McMurray, Cope highlight Daytona 500 entry announcements
As the Daytona 500 draws closer, more Daytona 500 plans are being announced, with three teams announcing driver plans Tuesday.
Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing announced Jamie McMurray as the driver of their No. 77 AdventHealth Chevrolet Camaro for the Daytona 500.
McMurray’s No. 77 will be built by CGR and utilizing a Spire Motorsports charter. Sponsor AdventHealth will return for this year’s 500, one year after sponsoring Ross Chastain when he drove the No. 77 to a 25th-place finish.
McMurray last raced in the 2019 Daytona 500, finishing 22nd in a No. 40 CGR-prepared Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. McMurray was taken out in a wreck on Lap 198.
Gaunt Brothers Racing
Gaunt Brothers Racing announced Ty Dillon as the driver of their No. 96 Toyota Camry for the Daytona 500.
Dillon’s No. 96 — an open entry — will be sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee for the 500. The No. 96 will also be a new Toyota Camry with an engine built by Toyota Racing Development for Dillon to attempt to qualify for Gaunt Brothers Racing’s first Daytona 500.
Daniel Suarez attempted last year’s Daytona 500 with Gaunt Brothers Racing, but failed to make the race after crashing out of his Duel race.
Ty Dillon made the race last year but finished 30th after being taken out in a wreck with two laps to go in the scheduled distance.
Rick Ware Racing/Starcom Racing
1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope confirmed to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass Tuesday afternoon that he would be racing in this year’s 500.
Cope will run a No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet built by StarCom Racing with Pat Tryson serving as crew chief and Jacob Companies as the sponsor.
Cope will be locked into the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2004. Cope finished 30th, 47 laps down, after starting 42nd in that year’s 500.
Josh Bilicki will serve as Derrike Cope’s teammate in this year’s Daytona 500. Bilicki will drive the No. 52 Rick Ware Racing entry full-time in 2021, kicking off the season with his first Daytona 500 start.
The Daytona 500 is February 14 at 2:30 p.m. ET with TV coverage on FOX and radio coverage on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
SOURCES:
Chip Ganassi Racing
FOX Sports
Gaunt Brothers Racing
NASCAR
Racing-Reference.Info
Rick Ware Racing
