What’s Happening?
One of the best parts of any NASCAR season is the part-time, un-chartered, or “open” cars that make starts throughout the season. These cars feature veterans and rookie drivers and sometimes win a race. Several of these teams plan to enter races in 2025, so here’s who they are.
- These teams are unchartered, meaning they do not enter or own Charters. Charters give teams valuable revenue sharing with NASCAR and, most importantly, automatic entry into points races.
- Last season, 12 open teams made starts throughout the NASCAR Cup Series season. The best finish amongst these teams came from A.J. Allmendinger, who finished sixth at Circuit of the Americas in Kaulig Racing’s No. 13.
- This year, 11 teams have confirmed they will enter a NASCAR Cup Series race as an open team.
The Complete 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Full-Time Driver Roster
What’s Happening? The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series roster is slowly coming together. Many teams made major moves as early as May…
Rick Ware Racing – No. 15
2025 Drivers: Tim Brown
Rick Ware Racing will enter the No. 15 full-time in 2024; however, they will enter it part-time in 2024. Last season, with Cody Ware behind the wheel, the No. 15 had a best finish of fourth at Daytona.
The first driver announced by RWR to drive the No. 15 is 12-time Bowman Gray Stadium track Champion Tim Brown. Throughout his career racing at “the Madhouse,” Brown has 101 race wins.
Richard Childress Racing Chevy – No. 33
2025 Drivers: TBA
RCR Entering Third Part-time Car Again in 2025; Is This The Start of Something More?
What’s Happening? Monday, Richard Childress Racing announced that it will enter its third part-time car again in 2025. However, they are…
Last season, Richard Childress Racing entered their No. 33 part-time entry once again, with Austin Hill, Ty Dillon, and Supercars Champion Will Brown making six total starts. Of those drivers, Ty Dillon had the best finish of all, walking out of the Brickyard 400 on the 19th.
The No. 33 will return in 2025 with Andy Street as the Crew Chief. However, they have yet to announce the drivers. Most expect that Hill will make more starts in the No. 33. Other rumors suggest that Hill’s RCR Xfinity Series teammate Jesse Love could make a start.
JR Motorsports – No. 40
2025 Drivers: Justin Allgaier
Dale Earnhardt Jr and Chris Stapleton Entering a Car in 2025 Daytona 500
What’s Happening? NASCAR Hall of Famer and Xfinity Series team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will enter a car in the 2025…
JRM announced in January that they will make their long-awaited NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500. With support from country music star Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey, JRM is entering the No. 40 Chevrolet with Justin Allgaier.
NY Racing – No. 44
2025 Drivers: J.J. Yeley
Every Part-Time Entry in the 2025 Daytona 500 (So Far)
What’s Happening? One of the best parts of the Daytona 500 is the open entries. These open or unchartered cars face…
NY Racing is entering their No. 44 in 2025, and J.J. Yeley will once again attempt to qualify the car for the 500. Last season, NY Racing and Yeley barely missed out on the 500.
Last season, NY Racing entered nine NASCAR Cup Series races with Yeley and Joey Gase behind the wheel. The team’s best finish was Gase’s lone start at Daytona in August, where he brought the No. 44 home 20th.
Team Amerivet Racing Chevy – No. 50
2025 Drivers: Burt Myers
Floyd Mayweather’s Former NASCAR Team To Return In 2025 With New Name
What’s Happening? Team AmeriVet, formerly known as The Money Team, plans to race for a half-season next year in the 2025…
Team Amerivet is returning following a two-race schedule in 2024 with Ty Dillon and Jeb Burton. The team announced they would return for a sophomore season for a “multiple” race 2025 campaign.
For their first driver, Team Amerivet opted to enter multi-time Bowman Gray Stadium track champion Burt Myers. Myers will pilot the No. 50 in the season-opening Cook Out Clash.
TRICON Garage – No. 56
2025 Drivers: Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr Teams Up With New Team and Former Crew Chief for Daytona 500
What’s Happening? Tricon Garage will make its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2025 Daytona 500 with 2017 NASCAR Cup Series…
Much like JR Motorsports, TRICON Garage is expected to make only one start in their first-ever season in the NASCAR Cup Series. The long-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team is entering the recently retired Martin Truex Jr. in the 2025 Daytona 500.
Beard Motorsports – No. 62
2025 Drivers: Anthony Alfredo
Anthony Alfredo and Fan Favorite Underdog Team Returning at Daytona 500
What’s Happening? As expected, Anthony Alfredo and Beard Motorsports will join forces for the Daytona 500 once again in 2025. Alfredo…
Beard Motorsports and Anthony Alfredo will tackle the Daytona 500 once again in 2025. Of their four starts in 2025, the team scored two of the top ten finishes.
Beard entered two drivers in 2025. Alfredo made three starts in the car and had a best-finished sixth at Talladega. The other driver to enter a race for Beard Motorsports was Parker Retzlaff, who finished seventh at Daytona in August.
Garage 66 – No. 66
2025 Drivers: Garrett Smithley
NASCAR Cup Series Team Changing Names for 2025 Season
What’s Happening? In 2025, the team formerly known as MBM Motorsports will become Garage 66. Former racer Carl Long owns the…
The former MBM Motorsports, now known as Garage 66, announced their return to NASCAR in 2025 with Mike Wallace entering the Daytona 500. However, following a ruling from NASCAR, Wallace is ineligible to start the race.
Last season, the No. 66 entered 13 races, with Josh Bilicki scoring the team’s best finish of 29th at the Charlotte Roval. Following this ruling on Wallace, the team announced that Garrett Smithley would drive the No. 66 in the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
B.J. McLeod Motorsports – No. 78
2025 Drivers: B.J. McLeod
Fan Favorite Driver Announces Part-Time 2025 NASCAR Schedule
What’s Happening? BJ McLeod and his team, Live Fast Motorsports, confirmed their return to NASCAR Cup Series action for 2025 Thursday…
B.J. McLeod and his underdog team will make seven starts in 2025. This schedule consists of superspeedways and the hybrid drafting track at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Last season, the team entered five races, with McLeod scoring the best finish of 19th in Daytona in August. The 2025 Daytona 500 will also be McLeod’s fourth start in the Great American race; he currently has a best finish of 23rd in 2021.
Legacy Motor Club – No. 84
2025 Drivers: Jimmie Johnson
Seven Time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Entering the Daytona 500
What’s Happening? Legacy Motor Club announced Thursday afternoon that their owner, seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson, will enter his 22nd Daytona…
Seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson will also enter the 2025 NASCAR season in his No. 84 for a third consecutive season. Last year, Johnson entered nine races in the No. 84, scoring a best finish of 26th at Phoenix.
Johnson initially intends to enter two races in the 2025 NASCAR season. The first will be the Daytona 500, and the second will be the Coca-Cola 600, which will be his 700th start.
Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 – No. 91
2025 Drivers: Hélio Castroneves
Project 91 Returning at Daytona 500 With a Multi-Time Indy 500 Champion
What’s Happening? Trackhouse Racing appears to be relaunching its PROJECT91 program. This team fielded one of the most exciting entries in…
Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 is returning to NASCAR after a full-season hiatus. Four-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Hélio Castroneves will start the car in the 2025 Daytona 500; he will be locked into the race via NASCAR’s new Open Exemption Provisional.
Project 91’s last start was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in 2023, with Shane van Gisbergen behind the wheel. Prior to that, the car won with SVG at the inaugural Chicago Street Circuit.
This list will be updated as teams make car and driver announcements throughout the season.