The 41st NASCAR Cup Series entry in the Daytona 500 was announced this week as Kaz Grala will attempt to qualify for The Great American Race. Grala is going to drive the No. 36 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports.
This is a car that Riley Herbst drove last season to varying success. Front Row will again have three cars on the track, and a new alliance with Team Penske pushes that to potentially six cars at Daytona.
Kaz Grala is set to race 25 races this season for Rick Ware Racing. However, he had to find another ride for the Daytona 500. The RWR No. 15 team has yet to announce a driver for the first points race of the year.
Kaz Grala is just 25 years old and is seen as a talented race car driver. Among other accolades, Grala is the youngest driver to make the NASCAR Playoffs, the youngest driver to win at Daytona in addition to the youngest pole winner ever at the track.
At just 15 years old, Grala made his first IMSA start. He’s raced at a high level for a lot of years and he’s ready to get back to the Cup Series.
In his career, Kaz Grala has two Daytona 500 starts. A DNF P28 finish in 2021 for Kaulig. Then, a P26 finish for The Money Team in 2022. He has had to qualify for this race before and will be in better equipment this time than he was in 2022.
Kaz Grala up against tough competition at Daytona
We now know there will be at least 41 cars attempting to qualify for the Daytona 500. The 36 chartered cars and then the five additional entries. For now. There could be more cars added to this field before we get to the 500.
Kaz Grala will be competing against Jimmie Johnson of Legacy Motor Club, Anthony Alfredo with Beard Motorsports, David Ragan in the Stage 60 RFK car, and BJ McLeod with Live Fast. One of these drivers and teams will go home on Thursday night.
That is a lot of talent in those cars. Imagine if we get a few more entries. Kaulig Racing, NY Racing, 23XI Racing, and Trackhouse Racing could all theoretically enter another car into the race. NY Racing is apparently working hard to get a deal together for the race but that remains to be seen.
There seems to be a lot of interest in NASCAR. Teams and sponsors are willing to put up extra cars and money to run in the Daytona 500. Any time there is a chance cars won’t make the big race, it is exciting. It makes qualifying matter for something.
So, do you think Kaz Grala can race his way into the Daytona 500 with Front Row Motorsports?
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