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NASCAR: IndyCar driver set to attempt Daytona 500

By Asher Fair

Conor Daly, The Money Team Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Conor Daly, The Money Team Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /
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IndyCar driver Conor Daly made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in late 2022. Now he is set to attempt to make his Daytona 500 debut to start the 2023 season.

The Money Team Racing announced that they will be back at Daytona International Speedway for a second consecutive year after successfully qualifying for the Daytona 500 with Kaz Grala behind the wheel of the No. 50 Chevrolet last year. In this year’s NASCAR Cup Series season opener, they are set to field the No. 50 Chevrolet for IndyCar driver Conor Daly.

Daly, who is set to compete in as many as six races for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-owned team throughout the 2023 season, made his Cup Series debut for the organization at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval last October. He finished in 34th place.

This race was just one of four races in which the team fielded the No. 50 Chevrolet. Grala drove it in the other three, placing as high as 23rd at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also competed at Circuit of the Americas.

Notably, Daly’s confirmation for the famed NASCAR Cup Series race doesn’t necessarily mean he will get to compete in this year’s Daytona 500.

The 36 chartered entries are locked into the race, but the No. 50 Chevrolet is a non-chartered entry. So Daly still must qualify, and with six non-chartered entries battling for the four remaining spots in the 40-car field, the competition is sure to be fierce.

Two drivers, the fastest two among drivers of non-chartered entries, are set to qualify via their speeds in the single-car qualifying session, which is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 8:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 15.

Two more are set to qualify by finishing ahead of the other non-chartered entries in their respective Bluegreen Vacations Duel race.

If a driver effectively qualifies twice, then his second spot goes to the next fastest driver (of the non-chartered entries) in the single-car qualifying session, not necessarily the next highest finisher in his Duel race.

The Bluegreen Vacations Duels are set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 16.

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The 65th annual Daytona 500 is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 19. Start a free trial of FuboTV today!