Ryan Preece, David Ragan will race in Daytona 500

Ryan Preece and David Ragan will be a part of the 40-driver field in the Daytona 500 Sunday.

Both drivers, who were not guaranteed a starting spot in NASCAR’s season opener, posted the fastest times of the open cars in Wednesday’s Daytona 500 qualifying session.

Preece will race in his third consecutive Daytona 500. His highest finish in the race was eighth in 2019.

Ragan, driving the No. 36 for Front Row Motorsports, will start his 15th consecutive Daytona 500.

Ragan has posted two career Top-5 finishes and three Top-10 finishes in the Daytona 500, including a fourth-place finish in 2020.

The rest of the field will be set with the two 125-mile duel races Thursday night.

The 63rd installment of “The Great American Race” is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14 and will be televised on FOX.