The Great American Race is just around the corner. With now just 41 days to go, the entry list for the Daytona 500 is stacking up. The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s most prestigious event, and being the greatest spectacle in the American motorsports scene, many high-profile names are bound to show up in the open entry format. In the 2025 edition, some really big names have knocked at the Daytona door. The list includes the likes of 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves, and possibly Legacy Motor Club owner Jimmie Johnson.

The confirmed names in NASCAR’s 2025 Daytona 500

The 67th Daytona 500 promises great high-octane racing action, and what better value addition there could be than getting some legendary veterans and young marquee blood showing up? The grid has been piling up, and the field is starting to take shape with several drivers already confirmed for open entries and many being expected to show up.

As for legends of the sport, Helio Castroneves, a four-time Indy 500 champion, will be making his debut in NASCAR, that too at the Daytona 500 of all tracks. Castroneves was called up through Project 91, an initiative by Trackhouse Racing to introduce foreign drivers into NASCAR—the same project that introduced Shane Van Gisbergen and Kimi Räikkönen to the sport. Nevertheless, his Brazilian fans and his extensive record in IndyCar will be adding an extra layer of excitement to the race.

Another driver who has been making headlines is 65-year-old Mike Wallace, popularly known as the brother of Rusty Wallace and Kenny Wallace. The driver is not new to the sport. Wallace made his first Cup Series appearance in 1991 and retired after the Daytona 500 in 2015. However, he kept himself active in the Xfinity series until 2020.

Wallace enters the event after the passing of his wife, Clara, in 2024 after her battle with cancer. “The big reason is in January 2024 I lost my wife Carla from being married 44 years… Myself and my kids, we all needed a boost. We need something that would say, ‘Here’s a positive story for us, let’s go make it happen’ and this opportunity presented itself,” said Wallace on his motivation to take part in the race this year. Wallace will be looking to make his mark in the iconic event with MBM Motorsports‘ 66 car.

Next is JJ Yeley, another longtime NASCAR veteran driver with extensive experience racing part-time in the Cup Series for the last 20 years. This year at Daytona, he will be fielding the No. 44 NY Racing car. Yeley’s best finish at the crown jewel event came in 2013 with Tommy Baldwin racing as he notched a 10th place finish. NY Racing crew chief Jay Guy opened up on giving it a shot after narrowly missing out on qualifying via the Bluegreens Vacation Duel in 2024. “We’re going to go down there and try it again, and hopefully we can get in the big show and see what we can do.”

Owner-driver BJ McLeod of BJ McLeod Motorsports will also be making an appearance at the Daytona 500. Like Yeley, McLeod has also been a consistent part-time cup series driver since 2015. Despite never having won a race, McLeod owns just two top-10 finishes, both coming at Daytone International Speedway. However, both of them came at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August, not the crown jewel event.

Trending

1

Embarrassment for Joe Gibbs Racing as Early Leak Leaves NASCAR Fans Gutted

2

NASCAR Rumor: Rick Hendrick Pulls Away Toyota Prospect As Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lets Slip Major Xfinity Update

3

NASCAR’s Nearly $40 Billion Sponsor Sends Chilling Warning to the USA Over President Trump’s New Policies

4

NASCAR Fans Confused as Kyle Larson’s Insanity Forces Roger Penske to Bring the “Larson” Rule to IndyCar

5

Kevin Harvick Opens His Door For NASCAR’s Next Female Driver Switching Up her Career After Nearly 10 Years

Expected open entries to NASCAR Daytona 500

But the list doesn’t close up there. The entry list is bound to stack up even more after this, as the date for the race comes closer. Several other teams and drivers are expected to field open entries, further increasing the anticipation for the 2025 Daytona 500.

First and foremost is Martin Truex Jr. The former NASCAR Cup Series champion is rumored to field his car on February 16. However, the car he will field is still to be announced. MTJ had retired from full-time racing last year, but he can’t seem to stay away from the smell of burning tires. Nevertheless, his fans would hopefully get to see some high-caliber driving from him once again. Truex Jr. hopes Joe Gibbs Racing will sort out his entry, as he said during the NASCAR Awards in 2024, “I was told (Joe Gibbs Racing) is doing it somehow, so we’ll see.”

As for legendary drivers, Jimmie Johnson, the 7x champion, might be eyeing a return to Daytona with his team Legacy Motor Club. With a strong driver like Jimmie, LMC wants to throw a wild card into the mix with the iconic 84 car. Johnson will be eyeing the third Daytona 500 win of his career, he won the crown jewel event previously in 2006 and 2013.

As for teams, Rick Ware Racing is expected to make it on race day. They have been frequent contenders as open entries and are expected to field at least one car, the No. 15 RWR. Along with them are a few other names like the AmeriVet Racing team, who are expected to make it to the entry list.

In another addition to the field, Kyle Busch and co. might be seeing an extra member being fielded alongside them by the Richard Childress Racing team. Already a powerhouse team in NASCAR, RCR could field an open entry to bolster their presence in the race.

While the final entry list is still being finalized, the 2025 Daytona 500 is already shaping up to be a thrilling and competitive event. With a star-studded field and a high level of uncertainty, fans can expect an unforgettable start to the 2025 NASCAR season.