RFK Racing will officially bring four cars to Daytona International Speedway, as the team announced the formation of a part-time No. 99 entry on Tuesday. Corey LaJoie, who will fill in for the injured Brad Keselowski in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray, will be behind the wheel of the No. 99 Ford Mustang Dark Horse on the high banks of Daytona.
A fourth car has entered the chat?
In partnership with Trimble, Corey LaJoie will pilot the No. 99 in next month's DAYTONA 500 ?? pic.twitter.com/fKGak8Wyp3
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) January 20, 2026
Trimble will serve as the primary sponsorship for LaJoie’s Daytona 500 entry with RFK Racing. LaJoie feels this is the best opportunity he’s ever had in the top division of NASCAR.
“This is a dream come true to get an opportunity with RFK Racing at the Daytona 500,” said Lajoie in a team press release. “This is without a doubt, the best car and opportunity I’ve had at Daytona. I’m grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me.”
The announcement of the No. 99 entry is a reprisal of RFK Racing’s once-storied No. 99 machine, which was made legendary in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1996 to 2014 with Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards behind the wheel.
Obviously, superspeedway racing is a numbers game, and for RFK Racing, having a fourth bullet in the chamber in the Great American Race is a big deal.
“From a competition standpoint, having a fourth car gives us and Ford Racing a better chance to win the Daytona 500,” said Keselowski, RFK Racing driver and co-owner. “It’s not just about adding another entry. Superspeedway racing is about cooperation and having an additional car allows us to be more effective in forming drafting alliances, controlling lanes, and putting ourselves in position when it matters most.”
LaJoie, a skilled superspeedway racer, joins the team as a teammate to Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Preece in the season-opening event. LaJoie’s past success at drafting tracks such as Daytona gives RFK Racing a level of confidence that he can contribute in a big way to their success in the Daytona 500.
“Daytona is the one race where preparation and teamwork are amplified,” said Bowers. “Corey’s familiarity with our systems and people, combined with Trimble’s collaboration, allows us to be bold, aggressive, and committed. This is a well-planned extension of our overall Daytona strategy.”
With more than 40 cars expected on the entry list for the 2026 Daytona 500, a starting spot will not be guaranteed for LaJoie, who is piloting an un-chartered fourth entry for RFK Racing. But if he can hit the ground running in qualifying for the Great American Race, it can allow him to lock in early, which would allow him to race stress-free through the qualifiers and ultimately the race.
LaJoie, who has amassed 276 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, has collected four top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. Nine of LaJoie’s 11 top-10 finishes have come at drafting tracks, Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta.
