NASCAR: Full-time driver lineup set for 2023

With Cody Ware set to compete full-time for Rick Ware Racing once again, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series full-time lineup is set with 34 drivers.

The start of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is right around the corner, with the Busch Light Clash preseason exhibition race scheduled to take place at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this coming Sunday afternoon and the official season-opening Daytona 500 scheduled to take place at Daytona International Speedway two weeks later.

And the full-time driver lineup is finally set for the 36-race season.

Cody Ware is set to return to his father’s team, Rick Ware Racing, for a second full season behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford in 2023, making him the 34th confirmed full-time driver. All 34 full-time drivers are set to drive chartered cars.

See a list of the other 33 here.

This number is up from 32, as two chartered entries that were driven by multiple drivers last year are now set to be driven by full-time drivers. A.J. Allmendinger is the full-time driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet and Ty Dillon is the full-time driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.

The two chartered entries without full-time drivers for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season are the No. 15 Ford and the No. 78 Chevrolet.

Rick Ware Racing have only confirmed one driver for the No. 15 Ford, with that being Riley Herbst. Herbst, who has no Cup Series experience, is set to compete in all of the superspeedway races on the schedule, including the Daytona 500.

Live Fast Motorsports have confirmed two drivers for the No. 78 Chevrolet. Team co-owner B.J. McLeod is set to return, though his full schedule hasn’t been announced.

Since the team entered the Cup Series in 2021, McLeod has driven in all of the oval races except for the dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway. His schedule could change slightly in 2023 with the addition of Josh Bilicki for select races, as Bilicki is likely to compete in at least one oval race.

Fox is set to broadcast the Busch Light Clash live from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 5, and it set to broadcast the 65th annual Daytona 500 live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 19.