Who didn’t qualify for Daytona 500? Explore eliminated drivers

The 2025 Daytona 500 is set to take place on Sunday, February 16, at Daytona International Speedway, which features a unique qualifying format that determines which drivers make it to the starting lineup for the mega event. This year, a total of 45 drivers entered for 41 spots; several notable drivers failed to qualify for the “Great American Race.”

The qualifying process is highly competitive, especially for “open” cars, making it challenging for them to secure a spot in the prestigious 500-mile race. Following the completion of the Thursday’s Duels qualifying, J.J. Yeley, Chandler Smith, Anthony Alfredo, and B.J. McLeod are four drivers who didn’t qualify for this year’s Daytona 500 field.

As only two spots were left to secure in the Duels qualifying, Justin Allgaier and Corey LaJoie were the two highest finishers among unchartered teams in their respective Duel races and locked their spot into the prestigious NASCAR season opener. That knocked Yeley, Smith, Alfredo, and McLeod out of the starting grid.

36 chartered drivers were already confirmed in the 41-driver field for Daytona 500. Nine open teams were competing for five spots. Out of them, Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson locked in their spots via Wednesday’s single-car qualifying.

Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves already had a guaranteed spot through NASCAR’s Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) rule, ensuring his entry into the race regardless of qualifying performance. The remaining two were secured by LaJoie and Allgaier.

Daytona 500 starting order, complete lineup for season-opener

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe will lead the field to green on Sunday after winning the pole position for Daytona 500 after posting the fastest lap with a speed of 182.745 mph.

On that note, take a look at the complete 41-car starting lineup for “The Great American Race”:

1. #19 – Chase Briscoe
2. #2 – Austin Cindric
3. #23 – Bubba Wallace
4. #43 – Erik Jones
5. #24 – William Byron
6. #17 – Chris Buescher
7. #10 – Ty Dillon
8. #11 – Denny Hamlin
9. #1 – Ross Chastain
10. #22 – Joey Logano
11. #45 – Tyler Reddick
12. #01 – Corey LaJoie
13. #16 – A. J. Allmendinger
14. #34 – Todd Gilliland
15. #3 – Austin Dillon
16. #12 – Ryan Blaney
17. #9 – Chase Elliott
18. #42 – John Hunter Nemechek
19. #40 – Justin Allgaier (i)
20. #20 – Christopher Bell
21. #8 – Kyle Busch
22. #5 – Kyle Larson
23. #54 – Ty Gibbs
24. #35 – Riley Herbst (R)
25. #71 – Michael McDowell
26. #88 – Shane van Gisbergen (R)
27. #60 – Ryan Preece
28. #51 – Cody Ware
29. #21 – Josh Berry
30. #41 – Cole Custer
31. #47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
32. #4 – Noah Gragson
33. #77 – Carson Hocevar
34. #6 – Brad Keselowski
35. #7 – Justin Haley
36. #99 – Daniel Suárez
37. #38 – Zane Smith
38. #48 – Alex Bowman
39. #56 – Martin Truex Jr.
40. #84 – Jimmie Johnson
41. #91 – Helio Castroneves

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Edited by Yash Soni