In a press release this afternoon, NASCAR announced the drivers who will be eligible for the Sprint Unlimited, as well as the format for the event, which will kick off Speedweeks at Daytona Speedway, and will be the first event after the Daytona Rising remodel. This year, it will be on Saturday, February 13th, and will be broadcast live on FOX, as well as MRN Radio.
The non-points event will be split into two segments, with a competition caution at Lap 25, which will serve as the break between the two segments. Starting positions will be determined by a random draw, which will take place Friday, February 12th at 3:30 P.M., and will be open to the public. 25 drivers are eligible for this year’s edition. To be eligible, a driver has to either have won a pole during the previous season, be a former Sprint Unlimited winner, 2015 Chase drivers, and former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full time in 2015, and the remaining spots are filled by the highest points finishers from last season who are not already in the race.
Here is a list of eligible drivers.
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARDS WINNERS
A.J. Allmendinger
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Carl Edwards
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Jeff Gordon
Joey Logano
FORMER RACE WINNERS
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Tony Stewart
DAYTONA 500 POLE AWARD WINNERS
Greg Biffle
Austin Dillon
David Gilliland
Danica Patrick
Martin Truex Jr.
2015 CHASE DRIVERS
Clint Bowyer
Jamie McMurray
Paul Menard
Ryan Newman
HIGHEST IN POINTS NOT ALREADY IN THE RACE
Aric Almirola
Kyle Larson
If a driver who is eligible does not enter the race, a replacement will be chosen from the highest point finishers from last season who are not already in the race. The first five alternates, in order, are Casey Mears, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., San Hornish Jr., David Ragan, and Trevor Bayne.