4 Days to Daytona: Non-Chartered Teams

The final weekend of 2024 before the NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off is here. With only 4 Days to Daytona left, it is time to look at the non-chartered teams that might see track time in 2024. To be clear, non-chartered teams are the entries from a Cup team with other chartered entries. These are the entries that are the third or fourth car for these teams. Open teams (ones who have no chartered entries) will be covered tomorrow. The Daytona 500 usually sees the most non-chartered entries in recent seasons. Currently, there are 3 non-chartered teams entered for the Daytona 500.

Non-Chartered Teams

For this preview, the non-chartered teams are going to split between the confirmed entries for the Daytona 500 and rest. The Daytona 500 entries will have a Speedweeks preview included in their season preview.

Daytona 500 Entries

#36 Front Row Motorsports

For the third straight season, a third Front Row Motorsports entry is attempting the Daytona 500. This year, Kaz Grala is behind the wheel. Last year, the 36 team entered 4 races, all coming on superspeedways. Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, and Todd Gilliland each took a turn helming the 36. With Riley Herbst running select races in Rick Ware’s 15, it does not seem too likely that the 36 will show up for as many races. However, there is a chance that Front Row lets Grala get another start or two for Front Row when Herbst is with Rick Ware. 

Speedweeks Outlook

For the third time in his career, Kaz Grala will look to lock in an open car into the Daytona 500. Grala has pulled off the feat before with Kaulig Racing and The Money Team. With Front Row’s track record, it seems like that Grala will lock himself into the Great American Race. The youngest winner at Daytona might be able to make some noise in the event too. With Ford drafting support, Grala will be more than a field filler.

#60 RFK Racing

A new non-chartered entry has entered the Cup Series. RFK Racing announced the Stage 60 program, which will be a third car for the team. After the Daytona 500, the plan is to run Stage 60 at various events (depending on sponsorship). David Ragan is tabbed to be the first Stage 60 driver in Daytona. After that, SupersCars driver Cam Waters has been heavily rumored to be making 3 starts for the team. Ty Majeski’s name has also been floated out there as a possible entrant. If sponsorship lines up, then Stage 60 could make a decent number of starts. 

Speedweeks Outlook

Similar to Kaz Grala, there is little doubt about whether David Ragan will make the Daytona 500 field. With only one open entry missing the field, it will likely take unforeseen circumstances to keep RFK’s third car out of the Great American Race. Once in the field, Ragan will likely play support to Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher. Certainly, Ragan has the ability to win on the superspeedway. If there is a late RFK lead, the winner will likely come down to whoever is out front. Meanwhile, the other two RFK cars will play defense. 

#84 Legacy Motor Club

Jimmie Johnson is returning to Cup Series action for the 2024 season. If he makes the Daytona 500, then Johnson will run 9 races on the season. That would be the most for an non-chartered entry since 2021 (Kaulig Racing). The initial goal for Johnson will be a simple one: finish a race. In his 3 starts last year, Johnson had a DNF in each of them. Of course, family tragedy halted Johnson’s season prematurely. Hopefully, 7-time will be able to put together some solid runs in his 9 starts. 

Speedweeks Outlook

Last year, Jimmie Johnson qualified on speed into the Daytona 500. Should fans expect the same this year? The list of open cars seems a bit more robust (in terms of equipment) than last year. Between the three non-chartered entries, it will be a fight for the top two spots. Even if Johnson does not qualify in on speed, he should safely race his way into the Daytona 500 in his Bluegreen Vacations Duel. Once again, the goal for the Daytona 500 is to finish the race. Could he win? Sure. Is it likely? No.

Other Non-Chartered Teams

#13 Kaulig Racing

With the 16 Kaulig Racing team being the “trophy hunting” car again, it seems unlikely that the 13 car will see the track in 2024. The only possibility would be one of the road courses that Shane van Gisbergen is slated to run in the 16 car. If Kaulig wants AJ Allmendinger to trophy hunt that same race, then it would be plausible to see the 13 car out there. Of course, it depends on sponsorship. 

#33 Richard Childress Racing

For each of the past two seasons, the 33 Richard Childress Racing car has entered a single race. Both times did not come on superspeedways though. In 2022, Austin Hill ran the car at Michigan. Meanwhile, SuperCars driver Brodie Kostecki raced the Indy GP last year. This season, Kostecki is interested in running 2-3 races in the Cup Series. While it was initially thought that RCR would be his Cup home, there are rumors that Kostecki’s SuperCars team is interested in fielding an entry. If Kostecki is not running for RCR, will fans see the 33 car? There is a chance, especially considering Hill is Cup ready and Ty Dillon previously announced that he would be running some Cup races. 

#67 23XI Racing

After making two starts last year, there seems to be little indication that the extra 23XI Racing entry will make a start in 2024. It is a bit surprising to not see the 67 entered for the Daytona 500. Travis Pastrana found great success last year, qualifying in on speed and finishing 11th. Barring a very late announcement, the 67 will sit out the Daytona 500. Maybe the car will be run on a road course with an international driver later in the season. However, there has been little indication of that thus far. 

PROJECT91 – Trackhouse Racing

With the announcement that Shane van Gisbergen is driving for Kaulig in Cup, it would be shocking to see the 91 hit the track this season. Is it possible? Yes, but if PROJECT91 was going to continue in 2024, Gisbergen would have been the driver behind the wheel. Maybe Trackhouse will decide to run SVG in additional races later in the season.

Previous Days

40-36 Days: 40 – #12, 39 – #5, 38 – #24, 37 – #20, & 36 – #11

35-31 Days: 35 – #45, 34 – #17, 33 – #6, 32 – #1, & #31 – #9

30-26 Days: 30 – #19, 29 – #22, 28 – #4, 27 – #8, & 26 – #34

25-21 Days: 25 – #34, 24 – #23, 23 – #54, 22 – #99, & 21 – #48

20-16 Days: 20 – #16, 19 – #10, 18 – #41, 17 – #2, & 16 – #31

15-11 Days: 15 – #7, 14 – #43, 13 – #38, 12 – #3, & 11 – #14

10-6 Days: 10 – #21, 9 – #42, 8 – #77, 7 – #15, & 6 – #51

5-1 Days: 5 – #71