Yahoo Autos Daytona 500: Row-by-row preview
The biggest race of the NASCAR season is here.
There are 40 drivers set to walk the grid this afternoon believing they can and will win the Daytona 500 but only one will see that come true. And whoever does will not just be a race winner, but forever a Daytona 500 champion. There is no other race like it, and the pressure and excitement of being in Daytona have not washed away with the rain.
Daytona is an attraction for casual and diehard fans, and the most important thing to know is the field is stacked with talent. It could make for one of the most competitive Daytona 500 events in recent history.
Here is a row-by-row look at the competitors. The green flag is 4:30 p.m. ET.
ROW 1
Driver: Joey Logano
2015 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Team Penske
What you should know: Logano is one of the best superspeedway racers in NASCAR and isn’t afraid to go for what someone else might consider an aggressive move. He can usually do what he wants with his car, either controlling lanes from the front of the field or as a good pusher.
Driver: Michael McDowell
2021 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Front Row Motorsports
What you should know: McDowell has had a really fast and comfortable Ford Mustang this week and drafts well with others. Experience will keep McDowell aware of the energy around him to help his chances of making it to the end of the race.
ROW 2
Driver: Tyler Reddick
Car: No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: 23XI Racing
What you should know: Won his Duel race Thursday night with perfect execution on the last lap to go from fifth to first. Reddick does not have a superspeedway win in the Cup Series, but that seems more to do with being in the wrong place at the wrong time than not knowing how to get the job done.
Driver: Christopher Bell
Car: No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
What you should know: Bell got the best of his teammate, Denny Hamlin, who is one of the best superspeedway racers in the business, in his Duel race. There is a lot of speed in Bell’s car and confidence in his camp to win a race in which many probably won’t have him listed as a favorite.
ROW 3
Driver: Chase Elliott
Car: No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
What you should know: There have been opportunities for Elliott to win the sport’s biggest race, but the gates to victory lane haven’t opened. Elliott has performed well in the Daytona 500 with a second-place finish in 2021 and 72 laps led in eight starts, but there always seems to be something that stands in his way of closing the deal.
Driver: Austin Cindric
2022 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 2 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Team Penske
What you should know: Performs well in the draft and is fearless when it comes to making moves (just ask teammate Harrison Burton about the last lap of their Duel race). Cindric will have the speed and confidence to make a run at the front.
ROW 4
Driver: Alex Bowman
Car: No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
What you should know: Bowman runs well but struggles to finish strong. In seven Daytona 500 starts, Bowman has one top-10 finish.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
2016, 2019, 2020 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
What you should know: One of the favorites to win the Daytona 500. Hamlin is one of the best at using the draft and being in position at the end of the race. His strong performance in his Duel race was no surprise, but more of a preview of what’s to come.
ROW 5
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Daytona 500 rookie
Car: No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Spire Motorsports
What you need to know: There are no expectations for Hocevar, who begins his rookie season on Monday. But in his short tenure in the Cup Series last year, Hocevar adapted well and punched about his weight class. Hocevar has kept his nose clean all week in Daytona.
Driver: John Hunter Nemechek
Car: No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Legacy Motor Club
What you need to know: Nemechek is getting a second chance at the Cup Series and is more prepared for the challenge. He plays well with others on superspeedways and is likely to stick to his Toyota teammates if given the chance instead of being someone making bold and aggressive moves on his own.
ROW 6
Driver: Erik Jones
Car: No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Legacy Motor Club
What you need to know: Jones is a former Daytona winner, but not in its biggest race. The car has looked solid in its Duel and practice, and Jones is a smart superspeedway racer.
Driver: Harrison Burton
Car: No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Wood Brothers Racing
What you need to know: Not one to get himself in trouble, Burton can be a longshot if he makes it to the end with his Ford teammates. If nothing else, Daytona could be a solid start to the season for Burton and his team.
ROW 7
Driver: Daniel Suarez
Car: No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Trackhouse Racing
What you need to know: The Daytona 500 has been no bueno to Suarez. In his six starts, he’s been running at the finish only twice for an average finish of 26.6.
Driver: Zane Smith
Car: No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Spire Motorsports
What you need to know: Has a ton of talent and the opportunity for a solid first year in the Cup Series. Smith is a former Daytona winner in the Truck Series who is a quiet, clean, and smart racer.
Smith (No.71) has previous form at Daytona in Trucks, and will be looking to make an impact with Spire in the main show. Gavin Baker/Motorsport Images
ROW 8
Driver: Ty Gibbs
Car: No. 54 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
What you need to know: Gibbs has the talent and the speed to get the job done. He’s comfortable running at the front leading the pack and working with his teammates when in the draft.
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Car: No. 6 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: RFK Racing
What you need to know: Keselowski has done everything but win the Daytona 500 and is long overdue to make it happen. It won’t be a matter of speed or skill, but fortune for Keselowski who once again has a fast Ford Mustang and no loss of confidence to perform.
ROW 9
Driver: Kyle Larson
Car: No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
What you need to know: Larson does not have a superspeedway win on his resume and continues to work on his craft to be in the right position when it matters most. His car will have speed, it’s a matter of Larson’s decision-making.
Driver: William Byron
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
What you need to know: Just wants some Daytona 500 luck. In six starts, Byron has finished no better than 21st.
ROW 10
Driver: Chris Buescher
Car: No. 17 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: RFK Racing
What you need to know: Buescher won the most recent race at Daytona back in August. Having a fast Ford and a good head on his shoulders make him a player.
Driver: Chase Briscoe
Car: No. 14 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
What you need to know: Briscoe has only made three starts in the Daytona 500 with one top-five finish. The other two were a 19th and 35th place. He’s in a Ford, which is always a good thing on a superspeedway, but Briscoe probably couldn’t even guess how his race will go.
ROW 11
Driver: Ross Chastain
Car: No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Trackhouse Racing
What you need to know: Chastain is at a point in his career where previous statistics don’t matter much because he and his team are getting better and better. Daytona is as much about luck as execution, and Chastain executes well in the draft. And when he gets to the end, he’s more likely than not to finish inside the top 10.
Driver: Justin Haley
Car: No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Rick Ware Racing
What you need to know: Haley finally gets his chance to drive a Ford on a superspeedway instead of trying to beat them. Haley is a good superspeedway drafter and had success at Daytona in the Xfinity Series. He shouldn’t be overlooked.
ROW 12
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
2006, 2013 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Legacy Motor Club
What you need to know: Johnson might know how to get the job done but he’s not a regular anymore, so it won’t come easy. The car had speed in its Duel race, so if Johnson stays out of trouble and sticks with his teammates he could be in the picture.
Driver: Bubba Wallace
Car: No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: 23XI Racing
What you need to know: Could very well win the Daytona 500 and it wouldn’t be a surprise. Wallace has developed into a stout superspeedway racer and has finished second in the Daytona 500 twice.
ROW 13
Driver: Ryan Preece
Car: No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
What you need to know: Preece returns to Daytona after going for a vicious ride in the summer race. No worse for the wear and not intimidated, Preece will put up a fight.
Driver: Kaz Grala
Car: No. 36 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Front Row Motorsports
What you need to know: There is no moment too big for Grala, who has built a career on scratching and clawing for everything. He’ll be ready to strike if given the chance.
ROW 14
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Car: No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
What you need to know: Truex was a part of the closest finish in Daytona 500 history and has experienced all there is to experience in this race. Monday will be his 20th attempt to win it and it’d be a popular victory.
Driver: A.J. Allmendinger
Car: No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Kaulig Racing
What you need to know: It might not be the type of racing Allmendinger particularly likes, but he loves the Daytona 500 and it’s why he’s here. Allmendinger can hold his own in the methodical chess match that is a superspeedway race. He was leading late in the race last year.
Allmendinger knows how to manage a superspeedway race, and was quick at Daytona last year. Matthew Thacker /Motorsport Images
ROW 15
Driver: Corey LaJoie
Car: No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Spire Motorsports
What you need to know: Daytona is an opportunity race for LaJoie and his team. LaJoie always has a fast car and isn’t afraid to put it in tight places or push those around him.
Driver: Josh Berry
Daytona 500 rookie
Car: No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
What you need to know: A rookie season has to start somewhere. Berry has talent but the organization has been off for a few years, so the expectations might be higher than the results produced. Berry has 12 starts in the series but just one in this car at Daytona.
ROW 16
Driver: Todd Gilliland
Car: No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Front Row Motorsports
What you need to know: Gilliland has run two Daytona 500 races and crashed in both of them. It won’t be a speed issue but more of a luck issue.
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Car: No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Team Penske
What you need to know: The success Blaney has found at Talladega hasn’t translated to Daytona victory lane. Blaney will be considered a favorite, again, and always has a fast car. In nine starts, Blaney has three top-three finishes in the Daytona 500.
ROW 17
Driver: Austin Dillon
2018 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Richard Childress Racing
What you need to know: Dillon has been feast or famine at Daytona in his finishing result but not performance. He runs strong and drafts well, but if not in a wreck, then Dillon has finished all over the leaderboard.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Car: No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Richard Childress Racing
What you need to know: A sentimental favorite. Busch has accomplished everything in NASCAR but win the Daytona 500 and it hasn’t been for lack of trying. At this point, it’s the race needing to pick Busch as its winner.
ROW 18
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2023 Daytona 500 champion
Car: No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: JTG Daugherty Racing
What you need to know: One of the most aggressive drivers in the field on superspeedways, which has worked for Stenhouse but also bitten him a time or two. But he is usually in the picture if still around at the end.
Driver: Riley Herbst
Car: No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Rick Ware Racing
What you need to know: Herbst is riding the high from how strongly he ended the 2023 season in the Xfinity Series. He’s been impressive every time he’s been in the Cup Series car and doesn’t try to do more than what he and the equipment are capable of.
ROW 19
Driver: Daniel Hemric
Car: No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Kaulig Racing
What you need to know: Superspeedway races have been hit or miss for Hemric in the Cup Series. He isn’t someone who makes a lot of noise but could take advantage of the misfortune of others.
Driver: Noah Gragson
Car: No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
What you need to know: Gragson is back in the Cup Series and ready to prove himself all over again. He’ll have a fast enough car to do it, but a little luck getting to the end of the race to have a shot would also go a long way.
ROW 20
Driver: Anthony Alfredo
Car: No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro
Team: Beard Motorsports
What you need to know: There is nothing to lose and everything to gain for Alfredo and this team. Alfredo is playing with house money now that they are in the race, but it’s going to be an uphill battle even with an ECR engine.
Driver: David Ragan
Car: No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Team: RFK Racing
What you need to know: Ragan nearly won this race before (2011) and knows how to make it happen on superspeedways. He is in a very fast car and has teammates to work with to get to the front.
