Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Forty-nine teams are on the preliminary
entry list for this year's Daytona 500. NASCAR released the list on Thursday.
Former NASCAR Cup champions Terry Labonte and Bill Elliott have been added to
the list within the past couple of days. Labonte will drive the No.32 Ford for
FAS Lane Racing, while Elliott will be behind the wheel of the No.97 Toyota
for NEMCO Motorsports.
The top-35 from last year's owner points are guaranteed a starting position
for the February 26 Sprint Cup Series season-opening race at Daytona
International Speedway. The remaining 14 teams will race for the last eight
spots.
Sunday's qualifying at DIS will determine the front starting row for the
Daytona 500. The remainder of the 43-car field will be decided in the February
23 Gatorade Duels at Daytona -- the twin 150-mile qualifying races.
Last year's Daytona 500 included 48 teams. Twenty-year-old Trevor Bayne won
the race in just his second Sprint Cup start.
The Sports Network