Pastrana confirmed on Daytona 500 entry list

Travis Pastrana has been officially confirmed on the entry list for the 2023 Daytona 500.

Pastrana has been named on the 42-car entry list for the 65th edition of the race at Daytona International Speedway on February 19.

The 11-time X Games gold medal winner has entered in a Toyota Camry for the Michael Jordan/Denny Hamlin-owned 23XI Racing and will be vying for one of four remaining spots to compete in the 500 through qualifying and the Duel at Daytona races on February 16.

The 39-year-old will have his work cut out for him in qualifying, with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion turned team owner Jimmie Johnson, with the #84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driver being in the rare position of needing to compete for a start.

He will also be going up against the likes of IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly, Chandler Smith, Zane Smith and Austin Hill.

While not a complete stranger to stock car racing, with 42 race starts in the second-tier NASCAR Xfinity Series, Pastrana will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut, should he qualify in the #67.

“The first time I’m ever in a Cup car over second gear, it’s going to be at Daytona, which I’ve never driven a Cup car on, in a qualifying run, luckily, it’ll be by myself,” he said.

“But any kind of slide, miscalculation, or movement in the wheel, and I’m qualifying way back in the field.”

It has been a taxing start to the year for Pastrana, following the passing of his Gymkhana predecessor Ken Block in January.

He spoke at a gathering celebrating Block’s life in Park City, Utah, recollecting his pioneering approach and determination to develop the sport they loved, following that with a tribute to his close friend in the form of a livery for a Nitro Rallycross event held in honour of the American rally driver.

Since then, he competed in the Race of Champions in Sweden, where he represented the United States of America.

Seven Daytona 500 winners confirmed on entry list

Pastrana headlines an entry list that consists of seven Daytona 500 winners including 2022 victor Austin Cindric, two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Joey Logano, 2014 title winner Kevin Harvick, Austin Dillon, Michael McDowell, Johnson and Hamlin.

Three rookies have been officially confirmed for a start in the 500, namely Riley Herbst, Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson.

Daytona 500 Entry List

DRIVER	TEAM
ROSS CHASTAIN	TrackHouse Racing
AUSTIN CINDRIC	Team Penske
AUSTIN DILLON	Richard Childress Racing
KEVIN MARVICK	Stewart Maas Racing
KYLE LARSON	Hendrick Motorsports
BRAD KESELOWSKI	RFK Racing
COREY LAJOIE	Spire Motorsports
KYLE BUSCH	Richard Childress Racing
CHASE ELLIOTT	Hendrick Motorsports
ARIC ALMIROLA	Stewart -Maas Racing
DENNY HAMLIN	Joe Gibbs Racing
RYAN BLANEY	Team Penske
CHANDLER SMITH	Kaulig Racing
CHASE BRISCOE	Stewart Maas Racing
RILEY HERBST	Rick Ware Racing
AJ ALLMENDINGER	Kaulig Racing
CHRIS BUESCHER	RFK Racing
MARTIN TRUEX JR	Joe Gibbs Racing
CHRISTOPMER BELL	Joe Gibbs Racing
MARRISON BURTON	Wood Brothers Racing
JOEY LOGANO	Team Penske
BUBBA WALLACE	23XI Racing
WILLIAM BYRON	Hendrick Motorsports
JUSTIN HALEY	Kaulig Racing
MICHAEL MCDOWELL	Front Row Motorsports
ZANE SMITH	Front Row Motorsports
TODD GILLILAND	Front Row Motorsports
RYAN PREECE	Stewart Maas Racing
NOAM GRAGSON	Legacy Motor Club
ERIK JONES 30 43 –	Legacy Motor Club
TYLER REDDICK	23XI Racing
RICKY STENHOUSE JR	JTG Daugherty Racing
ALEX BOWMAN	Hendrick Motorsports
CONOR DALY	TMT Racing
CODY WARE	Rick Ware Racing
TY GIBBS	Joe Gibbs Racing
AUSTIN MILL	Board Motorsports
TRAVIS PASTRANA	23XI Racing
TY DILLON	Spire Motorsports
BJ MCLEOD	Live Fast Motorsports
JIMMIE JOHNSON	Legacy Motor Club
DANIEL SUAREZ	TrackHouse Racing