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Every Open Entry in the 2025 Daytona 500

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Kauy Ostlien

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Royal T Grafix

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What’s Happening?

One of the best parts of the Daytona 500 is the open entries. 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.

  • In 2024, there were five open cars in the Daytona 500, with one car missing the 40-car field.
  • This year, there are currently nine confirmed entries for the race.

Confirmed Entries

No. 01 – Rick Ware Racing

Prior to this season, Rick Ware Racing leased what is thought to be its No. 15 Charter to RFK Racing. However, the team is planning on fielding a part-time car in 2025. The second confirmed driver, and driver for the 2025 Daytona 500, will be Corey LaJoie in the new No. 01. LaJoie had a solid run in the 2024 500, finishing a career-best of fourth

No. 40 – Justin Allgaier – JR Motorsports

JR Motorsports is finally making its NASCAR Cup Series debut with its driver, the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series. Justin Allgaier. While this appears to be a one-off, the team’s debut is noteworthy as it is a long-time rumor coming to fruition. The team will have support from Country Music star Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey, and former HMS Crew Chief Greg Ives will be on the box for Allgaier.

No. 44 – J.J. Yeley – NY Racing

J.J. Yeley and NY Racing almost had one of the best stories at Daytona last year, coming up one move short of qualifying and nearly beating out seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson for that spot. NY Racing and J.J. are back in their non-chartered entry once again for 2025, and, in the team’s 14 starts, they have a best finish of 20th.

No. 56 – Martin Truex Jr. – TRICON Garage

Following his retirement from full-time racing, Martin Truex Jr. announced that he would enter the 2025 Daytona 500. While it was unknown what team this could be, most insiders expected 23XI to enter the car. However, this start will be in the No. 56 for Craftsman Truck Series team TRICON Garage.

No. 62 – Anthony Alfredo – Beard Motorsports

Beard Motorsports and Anthony Alfredo will enter the Daytona 500 once again. The team had its best run last season with Parker Retzlaff at Daytona in August; however, its three other starts came with Alfredo, who had the team’s best finish of 7th at Talladega—the two finished 27th in the 500 last season.

No. 66 – Chandler Smith – Garage 66

In one of the most interesting stories of the 2025 Daytona 500, 65-year-old Mike Wallace will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start since the 2015 Daytona 500. Wallace and MBM are an absolute underdog story; so far, the team’s best finish is 25th; perhaps 2025 could change that.

UPDATE Jan. 13: Mike Wallace has confirmed he is not approved to enter the Daytona 500. MBM is searching for a new driver to take over the No. 66 for the race.

UPDATE Jan. 22: Front Row Motorsports Truck Series talent Chandler Smith will enter the Daytona 500 for the newly named Garage 66. Smith attempted to make the Daytona 500 with Kaulig Racing in 2023, however failed to do so. In his three Cup Series starts he has a best finish of 11th at Talladega.

No. 78 – B.J. McLeod – B.J. McLeod Motorsports

B.J. McLeod and his No. 78 announced in December that the team will make another run at the Daytona 500. This will be B.J.’s fifth attempt at the Daytona 500. He failed to qualify for the race last season. However, the team seemed to find speed late in the season.

No. 84 -Jimmie Johnson – Legacy Motor Club

After entering nine part-time races in 2024, six more than his three in 2023, Johnson will enter two races, including the Daytona 500, in 2025. The seven-time champion has entered back-to-back 500s in LMC’s No. 84 since 2023.

No. 91 – Hélio Castroneves – Trackhouse Racing

In the biggest shock move of January, Trackhouse Racings PROJECT91 entry is returning to NASCAR to make its first oval start. For the driver, Trackhouse is calling on four-time Indianapolis 500 Champion Hélio Castroneves to drive the car. Castroneves has no NASCAR experience but has four IROC series starts on the track’s oval.

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Cleetus McFarland Explains The One Catch to His NASCAR O’Reilly Series Schedule

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Garrett Mitchell, better known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, says his 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule isn’t set in stone, something the YouTube star explained to Dale Earnhardt Jr on the latest episode of The Dale Jr Download.

One of the biggest surprises in recent NASCAR news is that YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, will make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut next month at Rockingham Speedway.

Mitchell, who has just won a NASCAR National Series start to his name, will make this start with Richard Childress Racing in their No. 33 car as part of a part-time development contract that will see him make starts in 2026 and 2027.

Per Mitchell, his contract will cover three races per season, though he hinted it could be more in a Facebook post. Nonetheless, fans are eagerly awaiting an official schedule of what other tracks Mitchell and RCR will tackle in 2026.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a little longer for this schedule, as the 30-year-old Floridian explained during a recent interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr, his 2026 schedule is still up in the air a month ahead of his first race.

During an interview on the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Mitchell told Earnhardt that while he plans to race the superspeedways after Rockingham, with his sights set on Talladega’s April 25 or October 24 race weekend, the decision lies in the hands of NASCAR.

“NASCAR said I cannot run Talladega unless I go to Rockingham first and do well,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell then clarified that while he will have a rookie test for Rockingham, the race at Rockingham will determine his eligibility to race at Talladega.

Stirring the Pot

Mitchell, who has two ARCA starts at Daytona and one at Talladega, has already taken a rookie test this season at Rockingham for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Despite a minor crash during this test, Mitchell was cleared to race in the season-opening race at Daytona, crashing himself in a single truck spin five laps into the race, after a valiant qualifying effort.

Even with the barrier of Rockingham in the way, fans are already somewhat concerned about McFarland’s skills, given the result of his short time behind the wheel of a truck.

During this episode of The DJD, Mitchell expressed his intentions to work his way up the ladder and learn, but with the caveat that if an opportunity presents itself to him, he will take it, using the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series as a metaphorical example.

“I don’t want to drive a Cup car right now. But, brother, if someone calls me and says, ‘We got a spot in a Cup car in the Daytona 500?’ I mean, what am I supposed to do?” — Cleetus McFarland

Despite his doubters, with the support of RCR and their developmental tools, Mitchell seems confident about the opportunity, already getting in some sim time with RCR.

Either way, no matter how much support he has in his corner, Mitchell is diving in headfirst once again with this opportunity.

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Cleetus McFarland’s First NASCAR Diecast is Officially Available for Pre-Order

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Lionel has officially opened pre-orders for Garrett Mitchell’s (better known as Cleetus McFarland) first-ever NASCAR diecast.

  • This announcement comes as part of his upcoming debut in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series next month. While the sponsor, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, and car number, No. 33, are known, there has yet to be an official render of his paint scheme released to the public.
  • Lionel Racing is offering two diecast options for Mitchell: the first option is the 1:64 scale diecast at $11.75, and the second is a 1:24 scale diecast at $70.00. As of press time, it appears the car will not receive any other options, such as Special Finishes like Color Chrome or Galaxy Colored.
  • Mitchell announced his first NASCAR OAP Series race on Wednesday afternoon, signing a two-year, three-race-per-year deal with RCR. This is a major step for the YouTube star turned NASCAR driver, who made his ARCA debut last season.
  • Due to his popularity both in and out of NASCAR, Mitchell’s diecast may be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. Many race fans are already giving bold predictions for the large order quantity this car will receive by the time it reaches production.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 11: Garrett Mitchell, also known as Cleetus McFarland, driver of the #30 Kenetik Ford waits on the grid prior to the ARCA Menards Series Bush's Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 11, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

UPDATE: Cleetus McFarland Will Race in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series This Year

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

YouTube star-turned-NASCAR driver Garrett Mitchell, best known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, has signed a part-time deal to race with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the next two seasons.

UPDATE 3:00 PM EST: Per RCR Mitchell will make his debut at Rockingham Speedway on April 4.

  • Mitchell announced his signing with RCR in a Wednesday afternoon post on his Facebook. The 30-year-old says that RCR reached out, offering to make him “a better driver and give you an opportunity to grow in this sport.”
  • The Floridaian will drive the team’s part-time No. 33 on a part-time basis over the next two seasons. Mitchell claims in his post that the deal is three races a year, but hints it could be more, saying “3 races a year right now.”
  • Mitchell, who made his NASCAR debut last season with a four-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series, has brought a legion of fans to NASCAR in his few starts. So far, Mitchell has made five career starts in the ARCA Menards Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
  • That start in the Truck Series, at Daytona earlier this season, was a spark of controversy, as, after crashing in his test for approval, Mitchell crashed himself early on in the race. While he has his supporters, including many in the garage area, this move up the NASCAR ladder will likely see some pushback from fans across the board.
  • As of press time, Mitchell has yet to announce his first race of this part-time schedule with RCR.

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