2026 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Entry List

There are 45 cars on the preliminary entry list for the NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. While typical NASCAR Cup Series events can only feature 40 cars in the starting grid, one team has been granted an Open Exemption Provisional (OEP), which will extend the starting lineup to 41 cars.

With 41 cars slated to make the starting grid for the Daytona 500, eight drivers and teams will be left to fight for the final four spots in the field.

William Byron, who comes into this race with two consecutive wins in the Daytona 500, returns behind the wheel of the legendary No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with primary sponsorship from Raptor. Byron is looking to become the first driver in history to claim three consecutive wins in the Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson, driving the No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota Camry XSE, is the Open Exemption Provisional and will be guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500, despite not driving a Chartered entry. The trade-off is that Johnson’s No. 84 team will not receive any points or race winnings for their efforts, but they don’t have to worry about advancing to the starting lineup from the America 250 Duels.

Among the other eight “Open” entries, who will fight for the final four spots in the Daytona 500 starting lineup will be Chandler Smith, driving the No. 36 Front Row Motorsports Ford, Justin Allgaier, driving the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, JJ Yeley, driving the No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet, Anthony Alfredo, driving the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet, a driver to be announced (expected to be Casey Mears), driving the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, Corey Heim, driving the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota, BJ McLeod, driving the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, and Corey LaJoie, driving the No. 99 RFK Racing Ford.

Four drivers will fail to make the field for the 2026 Daytona 500 and will have to watch the race from home.

2026 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Entry List