NASCAR running out of options for Daytona 500?

One of the potential entries to fill the field for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 is now out of the picture.

The start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is now just three weeks away, with the 64th annual Daytona 500 scheduled to open things up at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 20.

But throughout the offseason, one of the talking points leading up to this 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked oval in Daytona Beach, Florida has been the car count.

This race is set to be the first official race of the Gen 7 car era, and there has been speculation that the field may not end up being a full 40-car field.

There are 36 chartered entries locked into the race, but only three additional non-chartered cars have been confirmed.

• #27 Team Hezeberg powered by Reaume Brothers Racing Ford – Jacques Villeneuve
• #62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet – Noah Gragson
• #66 MBM Motorsports Ford – Timmy Hill

To compare, there were eight additional non-chartered cars on the entry list last year, and only four could lock into the field, so four failed to qualify following the Bluegreen Vacations Duels.

So could this end up being the first ever Daytona 500 without at least 40 cars, and the first race at the Daytona International Speedway oval without at least 40 cars since July 1968?

One of the cars thought to be a possibility to fill the field was the #96 Toyota of Gaunt Brothers Racing. The Marty Gaunt-owned team have attempted the Daytona 500 in each of the last five years, but they failed to qualify in both 2020 and 2021.

However, according to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, they are not expected to enter their #96 Toyota in next month’s race, and their plans throughout the rest of the 2022 season remain unknown.

While there is still a chance that there will be at least 40 cars entered into this year’s Daytona 500, there are very few options left to fill the field or perhaps put it over the top.

The two that stand out are the long-rumored The Money Team Racing, which are again seemingly “on the verge” of their debut, as well as NY Racing Team, which teased a return last year but didn’t end up competing. They have teased another return for 2022.

There have interestingly been reports of Greg Biffle being sighted at Richard Childress Racing getting his seat fitted for the #44 Chevrolet. Could we see some kind of partnership between NY Racing Team and Richard Childress Racing?

The Bluegreen Vacations Duels are set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 17. The Daytona 500 itself is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 20.