RFK Racing has added an unexpected twist to the RFK Racing Daytona 500 entry by announcing a fourth car, the No. 99 Ford, for Corey LaJoie at next month’s 2026 NASCAR Cup Series opener at Daytona International Speedway. This decision comes as other teams also confirmed their participation, setting the stage for a crowded and competitive race lineup.
RFK Racing’s Surprise Entry and Growing Competition
This week, RFK Racing caught fans and analysts off guard by revealing that Corey LaJoie will drive their newly added No. 99 Ford at the season-opening Daytona 500. Beard Motorsports simultaneously confirmed that Anthony Alfredo will make his third consecutive appearance for the team in the No. 62 Chevrolet. These announcements expanded the roster of Daytona 500 hopefuls to 41 cars. Both RFK Racing and Beard Motorsports are among the four open, non-chartered teams vying for the final four entry spots, as a newly granted Open Exemption Provisional pushes the field to an uncommon 41 cars.
How Entry Spots Will Be Decided
Jimmie Johnson, driving the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, has secured his place thanks to the provisional, treating his car as a 37th chartered entry for the event. This guarantees that Johnson won’t compete for the four open slots, thereby ensuring the race field will feature 41 cars—just the second instance of this since 1993. The process for awarding these open spots splits between two criteria: two spots will go to the fastest single-car qualifying runs, and the remaining two will be distributed based on results from the America 250 Florida Duel.
Confirmed and Anticipated Open Entries
In addition to LaJoie’s No. 99 Ford and Alfredo’s No. 62 Chevrolet, the open entry candidates already confirmed include the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet with Justin Allgaier behind the wheel and the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford being piloted by Casey Mears. According to recent reports, three more prospective entries are anticipated: the No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet for J.J. Yeley, the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota for Corey Heim, and the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet with B.J. McLeod expected to drive. While there are indications that the No. 78 car is all but confirmed, the team has not yet made a formal announcement and thus remains unofficial among the entries.
Teams Bow Out and Competition Stiffens
Trackhouse Racing has decided not to introduce a fourth car for this race, while Rick Ware Racing will not be running a second entry. Tricon Garage and Team AmeriVet have also opted against returning for this year’s opener. Richard Childress Racing, which had been rumored to expand to three cars for the first time since 2019, has now dismissed such plans. As a result, there will likely be seven teams battling for the four coveted open spots, leaving three drivers destined to miss out on a Daytona 500 berth.
Key Dates and Broadcast Information
Fans can watch the drama and competition unfold live. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast Daytona 500 qualifying from Daytona International Speedway at 8:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 11. The network will also air the America 250 Florida Duel races at 7:00 p.m. ET the following night, Thursday, February 12. The main event, the Daytona 500, will be shown on Fox, with coverage beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15.
What to Expect as the Race Approaches
The unexpected addition of the RFK Racing Daytona 500 entry for Corey LaJoie intensifies what was already shaping up to be a hotly contested qualifying process. With notable drivers such as Anthony Alfredo, Jimmie Johnson, Justin Allgaier, Casey Mears, J.J. Yeley, Corey Heim, and B.J. McLeod all involved or expected in the open race for a limited number of positions, this year’s field is as competitive as ever. NASCAR fans, along with everyone following teams like Legacy Motor Club, NY Racing Team, Beard Motorsports, 23XI Racing, and JR Motorsports, are set for an eventful start to the new Cup season at Daytona International Speedway.
