behind the wheel at Talladega Superspeedway, and Gaughan made the team’s most recent Daytona 500 start back in February 2020 as well.
- #66 Ford: Another entry that failed to make it into the Daytona 500 last year, the #66 Ford is set to return for another attempt this year. Timmy Hill, who got the car into the field in 2020 but failed to do so in 2021, is set to be back behind the wheel.
But let’s not forget the fact that there is still a chance for additional entries, even though one of those thought to be a possible option, the #96 Toyota of Gaunt Brothers Racing, is now out of the picture.
The Money Team Racing reportedly still have plans to run their first ever Cup Series race in this year’s Daytona 500, and they have secured a car along with sponsorship and a driver in Kaz Grala.
Back in October at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, Grala test drove the Gen 7 car that the team have supposedly purchased from StarCom Racing. It was still owned by StarCom Racing at the time.
NY Racing Team have also teased the return of their #44 Chevrolet, though they also did so last year; they still haven’t competed in the Cup Series since 2018, and they haven’t competed in the Daytona 500 since 2015.
But there have reportedly been sightings of Greg Biffle getting his seat fitted for the #44 Chevrolet at Richard Childress Racing. Could this indicate a partnership to bring the fan-favorite back to the Daytona 500?
The Bluegreen Vacations Duels are scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 17, and they are set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. The 64th annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 20, and it is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.