Nine open drivers looking for Daytona 500 starting spots

The preliminary entry list for the 67th annual Daytona 500 has 45 teams looking for a Sunday race spot.

The 36 teams with charters need not worry, as they are guaranteed starting positions. Helio Castroneves, the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner who will drive for Trackhouse Racing, also knows he’ll be racing. Castroneves will either qualify for the field through traditional means like single-car qualifying or his qualifying duel race or will be the 41st entry through the Open Exemption Provisional.

Corey LaJoie kicks off the list of open drivers. LaJoie is in the No. 01 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing. Justin Allgaier will look to put JR Motorsports into its first Cup Series race in the No. 40 Chevrolet.

The other open drivers are:

· JJ Yeley and the No. 44 Chevrolet with NY Racing Team

· Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 56 Toyota with Tricon Garage

· Anthony Alfredo in the No. 62 Chevrolet with Beard Motorsports

· Chandler Smith in the No. 66 Ford Mustang for Garage 66

· B.J. McLeod in the No. 78 Chevrolet with his Live Fast Motorsports team

· Jimmie Johnson in the No. 84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club

If Truex earns a qualifying spot, it would be the first Cup Series race for Tricon Garage. The team is fielding Truex’s car in a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing. Truex has reunited with Cole Pearn, the crew chief with whom he won the 2017 series championship, for the event.

William Byron and Hendrick Motorsports is the defending winner of the Daytona 500.

The full entry list can be found here.