Every Open Entry in the 2026 Daytona 500 (So Far)

What’s Happening?

A storyline to focus on entering every Daytona 500 is the numerous open entries that attempt to make the race. These open (or unchartered) cars face uncertainty entering the weekend as they must qualify for the race by speed or by a high finishing order in a duel.

• Every year, given that there are more than two open entries, open teams chase glory at Daytona through qualifying and the Duel races.
• While drivers can lock in on qualifying day, the two 150-mile races on Thursday are usually how they make their way into the field, with the race within the race usually coming down to mere feet between open cars.
• In 2025, there were nine open cars in the Daytona 500, marking a full field for the Daytona 500. This race was also the first since 2015 to have more than 40 cars, as Trackhouse Racing’s Hélio Castroneves utilized the NASCAR Open Exemption Provisional to add a 41st car to the field.
• This year, there is currently one confirmed entry for the 68th Daytona 500.

Confirmed Entries

No. 40 – Justin Allgaier – JR Motorsports

In 2026, JRM will attempt a second Daytona 500 with Allgaier in the Traveller Whiskey No. 40; they were the first open team to announce their entry to the 500.

Last season, JR Motorsports made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2025 Daytona 500. This entry, the No. 40, was a collaboration between Grammy-winning singer Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey and JRM, with driver Justin Allgaier piloting the popular entry to a top ten finish, bringing his damaged Chevrolet home in ninth.

No. 62 – Anthony Alfredo – Beard Motorsports

Beard Motorsports and Anthony Alfredo will attempt to make the Daytona 500 one season after failing to do so in 2025. This marks Beard’s tenth attempt to make the race, having previously qualified six times since first attempting to do so in 2018.

In their six starts in the Daytona 500, the team has had three different drivers behind the wheel, and a best finish of seventh in 2020.

No. 66 – Casey Mears – Garage 66

Garage 66 owner Carl Long announced that the team will attempt to make the 2025 Daytona 500 with driver Casey Mears during a December 23 interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This marks their third straight season of entering the No. 66 in the NASCAR Cup Series since the team’s return to the sport in 2024.

The team formerly known as MBM Motorsports is a staple of the Cup Series lineup of part-time teams, having raced in NASCAR for some time. Despite their consistent efforts, the team has not made the Daytona 500 since 2020, with driver Timmy Hill behind the wheel. In 2021, the team failed to make the race with Hill, and last season, they failed to make the race with Chandler Smith behind the wheel.

No. 84 – Jimmie Johnson – Legacy Motor Club — NOT OPEN, WILL USE OEP

This season, Johnson will once again tackle the Daytona 500, marking his 23rd entry into the race. As of his announcement, the 500 is one of two races that Johnson will attempt in 2026, with the legend also slated to race on the streets of San Diego in June.

In 2025, Johnson had his best Daytona 500 finish since 2019, bringing home his No. 84 in third. This effort followed a difficult stretch for the NASCAR Hall of Famer, where he struggled to finish races as a part-time driver for Legacy Motor Club.

No. 99 – Corey LaJoie – RFK Racing

For the second time in their history, RFK Racing will field an open car in the Daytona 500, having previously done so with David Ragan in the No. 60 in 2024.

For this ride, RFK is summoning the No. 99 back into its fleet, a number made popular by Carl Edwards during their Roush-Fenway Racing era. The number was most recently used by Trackhouse Racing and Daniel Suarez from 2021 to 2025, with RFK not having used the number since 2016.

Corey LaJoie will drive the No. 99 in his latest attempt in the Daytona 500. Last season, LaJoie made the field driving the No. 01 open car for Rick Ware Racing, putting together a solid run overshadowed by a late race reshuffling of the field.

This list will be updated as teams make car and driver announcements throughout the season.