Race Weekend Central

Entry List: GEICO 500

Following two weeks of short track action, the Sprint Cup Series heads to the biggest track on the schedule at Talladega Superspeedway.

For the second consecutive race, there are 41 cars entered and one will go home following qualifying on Saturday.

Tony Stewart made his return to competition last weekend and is entered again for the GEICO 500. However, due to the heightened risk of injury at Talladega, he will only start the race to earn points and then climb out for Ty Dillon to compete.

Bobby Labonte will be back behind the wheel of the No. 32 car for GO FAS Racing for the second time this season. He competed in the first restrictor plate race of the season at Daytona and finished 31st. He competed in all four plate races in 2015 with his best result of 23rd coming last October at Talladega.

Front Row Motorsports has a third car entered this weekend as David Gilliland pilots the No. 35 Shaw’s Southern Belle Seafood Ford. He attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 but did not make the field. If he qualifies on time this weekend, this will be his first start of 2016. He finished second in the 2013 spring Talladega race, behind former FRM teammate David Ragan.

Michael Waltrip will compete in the No. 55 for Premium Motorsports on Sunday. If he makes the field, this will be his second start of the season after finishing 30th at Daytona with BK Racing. He finished fourth in this race in 2013.

Defending race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will look to rebound after crashing in the first restrictor plate race of 2016. Despite the wreck, he will compete in the same car as his Hendrick Motorsports team repaired the ride named “Amelia” after the Daytona accident.

Cars return to the track beginning on Friday at 2:30 p.m. for opening practice and final practice at 4:30 p.m. (all times ET). The field will be set on Saturday with single-car qualifying starting at 12:30 p.m. Coverage of the GEICO 500 will begin on Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX.

Car No.DriverManufacturerSponsorTeam
1Jamie McMurrayChevyMcDonald'sChip Ganassi Racing
2Brad KeselowskiFordMiller LiteTeam Penske
3Austin DillonChevyDow - Energy & Water / IntellifreshRichard Childress Racing
4Kevin HarvickChevyBusch FishingStewart-Haas Racing
5Kasey KahneChevyFarmers InsuranceHendrick Motorsports
6Trevor BayneFordAdvoCareRoush Fenway Racing
7Regan SmithChevyGolden CorralTommy Baldwin Racing
10Danica PatrickChevyAspen DentalStewart-Haas Racing
11Denny HamlinToyotaFedEx ExpressJoe Gibbs Racing
13Casey MearsChevyGEICOGermain Racing
14Tony StewartChevyBass Pro ShopsStewart-Haas Racing
15Clint BowyerChevyAccuDoc SolutionsHScott Motorsports
16Greg BiffleFordFord EcoBoostRoush Fenway Racing
17Ricky Stenhouse Jr.FordFifth Third BankRoush Fenway Racing
18Kyle BuschToyotaSkittles MarvelJoe Gibbs Racing
19Carl EdwardsToyotaARRISJoe Gibbs Racing
20Matt KensethToyotaDollar GeneralJoe Gibbs Racing
21*Ryan Blaney #FordMotorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto CenterWood Brothers Racing
22Joey LoganoFordShell PennzoilTeam Penske
23David RaganToyotaSchluter SystemsBK Racing
24Chase Elliott #ChevyNAPA Auto PartsHendrick Motorsports
27Paul MenardChevyMoen / MenardsRichard Childress Racing
30*Josh WiseChevyCurtis Key PlumbingThe Motorsports Group
31Ryan NewmanChevyCaterpillarRichard Childress Racing
32Bobby LabonteFordRimrock DevlinGO FAS Racing
34Chris Buescher #FordLove’s Travel Stops / CSX-Play it SafeFront Row Motorsports
35*David GillilandFordShaw's Southern Belle SeafoodFront Row Motorsports
38Landon CassillFordFR8AuctionsFront Row Motorsports
41Kurt BuschChevyMonster EnergyStewart-Haas Racing
42Kyle LarsonChevyTargetChip Ganassi Racing
43Aric AlmirolaFordFresh From FloridaRichard Petty Motorsports
44Brian Scott #FordTwisted TeaRichard Petty Motorsports
46Michael AnnettChevyPilot Flying JHScott Motorsports
47A.J. AllmendingerChevyKroger / Hungry Jack / CriscoJTG Daugherty Racing
48Jimmie JohnsonChevyLowe'sHendrick Motorsports
55*Michael WaltripToyotaPeak & BlueDEFPremium Motorsports
78Martin Truex Jr.ToyotaBass Pro Shops / TRACKER BoatsFurniture Row Racing
83Matt DibenedettoToyotaDustless BlastingBK Racing
88Dale Earnhardt Jr.ChevyNationwideHendrick Motorsports
95Michael McDowellChevyThrivent FinancialCircle Sport-Leavine Family Racing
98*Cole WhittChevyTBAPremium Motorsports

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Bill W.

Now we will have to listen how a great plate driver that M W is from old D W.

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