Inside 24 hours of qualifying for NASCAR’s largest race, it was nonetheless unclear who could be driving NY Racing Group’s No. 44 automobile.
Many initially assumed it will be NASCAR veteran Greg Biffle, who drove for the crew within the 2022 Daytona 500, in addition to 4 different races that 12 months. The crew’s finest consequence got here at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the place Biffle completed twentieth.
Nonetheless, he has since launched an announcement on social media, revealing that he won’t be the crew’s driver on account of “unfulfilled contract obligations.”
Full assertion: “It has come to my consideration that photos of a hauler and automobile with my title and signature on the facet of it have been launched. Whereas I had hoped to be operating within the 2024 Daytona 500 this 12 months – that won’t be occurring. As a result of unfulfilled contract obligations from 2022 for myself and the crew, I’ve made a tough resolution to not take part in any races, till the prior contract obligations have been fulfilled. I want the crew all one of the best and hopefully I’ll have the chance to race once more and win this coveted race.”
Greg Biffle, NY Racing Group, Chevrolet Camaro Grambling State College
Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
NY Racing Group didn’t try any races throughout the 2023 season and are a a shock late entry on this 12 months’s 500, changing into the sixth open crew. 4 open groups will make the sphere whereas the remaining two might be despatched house.
The entry listing has lastly been up to date and journeyman driver J.J. Yeley might be behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro as NY Racing Group makes an attempt to make the sphere for NASCAR’s crown jewel occasion. 100 Coconut Water will function the first sponsor.
Yeley, 47, has pushed for quite a few groups all through his profession, which incorporates over 700 begins between the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Sequence.
This might be his tenth Daytona 500 try, doing so with 9 totally different groups. He has began six Daytona 500s since 2006 and did not qualify on three events (2012, 2020, 2022). He final tried to make the race in 2022, however hasn’t been part of the Sunday area since 2015.
Yeley’s career-best end within the Daytona 500 got here in 2013, ending tenth.
