NASCAR: Early look at the 2023 Daytona 500 entry list
By Asher Fair
The official start of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is under a month and a half away. Who is set to compete in the 65th annual Daytona 500?
One month from today, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is unofficially scheduled to get underway with the preseason Busch Light Clash exhibition race at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Two weeks later, points-paying action is scheduled to begin with the first of 36 races on the schedule, the 65th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
There are 33 confirmed full-time drivers for the 2023 season and three other confirmed chartered entries which still need drivers. There are three other part-time entries confirmed for the Daytona 500, with more likely to be added to that list in the near future.
If there are more than four non-chartered entries on the entry list, then not everyone who attempts to qualify for the 200-lap race at the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval will ultimately get into the 40-car field.
Six and a half weeks from the green flag, let’s have a look at who fits into each category.
NOTE: (R) means rookie.
Full-time drivers (33)
Front Row Motorsports, Ford
- No. 34 – Michael McDowell
- No. 38 – Todd Gilliland
Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. 5 – Kyle Larson
- No. 9 – Chase Elliott
- No. 24 – William Byron
- No. 48 – Alex Bowman
Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
- No. 11 – Denny Hamlin
- No. 19 – Martin Truex Jr.
- No. 20 – Christopher Bell
- No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (R)
JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 16 – A.J. Allmendinger
- No. 31 – Justin Haley
Petty GMS Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. 42 – Noah Gragson (R)
- No. 43 – Erik Jones
RFK Racing, Ford
- No. 6 – Brad Keselowski
- No. 17 – Chris Buescher
Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 3 – Austin Dillon
- No. 8 – Kyle Busch
Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. 7 – Corey LaJoie
- No. 77 – Ty Dillon
Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
- No. 4 – Kevin Harvick
- No. 10 – Aric Almirola
- No. 14 – Chase Briscoe
- No. 41 – Ryan Preece
Team Penske, Ford
- No. 2 – Austin Cindric
- No. 12 – Ryan Blaney
- No. 22 – Joey Logano
Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet
- No. 1 – Ross Chastain
- No. 99 – Daniel Suarez
23XI Racing, Toyota
- No. 23 – Bubba Wallace
- No. 45 – Tyler Reddick
Wood Brothers Racing, Ford
- No. 21 – Harrison Burton
Full-time entries (3)
Live Fast Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. 78 – TBD
Rick Ware Racing, Ford
- No. 15 – TBD
- No. 51 – TBD
Part-time entries (3)
Beard Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. 62 – Austin Hill (R)
Front Row Motorsports, Ford
- No. TBD – Zane Smith (R)
Petty GMS Motorsports, Chevrolet
- No. TBD – Jimmie Johnson
Possible part-time entries (at least 3)
The Money Team Racing, Chevrolet
- No 50 – TBD
3F Racing, Chevrolet
- No. 30 – TBD
Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet
- No. 91 – TBD
Fox is set to broadcast the Daytona 500 live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 19.