Overview
- Forty-five drivers are entered for the 68th Daytona 500, with a 41-car field capped by Jimmie Johnson’s Open Exemption Provisional that locks him in but removes eligibility for points and prize money.
- Two fastest open cars from Wednesday’s single-car session will secure berths as the front row is set, then Thursday’s two 60-lap Duels finalize the grid and remaining open entries.
- Thirty-six chartered teams are guaranteed starts, while eight additional open teams are competing for four available spots alongside Johnson’s provisional entry.
- Brad Keselowski has been medically cleared to race after passing a Feb. 9 evaluation and on-track test, returning to the No. 6 RFK Ford for his 17th Daytona 500 attempt.
- William Byron seeks a third consecutive Daytona 500 victory under NASCAR’s restored Chase-style season format, with TV coverage on FOX and in-car streams on HBO Max.