Denny Hamlin Aims for Fourth Daytona 500 Win in Star-Studded Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Denny Hamlin will attempt to secure his fourth Daytona 500 victory on Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway, joining a star-studded field that includes defending champion William Byron and NASCAR’s most popular driver, Chase Elliott. The race, known as “The Great American Race,” will feature 40 drivers competing for the coveted title, with three international drivers adding to the global appeal.

Hamlin, who previously won the Daytona 500 in 2016, 2019, and 2020, could become only the third driver in history to win at least four Daytona 500s. Byron, meanwhile, aims to become the first repeat winner since Hamlin achieved the feat in 2019 and 2020. The field also includes Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and international stars Helio Castroneves of Brazil, Daniel Suarez of Mexico, and Shane van Gisbergen of New Zealand.

The race will be broadcast on Fox and Fox Deportes, with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick will provide commentary, while Jamie Little, Regan Smith, and Larry McReynolds will report from pit road. The event will also be streamed on the Fox Sports app and broadcast on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Pitbull, part of the ownership group of Trackhouse Racing, will perform at the pre-race concert. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been named the grand marshal for the 2024 race. NASCAR has introduced a new rule this year, reserving a starting position for elite drivers who enter a Cup Series race. Castroneves, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, claimed this spot and will make his Daytona 500 debut at 49.

Under the new rule, the driver/car owner will not be eligible for race points, playoff points, or prize money. Cars finishing below the elite driver will have their positions adjusted upward, along with their prize money and points. The field traditionally includes 40 drivers, with 36 guaranteed spots and four determined through qualifying races. This year, the field could expand to 41 if Castroneves does not qualify traditionally.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr. are among the drivers competing for the four open spots. Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team will attempt its Cup Series debut with Justin Allgaier, last year’s Xfinity Series champion, behind the wheel.

The race comes amid ongoing disputes over NASCAR’s charter system, which guarantees 36 cars a spot in the field each week. Teams co-owned by Michael Jordan and Front Row Motorsports have filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, accusing the organization of operating as an unfair monopoly. The lawsuit, which has been ongoing for nearly two years, has not prevented the teams from competing this season.