DAYTONA, Fla. (WFLA) – The biggest race in NASCAR is just days away, with 40 drivers competing to win the “Great American Race.”
Only one can be a winner at the end of a 200 lap race.
Fans will try to win the Daytona 500 with 36 full-time drivers. The nine drivers will try to participate in the race on Sunday, but only four will proceed.
With 18 winners in 2024, will the Daytona 500 win secure playoff time for the 2025 season?
Before the drivers compete on Sunday, they walk the red carpet before the start of qualifying and talk to reporters on Daytona 500 Media Day.
NFL fans have used this much of this mobile data at Raymond James Stadium this season
Who to see
William Byron won the Daytona 500 last year and is looking for a back-to-back victory that he can be part of the few chosen to do so, like Richard Petty and Denny Hamlin.
Denny Hamlin is the three-time Daytona 500 winner with former NBA player Michael Jordan and co-owner of the 23xi. Hamlin’s name always wears a hat for his victory at Daytona, but along with the new crew chief, fans could see him lifting the Harley J. Earl Trophy on Sunday? ?
Joey Rogano won the Nascar Cup Series Championship in Arizona in 2024 and won the Daytona 500 in 2015. At the time, he was the youngest person to win a Daytona victory. Logano was returned to the playoffs after Alex Bowman’s car failed post-race inspections after a Robal Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Logano was awarded his final spot in eight rounds.
Chase Elliott won the collision at Bowman Gray. With that momentum, he may be in favor of winning the Daytona 500.
The new face looking to advance to the Daytona 500 is Helio Castronebus, four-time Indy 500 winner and three-time Daytona winner. Castroneves will drive 91 cars for a trackhouse race alongside teammates Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez and Shane Van Gisbergen.
According to NASCAR.com, the Daytona 500 has introduced a new interim rule for the opening exemption. The EOP is when a qualified driver has NASCAR pre-approved for the starting spot. Castroneves was granted a temporary open exemption from the Daytona 500.
Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. will seek to qualify for the Daytona 500 after retiring from sports in 2020 and 2024, respectively.
“Captain America” actor Anthony Mackey has been appointed Grand Marshall of the Daytona 500
How to see
Wednesday will begin practice for the Cup Series, followed by a Daytona 500 duel.
Dueling will be 60 laps at 7pm on Thursdays at 7pm for the first group and at 8:45pm for the second group.
The duel will determine where the driver will start on Sunday.
The Artisan Truck Series begins on Friday at 7:30pm, with fans winning drivers such as Frankie Muniz, Ben Rhodes and Grant Enfinger Race.
The Xfinity series will race at CW Tampa Bay on Saturday at 5pm. Audiences will be able to see Jesse Love, Connor Zilish and more attempts to win at Daytona.
It may not be surprising that the Daytona 500 can bring new drivers to the winner’s circle on Sunday.
Fans can expect an exciting 200-lap race to begin in the 2025 season.
WFLA’s JB Biunno and Fox8’s Kevin Connolly and Danny Harnden were on the red carpet and interviewed drivers such as Chase Elliot, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Noah Gragson.
