NASCAR Xfinity Series driver linked to one of vacant Daytona 500 seat

There are only a few weeks left before the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off. The new season will begin with the historic Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. The Great American Race will take place on Sunday, February 19, 2023.

The official entry list for the 2023 Daytona 500 has more than 40 spots, including 36 chartered entries already a lock for the race. Out of those 36 chartered entries, only 33 have confirmed drivers for the 500-mile-long race.

The three entries that have not been confirmed yet are the two Rick Ware Racing cars (#15 Ford Mustang and #51 Ford Mustang) and the Live Fast Motorsports entry (#78 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1).

Riley Herbst, who competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Stewart-Haas Racing, is associated with one of the vacant Daytona 500 seats.

Rick Ware, the owner of Rick Ware Racing, has reportedly suggested that Herbst drive the #15 Ford entry at all the superspeedway races during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, including the iconic Daytona 500.

Although Rick Ware Racing no longer has a technical partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing, they are now affiliated with Brad Keselowski’s RFK Racing. But Riley Herbst brings funding, and the previous alliance between the two Ford Performance teams certainly shouldn’t hurt his case.

Several experts may question the move. The 23-year-old has not performed well since joining the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022 despite racing for top Cup Series teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing.

---

The 2023 NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway starting line-up

Here are the starting positions of the 41-car grid at Daytona International Speedway:

1. #1 - Ross Chastain
2. #2 - Austin Cindric (W)
3. #3 - Austin Dillon (W)
4. #4 - Kevin Harvick (W)
5. #5 - Kyle Larson
6. #6 - Brad Keselowski
7. #7 - Corey LaJoie
8. #8 - Kyle Busch
9. #9 - Chase Elliott
10. #10 - Aric Almirola
11. #11 - Denny Hamlin (W)
12. #12 - Ryan Blaney
13. #13 - Chandler Smith (i)
14. #14 - Chase Briscoe
15. #15 - TBA
16. #16 - A. J. Allmendinger
17. #17 - Chris Buescher
18. #19 - Martin Truex Jr.
19. #20 - Christopher Bell
20. #21 - Harrison Burton
21. #22 - Joey Logano (W)
22. #23 - Bubba Wallace
23. #24 - William Byron
24. #31 - Justin Haley
25. #34 - Michael McDowell (W)
26. #38 - Todd Gilliland
27. #41 - Ryan Preece
28. #42 - Noah Gragson (R)
29. #43 - Erik Jones
30. #45 - Tyler Reddick
31. #47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
32. #48 - Alex Bowman
33. #51 - TBA
34. #54 - Ty Gibbs (R)
35. #62 - Austin Hill (i)
36. #67 - Travis Pastrana
37. #77 - Ty Dillon
38. #78 - B. J. McLeod
39. #84 - Jimmie Johnson (W)
40. #99 - Daniel Suárez
41. #TBA - Zane Smith (i)