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Daytona Beach, FL – The iconic Daytona International Speedway is set to host a full 41-car field for the NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale, marking only the third time in the 2026 season that the entry list has reached maximum capacity. This highly anticipated event, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, will also serve as the decisive race for setting the 2026 Chase for the Championship grid, adding an extra layer of intensity to the Saturday night showdown. Alongside the 36 chartered teams, five open entries will compete for a coveted spot on the starting grid, with the slowest among them facing elimination following Friday’s qualifying session.
The presence of a full field at Daytona underscores the significance of this race, which traditionally draws a large number of competitors vying for a chance to prove their mettle on the high-banks. The Daytona 500 and the spring Talladega Superspeedway race were the only other events this year to feature a full grid, indicating the competitive nature of superspeedway events and the high stakes involved in securing a starting position.
This year’s open entries represent a diverse mix of veteran experience and emerging talent, each with their own narrative and aspirations heading into the critical weekend.
NY Racing Team Returns with Joey Gase in the No. 44 Chevrolet
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The No. 44 Chevrolet, operated by the NY Racing Team, will be piloted by Joey Gase. The 33-year-old driver brings 94 previous Cup Series starts to the table since his debut in 2014. This attempt at Daytona marks his second start of the 2026 season. Gase’s career-best Cup Series finish came at Talladega in 2020, where he secured a 17th-place result. His personal best at Daytona International Speedway is a 20th-place finish.
The NY Racing Team has faced challenges in qualifying this year, notably failing to make the 2026 Daytona 500 with driver J.J. Yeley. However, they successfully qualified for the spring Talladega race with Gase at the helm after qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather. Should they qualify for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, it will represent their fifth appearance of the 2026 season.
Veteran Casey Mears Seeks Milestone 500th Start in Beard Motorsports’ No. 62 Chevrolet
Casey Mears, a familiar face in NASCAR, will drive the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet. At 48 years old, Mears is the most seasoned competitor among the open entries, boasting an impressive 497 career Cup Series starts. His singular Cup Series victory came in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600. Mears’ current pursuit is to reach the significant milestone of 500 career starts, making this weekend’s race particularly meaningful.
Mears has a strong history at Daytona International Speedway, having finished runner-up in the 2006 Daytona 500. He also achieved a fourth-place finish in the summer Daytona race in 2014. Beard Motorsports, which operates with an alliance with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), has been a consistent presence in the Cup Series for the past decade, with a particular focus on superspeedway events. While the team has achieved top-tier results at Daytona, including a fifth-place finish, and a sixth-place finish at Talladega, they were unable to qualify for the two superspeedway races this year that featured go-or-go-home qualifying. Mears has been the driver for their two successful starts this season.
Gray Gaulding Returns to the Cup Series with Garage 66 in the No. 66 Ford
The No. 66 Ford, representing the Garage 66 team, will be driven by Gray Gaulding. The 28-year-old driver is attempting to make his first Cup Series start in over three years. Gaulding has accumulated 60 career starts at the sport’s highest level, with his best performance being a ninth-place finish at Talladega in 2019. His personal best at Daytona in the Cup Series is a 20th-place finish in the 2018 Daytona 500. This season, Gaulding has made one start in the NASCAR national series, finishing 28th in a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Carl Long-owned Garage 66 team is the sole open entry representing Ford and is aiming for its 12th start of the 2026 season. Gaulding will be the fifth different driver to pilot the No. 66 machine this year. The team previously qualified for the 2026 Daytona 500 with Casey Mears, who went on to finish 32nd in the prestigious event.
Rising Star Corey Heim Joins 23XI Racing’s No. 67 Toyota
In a notable move, 23XI Racing’s No. 67 Toyota will be driven by Corey Heim. The 24-year-old driver has enjoyed a breakout partial season in 2026, setting records and capturing attention across the garage. Heim secured his first career Cup Series victory on the San Diego Street Course and followed it up with another win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Brickyard 400. If he qualifies for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, this will mark his ninth start of the 2026 season.
23XI Racing stands out as the most formidable of the open entries. Unlike the other single-car operations, the No. 67 entry is part of a larger, well-resourced organization that includes three full-time chartered teams. The No. 67 car has demonstrated consistent performance, not failing to qualify since the 2025 Chicago Street Course race.
Daniel Dye Rounds Out Open Entries for Live Fast Motorsports in the No. 78 Chevrolet
Daniel Dye, aged 22, will pilot the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet. Dye inked a four-race deal with the team earlier in the season. He began 2026 as a full-time driver in the NASCAR Truck Series for Kaulig Racing and RAM. However, his season took a turn after a suspension for controversial remarks made on a livestream. Following completion of sensitivity training, Dye has returned to competition. He is relatively new to the Cup Series, making his debut at Talladega in the spring. If he qualifies for the Daytona race, it will be his fourth career Cup Series start, all occurring in 2026.
The BJ McLeod-owned Live Fast Motorsports team has made eight starts this season, with McLeod himself and Katherine Legge also driving the No. 78 car. Once a full-time competitor before selling its charter for an estimated $40 million, the team now participates in a select number of races annually. Their strongest performances have been at Daytona, achieving two top-ten finishes: ninth in the 2021 summer race and seventh in the 2022 summer race.
The competition for the remaining starting spots will undoubtedly be fierce, with Friday’s qualifying session setting the stage for a thrilling regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway. The drivers and teams of these open entries carry the hopes of making a significant impact on the championship picture and solidifying their place in NASCAR history.
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