NASCAR: Latest driver announcement changes Daytona 500

The latest Daytona 500 announcement ensures that not everybody will successfully qualify for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season opener.

There are officially more cars on the entry list for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 than there are available spots in the field for the race.

Following two announcements earlier this week, there are now five non-chartered entries that have been confirmed on the entry list for the season opener.

Prior to this week, only three had been confirmed. Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is set to drive the No. 84 Chevrolet for Legacy Motor Club (formerly Petty GMS Motorsports), reigning Truck Series champion Zane Smith is set to drive a Ford for Front Row Motorsports, and Austin Hill is set to drive the No. 62 Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports.

Now 23XI Racing have confirmed the addition of the No. 67 Toyota for Travis Pastrana, and Kaulig Racing have confirmed the addition of the No. 13 Chevrolet for Chandler Smith.

Interestingly, four of these five teams field two full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries, with Beard Motorsports being the lone exception.

There are still 36 chartered entries, and all are locked into the 40-car field for the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida.

With five non-chartered entries confirmed — and likely at least one more to come — it is now a guarantee that at least one driver won’t successfully qualify for the race.

Two of the non-chartered entries will lock into the field in the single-car qualifying session on Wednesday, February 15, and another two will lock into the field in the two Bluegreen Vacations Duels on Thursday, February 16.

If somebody effectively locks in twice, their second spot will be freed up and go to the next fastest driver from the single-car qualifying session, not necessarily the next highest finisher in whichever Duel race that driver competed in. Last year, there were six non-chartered cars on the entry list, meaning that two failed to qualify.

The 65th annual Daytona 500 is set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 19.