50 teams enter the Daytona 500 for the first time in five years

For the first time since 2010 when 54 cars qualified for the great american race, this year 50 drivers will try to earn their way into the 43 car field over the next week. Daytona being a restrictor plate race means that an underfunded team can very likely sneak into the field and even contend to win the 500. Its a great opportunity for a team and driver who may not usually finish inside the top 25. It also can mean great things for the sport, its a great chance to get new teams, drivers and sponsors into the spotlight of running in NASCAR's top tier series. Hopefully large entry lists will be something that continues to occur every week this season, but we will have to wait and see if that really happens.