Daytona 500, NASCAR (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The official start of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is under a month and a half away. Who is set to compete in the 65th annual Daytona 500?
One month from today, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is unofficially scheduled to get underway with the preseason Busch Light Clash exhibition race at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Two weeks later, points-paying action is scheduled to begin with the first of 36 races on the schedule, the 65th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
There are 33 confirmed full-time drivers for the 2023 season and three other confirmed chartered entries which still need drivers. There are three other part-time entries confirmed for the Daytona 500, with more likely to be added to that list in the near future.
If there are more than four non-chartered entries on the entry list, then not everyone who attempts to qualify for the 200-lap race at the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval will ultimately get into the 40-car field.
Six and a half weeks from the green flag, let’s have a look at who fits into each category.
NOTE: (R) means rookie.
Full-time drivers (33)
Front Row Motorsports, Ford
No. 34 – Michael McDowell
No. 38 – Todd Gilliland
Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 5 – Kyle Larson
No. 9 – Chase Elliott
No. 24 – William Byron
No. 48 – Alex Bowman
Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
No. 11 – Denny Hamlin
No. 19 – Martin Truex Jr.
No. 20 – Christopher Bell
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (R)
JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet
No. 47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet
No. 16 – A.J. Allmendinger
No. 31 – Justin Haley
Petty GMS Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 42 – Noah Gragson (R)
No. 43 – Erik Jones
RFK Racing, Ford
No. 6 – Brad Keselowski
No. 17 – Chris Buescher
Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
No. 3 – Austin Dillon
No. 8 – Kyle Busch
Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 7 – Corey LaJoie
No. 77 – Ty Dillon
Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
No. 4 – Kevin Harvick
No. 10 – Aric Almirola
No. 14 – Chase Briscoe
No. 41 – Ryan Preece
Team Penske, Ford
No. 2 – Austin Cindric
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney
No. 22 – Joey Logano
Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet
No. 1 – Ross Chastain
No. 99 – Daniel Suarez
23XI Racing, Toyota
No. 23 – Bubba Wallace
No. 45 – Tyler Reddick
Wood Brothers Racing, Ford
No. 21 – Harrison Burton
Full-time entries (3)
Live Fast Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 78 – TBD
Rick Ware Racing, Ford
No. 15 – TBD
No. 51 – TBD
Part-time entries (3)
Beard Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. 62 – Austin Hill (R)
Front Row Motorsports, Ford
No. TBD – Zane Smith (R)
Petty GMS Motorsports, Chevrolet
No. TBD – Jimmie Johnson
Possible part-time entries (at least 3)
The Money Team Racing, Chevrolet
No 50 – TBD
3F Racing, Chevrolet
No. 30 – TBD
Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet
No. 91 – TBD
Fox is set to broadcast the Daytona 500 live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 19.