Hello! It is time to wake up, gearheads, as the NASCAR season opener is barely a month away. The World’s Greatest Race is right around the corner and has packed some sizzling surprises for us. Besides kicking off a schedule sprinkled with eclectic racing venues, the Daytona 500 itself will be a spectacle. Esteemed racers from various disciplines, timelines, and even time zones will grace us – and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is excited.
The two-time Daytona 500 winner knows the prestige associated with this race. Having been a fixture on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule since 1959, the Daytona 500 has witnessed numerous historical moments. So having so many people sign up for the 2025 race is a good look for NASCAR – and a good indicator of things to come, as Dale Jr observed.
The packed list makes Dale Earnhardt Jr. optimistic
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Your jaws will drop when you look at the entry list for the upcoming Daytona 500. Ten drivers are rumored to compete for the four open entries this year in the Duel races. Initially, there was doubt about the chartered entries. But after 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports won their preliminary injunction motion, the number is fixed at 36. The remaining four will be targeted by a group that includes Helio Castroneves, 4-time Indy 500 champion, Martin Truex Jr. who retired in 2024, and 7-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
This huge list of aspirant Daytona 500 runners has Dale Earnhardt Jr. in buoyant spirit. In a recent episode of the Dale Jr Download, the veteran Cup driver said: “As we close up on the Daytona 500, they’re starting to announce all the different cars that are going to be entered in the race as open cars…I’ve heard as much as maybe 10.”
Then Dale Jr explained why this big list is actually a harbinger of success. “Good sign of health but also the economics of it is the car count. If you’re going to start 30 cars and 40 are there, that’s great. If you’re going to start 30 cars and only 28 show up, it’s concerning.”
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Dale Earnhardt Jr took a page from the history books – he referred to the 1979 Daytona 500.
That was a memorable race, as it turned dramatic with Cale Yarborough throwing punches and kicks at the Allison brothers. Dale Jr. pointed out the numeral discrepancy the race faced: “I’ll take you back to 1979. I think that almost as many cars failed to make the race as started the race. So almost 40 cars went home. There would be 30 cars in the duels…And only 15 of those are going to make the race.”
He continued that with the big list for the 2025 race, the drama will likely be limited to the Duels. “The Duels would then, therefore, be dramatic…Going into this 500 with as many open cars as we have,” then he dropped a 7-word verdict, “things are trending in a good direction.”
The personalities involved will make waves – what with their solid history.
Glory in Daytona
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The high-banked tri-oval has been the site of historical race finishes. Richard Petty became the first driver to win consecutive Daytona 500 races in 1974. Then Cale Yarborough was the first to win the pole at Daytona at more than 200 mph. Janet Guthrie, a pioneering female racer, was the first woman to compete in the Daytona 500 and finished 12th.
These stories inspire the current generation to take their own bites of the Daytona glory. And present drivers showcase high hopes. Helio Castroneves, who signed with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, is an IndyCar star. He has never started a Cup race, but he became a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Similarly, Anthony Alfredo also brings high hopes for the Beard Motorsports No. 62 car in Daytona. Last year, he displayed the fastest qualifying time among all other open teams. Alfredo competed admirably during the main event, but an unfortunate crash landed him in 27th place. This year, the Connecticut native is ready for redemption. “The NASCAR Cup Series is the goal for every driver that goes the NASCAR route. The Beards gave me this chance to race for them last year and I couldn’t be happier to be back competing with them again in 2025. “
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Evidently, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s touted entry list seems jam-packed with talent. The Daytona 500 race is just over a month away, and we cannot wait!
Dale Earnhardt Jr Drops 7-Word Verdict Behind Daytona 500 Entry List
