By Aaron Bearden, Motorsports Editor
42 entrants will compete for 40 positions in NASCAR’s grandest race, the Daytona 500.
NASCAR unveiled the 42-team Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entry list for “The Great American Race” on Thursday afternoon, confirming that two teams will fail to make the season-opening event.
36 of the 42 teams are guaranteed a spot in the starting grid based on their possession of a charter. The other six drivers will compete in qualifying and Thursday’s Can-Am Duels for a position in the field.
Those drivers attempting to race their way into the Daytona 500 include: Elliott Sadler, Timmy Hill, Reed Sorenson, Brendan Gaughan, Corey LaJoie and D.J. Kennington.
The top finisher of the above drivers in each of Thursday’s Can-Am Duels will be guaranteed a spot in the field. The other two positions will be awarded based on qualifying speeds.
The season-opening Daytona 500 will be held on Feb. 26.
| Entry | Car No. | Driver | Manufacturer | Sponsor | Team |
| 1 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chevy | Cessna / McDonald’s | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Ford | Miller Lite | Team Penske |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevy | Dow | Richard Childress Racing |
| 4 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Ford | Jimmy John’s | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 5 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Chevy | Farmer’s Inusrance | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 6 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Ford | AdvoCare | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 7 | 7*[59] | Elliott Sadler(i) | Chevy | Golden Corral | Tommy Baldwin Racing |
| 8 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Ford | Aspen Dental | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | FedEx Express | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10 | 13 | Ty Dillon # | Chevy | GEICO | Germain Racing |
| 11 | 14 | Clint Bowyer | Ford | Mobil 1 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 12 | 15[15] | Michael Waltrip | Toyota | Aaron’s | Premium Motorsports |
| 13 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Ford | Fastenal | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 14 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | M&M’s | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 15 | 19 | Daniel Suarez # | Toyota | ARRIS | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 16 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Toyota | DeWalt | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 17 | 21[32L] | Ryan Blaney | Ford | Motorcraft /Quicklane | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 18 | 22 | Joey Logano | Ford | Shell Pennzoil | Team Penske |
| 19 | 23 | Joey Gase(i) | Toyota | Best Home Furnishings | BK Racing |
| 20 | 24 | Chase Elliott | Chevy | NAPA Auto Parts | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 21 | 27 | Paul Menard | Chevy | Menards / Peak | Richard Childress Racing |
| 22 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Chevy | Caterpillar | Richard Childress Racing |
| 23 | 32[44L] | Matt DiBendetto | Ford | Can-Am | GO FAS Racing |
| 24 | 33[95] | Jeffrey Earnhardt | Chevy | Starter | Circle Sport / TMG |
| 25 | 34 | Landon Cassill | Ford | Love’s Travel Stops | Front Row Motorsports |
| 26 | 37[16L] | Chris Buescher | Chevy | Cottonelle | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 27 | 38 | David Ragan | Ford | Juice Battery | Front Row Motorsports |
| 28 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Ford | Haas Automation / Monster Energy | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 29 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chevy | Target | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 30 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Ford | Smithfield Foods | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 31 | 47 | A.J. Allmendinger | Chevy | Kroger Click List | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 32 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Chevy | Lowe’s | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 33 | 51* | Timmy Hill(i) | Chevy | TBA | Rick Ware Racing |
| 34 | 55* | Reed Sorenson | Toyota | TBA | Premium Motorsports |
| 35 | 72[83L] | Cole Whitt | Ford | Florida Lottery | TriStar Motorsports |
| 36 | 75* | Brendan Gaughan(i) | Chevy | Beard Oil / TSS Logistics | Beard Motorsports |
| 37 | 77[46] | Erik Jones # | Toyota | Five-Hour Energy Extra Strength | Furniture Row Racing |
| 38 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota | Bass Pro Shops / Trakker Boats | Furniture Row Racing |
| 39 | 83* | Corey LaJoie | Toyota | Dustless Blasting | BK Racing |
| 40 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevy | Nationwide | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 41 | 95[7] | Michael McDowell | Chevy | Klove Radio / WRL Contractors | Leavine Family Racing |
| 42 | 96* | D.J. Kennington(i) | Toyota | Lordco Auto Parts / Castrol | Gaunt Brothers Racing |