On Saturday, the NASCAR world learned about a new NASCAR Cup Series team — Finish Line Motorsports Marketing, which according to Bob Pockrass would be fielding the No. 80 entry in hopes of making the field for the 2023 Daytona 500 with JJ Yeley as the driver.
However, a representative from the Finish Line Motorsports Marketing team has confirmed to TobyChristie.com that the organization has decided against attempting to run the Daytona 500. Instead, the team says it is targeting Phoenix Raceway on March 12th as its official NASCAR Cup Series debut.
The team states that JJ Yeley will be the driver of the No. 80 Ford Mustang for that event in Avondale, Arizona.
On its website, Finish Line Motorsports Marketing states that it has been in operation since 1997. The company claims to have had a presence in marketing within the worlds of NASCAR and IndyCar.
The website has several renderings of Gen 6 NASCAR Cup Series cars on its website with the No. 80, which appear to have been created prior to the Next Gen car being utilized in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The parent company is housed in Carefree, Arizona, and Finish Line Motorsports Marketing has a page on its website which states it has a race shop in Indianapolis, Indiana.
As it stands, 42 cars are expected to be on the official entry list for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500.
The six open entries, which will attempt to lock into the four open spots will include Chandler Smith (No. 13 Kaulig Racing), Zane Smith (No. 36 Front Row Motorsports), Conor Daly (No. 50 The Money Team), Austin Hill (No. 62 Beard Motorsports), Travis Pastrana (No. 67 23XI Racing) and Jimmie Johnson (No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB).