Noah Gragson, Jacques Villeneuve to race in Daytona 500

Noah Gragson and Jacques Villeneuve are guaranteed starting spots in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Gragson and Villeneuve, who posted the fastest lap times Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway among drivers not locked into the race (32nd and 36th respectively), will each participate in their first Daytona 500.

For Gragson, Sunday will mark his Cup Series debut and first race for Beard Motorsports since 2020.

Villeneuve will make his first Cup Series start since 2013 and the debut of Team Hezeberg.

Only two more spots remain to be captured for the Daytona 500.

Kaz Grala, Greg Biffle, J.J. Yeley and Timmy Hill will have to race their way into the Daytona 500 via the qualifying races Thursday.