When the sun rises over the Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, the NASCAR Cup Series begins the road to the Playoffs. A variety of storylines await the 40 drivers, or potentially 41, that will make up the race that has sold out for the tenth straight year.

The reason for this unusual field size is the Open Exemption Provisional. It’s one of the many new additions to the NASCAR rulebook that allows teams to reserve an additional starting spot in events should a driver with a prolific racing resume fail to qualify on speed.

In typical NASCAR fashion this rule will be put to the test right away, as four-time Indy 500 winner Hélio Castroneves makes his stock-car debut in the Project 91 entry. The driver dubbed “Spider-Man” will have Team Trackhouse support, giving him a good shot to lock into the field.

However, should Castroneves run into trouble in qualifying or during Thursday’s twin 125-lap duel races, he’ll be guaranteed entry into the field. That said, per the rules Castroneves would then become ineligible for points and prize money.

As for the other entries, eight open cars will contest the remaining three or four spots. Corey LaJoie enters 2025 making select stars for Rick Ware Racing; J.J. Yeley drives the No. 44 for NY Racing; Beard Motorsports brings Anthony Afredo back into the fold; B.J. Mcleod and Live Fast Motorsports attempt again; and Chandler Smith represents the newly rebranded Garage 66 team.

One of the most anticipated names in NASCAR enters the Daytona 500 for the first time as a team owner. Fans have clamored for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to bring JR Motorsports up from the Xfinity Series for years, and the time has come for Pied Piper to return to the high banks.

JR Motorsports teamed up with country music star Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery to bring the Traveler Whiskey brand into the sport. They tapped defending Xfinity Series Champion Justin Allgaier to strap behind the wheel of the No. 40 Chevrolet as an open car.

Jimmie Johnson brings the Legacy Motor Club No. 84. Toyota back to Daytona Beach to try for his 22nd attempt at the Great American Race. Despite leading in active starts, the seven-time Cup Champion has a long road ahead if he is to reach David Marcus’s record 33 starts.

TRICON Garage makes its first showing in the Cup Series with Martin Truex Jr. the 2017 Cup Champion. Despite retiring from full-time racing in 2024, the Mayetta, N.J. native and his Bass Pro Shops machine still hunt for their first trip to victory lane together.

Like Truex, there are talented drivers with NASCAR Championships who have not triumphed in the season's biggest race. Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney each hoisted the cup at season's end, but have yet to raise the Harley J. Earl Trophy.

Look for each of them to be in the running for the win, but keep an eye on Keselowski and Busch. The two have shown speed to win, but they’ll have to overcome their lack of luck to reach the checkered flag first.

One driver who’s on the opposite end of that story is three-time Daytona Champion Denny Hamlin. The Joe Gibbs driver is balancing a lot on his plate between a sponsorship hunt, new crew chief and ongoing lawsuit against the sanctioning body.

However, the driver of the No. 11 sits second in the pre-race odds according to FanDuel rankings. Perhaps his new paint scheme with National Debt Relief will be a breath of fresh air and help Hamlin reach victory lane in the season’s first points race.

A few small changes to the race week include an additional 50 minutes of practice on Wednesday and adjustments to the DVP or Damage Vehicle Policy. The DVP now allows teams to bring their cars into the garage for repairs without facing elimination from the race.

Crews have the chance to work on the car in a designated location behind pit road. This could come into play throughout the season as every point is crucial to teams postseason hopes.

Raceday coverage of the 67th Daytona 500 is hosted by FOX Sports starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday Feb. 16. Tune in to find out which name will be etched into the Harley J. Earl Trophy at the end of 500 miles.