Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway Nigel Cook/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Why 2023 Daytona 500 could be most competitive field in a long time

By Ryan McCafferty | Last updated 1/19/23

Historically, a major part of the prestige of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's premier event, is the difficulty of qualifying for the race.

Through the 2000s and early 2010s, entry lists would frequently include up to 50 drivers attempting to qualify for a 43-car field. That count has dwindled in recent years, but in 2023, we could see a return to the competition of old.

Open cars for Daytona: Johnson (Legacy Motor Club), Pastrana (23XI), ZSmith (Front Row), AHill (Beard). There could be several other drivers attempting to make field with Kaulig Racing, The Money Team Racing, Team Hezeberg and NY Racing all considering fielding open car.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 17, 2023

Chandler Smith to attempt to make the Daytona 500 for Kaulig in a third car. https://t.co/ssqXkdqhnD
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 18, 2023

Forty-one drivers are confirmed to be competing for the 40-car field, with more to come.

Per motorsports.com, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves is seeking a ride, which could come with the Money Team, partially owned by boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Then there are the low-budget organizations, such as MBM Motorsports and Team Hezeberg, which could enter cars.

Since 2016, when NASCAR's Cup field was reduced from 43 to 40 cars, the most entries for the Daytona 500 were 44 in 2016 and 2021. It's likely that number will be matched, if not exceeded, in 2023.

This year's additional entries aren't nobodies, either. They include Travis Pastrana, a former X Games star; Zane Smith, last year's NASCAR Truck Series champion; and potentially Castroneves.

Plus, the semi-retired Jimmie Johnson, arguably the sport's greatest driver of all time, will enter.

The Daytona 500 field is traditionally decided by two qualifying "duel" races run the Thursday before the main event.

In recent years, those duel races have lost much of their luster due to the lack of buzz surrounding who will make the field, but that is sure to change this season.

More must-reads: