2016 NASCAR Sprint Unlimited Eligible Drivers

Official Sprint Unlimited Entry List (Eligible Drivers)

By Richard Tix

The 2016 NASCAR season is finally upon us. First up, the 2016 Sprint Unlimited on Saturday February, 13th. Full Daytona Speedweek Schedule here. The Unlimited will be broadcast on FS1 at approx 8:15 ET. The Unlimited is a non-points race that highlights 2015 Pole Winners, previous Unlimited winners, previous Daytona 500 pole winners, and 2015 Chase drivers. The remaining spots are filled in by 2015 driver points.

The race is two segments and 75 laps long with 25 total drivers. The segments will be split by a lap 25 competition caution (so 25 laps and 50 laps). The starting positions are based on a random drawing done on Feb. 12th. Here are the 2016 Sprint Unlimited Eligible drivers.

2016 Eligible Unlimited Drivers

1) AJ Allmendinger (2015 pole winner)

2) Kurt Busch (2015 pole winner)

3) Kyle Busch (2015 pole winner)

4) Carl Edwards (2015 pole winner)

5) Denny Hamlin (2015 pole winner)

6) Kevin Harvick (2015 pole winner)

7) Jimmie Johnson (2015 pole winner)

8) Jeff Gordon (2015 pole winner) *Casey Mears first in line to replace Gordon (retired)*

9) Kasey Kahne (2015 pole winner)

10) Matt Kenseth (2015 pole winner)

11) Brad Keselowski (2015 pole winner)

12) Joey Logano (2015 pole winner)

13) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Former Sprint Unlimited winner)

14) Tony Stewart (Former Sprint Unlimited winner) *Ricky Stenhouse Jr is first up to take his spot (not his car)*
15) Martin Truex Jr (2015 Chase)

16) Clint Bowyer (Made 2015 Chase)

17) Jamie McMurray (Made 2015 Chase)

18) Paul Menard (Made 2015 Chase)

19) Ryan Newman (Made 2015 Chase)
20) Austin Dillon (Daytona Pole)
21) Greg Biffle (Daytona Pole)
22) Danica Patrick (Daytona Pole)

23) Aric Almirola (Driver points)

24) Kyle Larson (Driver points)
25) If Gilliland doesn't have a ride, Mears. Stenhouse takes Gordon's spot and Ragan Smokes spot

David Gilliland is also eligible as a past Daytona 500 Pole winner, but does not currently have a ride. If he did, he would get a spot before AA and Larson (as a Pole winner). 

Almirola, Larson, Mears, Stenhouse Jr, Hornish Jr (no ride currently), Ragan, and Bayne are next in line if a driver can not or chooses not to run or to fill out 25 spots. As of now (Gilliland doesn't have a ride) AA and Larson would get the 23rd and 24th spot. Unless Mears chooses not to, he should be the first up to fill in for Gordon who is retired now or get the final 25th spot if Gilliland doesn't have a ride. Also, as of this being released David Gilliland does not have a ride so if Mears gets that spot Stenhouse would take Gordon's spot and Ragan to take Smokes spot. All of these are just the eligible drivers for 2016. Any driver can opt out if they would like and it is a bit confusing until the official entry list is out and SHR announces Smokes replacement.