NASCAR: New team decides not to compete in 2023

Finish Line Motorsports Marketing had wanted to make their NASCAR Cup Series debut this season, but that ultimately didn’t happen.

Before the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season opened up with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, there was some confusion as it pertained to the entry list for the race, specifically regarding how many non-chartered entries would be battling for the final four spots in the 40-car field.

Finish Line Motorsports Marketing were reportedly preparing to enter the No. 80 Chevrolet with J.J. Yeley as their driver, but Reaume Brothers Racing later clarified that this would not be happening, as they had been working with the organization to field the car in select races later in the year.

It was later revealed that they were targeting the season’s fourth race at Phoenix Raceway, the home race track for both Yeley and the team, for the No. 80 Chevrolet’s debut, but that also did not pan out.

Then Finish Line Motorsports Marketing planned make their NASCAR Cup Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway in April. That too did not happen.

Skip ahead to August, and the regular season finale at the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilmeter) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval did not feature the No. 80 Chevrolet.

Skip ahead to October, and the playoff race at the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked Lincoln, Alabama oval did not feature the No. 80 Chevrolet on the entry list.

Now the only race remaining on this year’s calendar is scheduled to take place at Phoenix Raceway, the other venue where Finish Line Motorsports Marketing had planned on competing earlier this year.

Once again, the No. 80 Chevrolet is not on the entry list at the four-turn, 1.058-mile (1.703-kilometer) Avondale, Arizona oval.

No Cup Series race has featured a No. 80 car since March 2007, when Aric Almirola made his Cup Series debut behind the wheel of the No. 80 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

That will remain the case for at least another season.

Yeley still made select starts throughout the 2023 season, all with Rick Ware Racing. He finished in a season-high seventh place in a rain-shortened race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July.

Sunday’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV today if you have not yet done so and don’t miss it!