What’s Happening?

The offseason is over, and the 2024 Daytona 500 entry list is set! Today, we focus on the “Open” entries who will fight for the final 4 spots in the Daytona 500 field. Here is all of them!

You Need to Know:

• An “Open” entry into a NASCAR race is any car that is entered without a charter. This means that car does not have a guaranteed starting spot, and has to qualify for the event either on speed or by racing in through the Duels.
• With 36 chartered teams, there are 4 spots for “Open” entries on the Daytona 500 starting grid. The best finishing “Open” car in each Duel race takes up the first two slots. The other two slots are the fastest qualifiers on pole day amongst the other open entries.
• In 2023, there were 6 open entries in the Daytona 500, with Chandler Smith of Kaulig Racing and Austin Hill of Beard Motorsports not making the field. Zane Smith of Front Row Motorsports, Connor Daly of The Money Team, Travis Pastrana of 23XI Racing, and Jimmie Johnson of Legacy Motor Club made the field.

Daytona 500 Entry Count: 42 Cars

David Ragan: RFK Racing #60 Car

As a part of RFK Racing’s new “Stage 60” program, David Ragan will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500. Ragan’s only two Cup Series wins came at Superspeedways. He won in 2013 at Talladega for Front Row Motorsports and his first career win came at Daytona in July of 2011 for RFK Racing (then Roush Fenway Racing). His best Daytona 500 finish is 4th which he achieved in 2020 for Rick Ware Racing.

B.J. McLeod: Live Fast Motorsports #78

Despite selling its charter, Live Fast Motorsports is not jumping out of the sport entirely. B.J. McLeod told the media that he will run a part-time Open entry on superspeedways, with McLeod running the Daytona 500. Both of his top-10s came in the summer race at Daytona in 2021 and 2022. His best Daytona 500 finish for Live Fast was 23rd in 2021.

Anthony Alfredo: Beard Motorsports #62

Anthony Alfredo will join Beard Motorsports for the 2024 Daytona 500. It will be Alfredo’s second try at the “Great American Race”, where he finished 32nd in 2021. Beard Motorsports has been a part-time entry in NASCAR since 2017. They have entered the Daytona 500 every year since 2017, and they only failed to qualify twice, 2021 and 2023. They do have 4 top-10 finishes at Daytona to their credit, so, when they do qualify, they race well.

Jimmie Johnson: Legacy Motor Club #84

Carvana will sponsor 7-time Champion Jimmie Johnson’s entry into the Daytona 500. He won the race in 2006 and 2013, but his open entry last year was a forgettable run. While he did record stage points, he failed to lead a lap. He was caught up in a wreck on lap 204 to end his day early and finish 31st.

Kaz Grala: Front Row Motorsports #36

Kaz Grala will enter his third Daytona 500 in 2024. He made starts both in 2021, finishing 28th for Kaulig Racing, and in 2022, finishing 26th for The Money Team. Grala has one win in his career at Daytona, coming in the Truck Series in 2017. Front Row Motorsports had a third car attempt to qualify in 2023 with Zane Smith, and he finished 13th.

J.J. Yeley: NY Racing #44

NY Racing did not attempt a race in 2023, but, they are on the Daytona 500 entry list with J.J. Yeley as the driver. Yeley is a journeyman driver who recorded his first Cup Series top-10 finish in 10 seasons in July of 2023 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Rick Ware Racing. He also made 6 starts with NY Racing in 2014 and 1 in 2018, with his best finish being 34th at Sonoma in 2014. NY Racing’s last Daytona 500 attempt came in 2022 with Greg Biffle, who finished 36th, 65 laps down.

This article will be updated as more cars are announced.