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.

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Martin Truex Jr

Martin Truex Jr 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Martin Truex Jr Career Paint Schemes

Just like Joey Logano, almost everything just short of a Championship that could have gone right for Truex in 2015 did go right. He started the season by picking up 7 straight top 10's in a row. He continued to pick up 14 top 10's in the first 15 races. 

Eventually all the consistency and great runs paid off during that stretch when he won at Pocono and locked himself in the Chase. It was a huge moment for him, his wife, and his team as well as NASCAR. 

He rolled his success from the regular season all the way into the Finale at Homestead where he had a shot to win the Title. 

In 2016 he will be back at Furniture Row and have some uncertainty going forward. Both he and Front Row want to stick together, and the news that Bass Pro signed on for the 2016 season should help, but long term contracts still haven't been worked out. So, Martin will once again be under pressure at a small team to keep performing at a high level.

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

• Martin Truex Jr has raised the bar with Furniture Row and will continue to see pressure to perform in 2016. Not only that, but the team switched from Chevy to Toyota and are now in alliance with JGR. I think some bumps in the road are to be expected, but I think he will run well enough to once again make the Chase. However, I am not sure if he will win again in 2016. 0 wins, 5-6 top 5's, and 19-20 top 10's are what I see possible for him this year.

Previous Driver Spotlights

2016 NASCAR Driver Spotlight Preview: Joey Logano

Joey Logano 2016 Preview

By Richard Tix

2015 Review

Joey Logano Career Paint Schemes

Everything but Martinsville went Joey Logano's way in 2016. He lead NASCAR with 6 wins and 28 top 10's (tied with Harvick), while coming up with the second most top 5's (22 to Harvicks 23) and he kicked off the season with his first career Daytona 500 win. He was a Championship favorite and went on to win Charlotte, Kansas, and Taladega during the Chase in back to back to back races. 

Then came the race that shaped his season whether he likes it or not, Martinsville. 

After Martinsville it was and uphill battle to get a win before the final round moved to Miami. JoLo came up short and the season for he and Matt Kenseth will forever be remembered for Kansas and Martinsville. 

But, on the positive note Joey announced he was here to stay after a break out season in 2014. He finally has got to the level where Mark Martin could see him getting to when he called him "sliced bread." So, will he finally be Champion in 2016?

Bold Predictions/2016 Season Expectations:

• I have Joey Logano back in the Final Four in 2016, much like 2014. Last year I was between BK and him making the final, and the one I picked would be the Champion. I went BK, but I would have been wrong either way. That's how crazy the new Chase is. I am not sure 2016 will be as successful as 2015 was according to the basic stats, but JoLo will have another nice season. I see 3-5 wins, 17-18 top 5's, and 20-22 Top 10's which are all down from 2015, but he could end up farther in the Chase.

Previous Driver Spotlights

We're Going Streaking 2016

NASCAR Drivers on a Current Win-Less Streak

By Richard Tix

For the fourth straight year NASCAR Behind the Wall is bringing back the drivers streaking article. No, you favorite driver still has his clothes on (sorry Kasey Kahne fans, we are not that type of site), but rather your driver maybe on a long streak without a Cup win.

• We're Going Streaking 2015
• We're Going Streaking 2014
• We're Going Streaking 2013

"We're... We're going streaking! We're going up the quad and to the gymnasium."

"But... everybody's doing it."

Paul Menard (Streak Number: 160)


The last time Menard had a win gas prices were $3.50 a gallon, LMFAO was still a group and released "Party Rock Anthem," Charlie Sheen was finally fired from "Two and a Half Men," and Osama Bin Laden was killed. The year was 2011 and 160 races ago. In 327 career Cup races that is Menard's only win, so it is safe to assume this streak may continue to grow.

Clint Bowyer (Streak Number: 113)


Clint Bowyer's win-less streak isn't quite as long as Menard, but it might be even more impressive (in a bad way). That's because before this streak of 113 races without a win, Bowyer had 8 wins in 253 races (or 1 every 32 races). It will get even harder in 2016 as he moved to HScott Motorsports for a season after MWR shut down.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Streak Number: 112)


After winning 8 races in 107 Xfinity races (Nationwide at the time) I think a bit more was expected out of Ricky at the Cup level. Not every driver transitions with easy and at the same rate, but Ricky hasn't even really sniffed a win at the Cup level. In fact, he only has three top 5's in those 112 races (one each of the past three season's). With his struggles combining with the struggles of RFR this could be a long streak.

Greg Biffle (Streak Number: 93)


Speaking of RFR struggles, those same struggles haven't helped Biffle the past few years. Biffle is at a time in his career where win's might become few and far between, but he is still a capable driver if he only could get some speed from his car. RFR used to be very good at tracks like Michigan and other tracks similar, which always gave him a shot to win. I am not sure he can get another win unless RFR gives him a bit more than they have the past few years.

Ryan Newman (Streak Number: 88)


Newman is succeeding in the last few years despite winning. RCR hasn't been the fastest team out there, but they haven't necessarily been bad either. Ever since 2004 Newman hasn't done much more then win a race a season here and there, so these type streaks are bound to happen. But he has been running so consistent lately that you would think he would snap it by luck eventually. Maybe 2016 is the year. His numbers have stayed on par and his average finishes have actually been career bests, so he might be the best candidate so far on the list to get a win in 2016.


Austin Dillon (Streak Number: 85)


I left Dillon and Larson off the list after just one season. This might even be unfair heading into season number three for both young drivers, but both came to the Cup level with plenty of hype so I feel it is just. The last two season's Dillon hasn't flashed a ton when it comes to the potential of being a front runner. He has been an alright driver that can finish plenty around the 13-20 range, but it is tough to win when back in that spot. Between he and Larson, I see Dillons streak continuing to grow for awhile.

Tony Stewart (Streak Number: 80)


It is Stewart's last season in 2016, so if he doesn't win his streak will stand still to end hi career. He has 48 career wins, won a race in 15 straight seasons, all before going on his current 80 race win-less streak. The past few season's really have been a tough way to see his career end, but we may also witness it end with a 116 win-less streak after 2016.

Jamie McMurray (Streak Number: 76)



After Newman, Jamie McMurray might be the next in line to break his streak so far on this list. He has never been a consistent winner over his career (7 wins in 474 races), but he has proven to be an exceptional super speedway type with a chance to pull off a win at a handful of other tracks. The past two seasons he has run very well, so 2016 could be the year of JMac and another Daytona/Dega win, but it is still a long shot.

Kyle Larson (Streak Number: 75)


Just like Dillon, it might be early in there career to get on this list, but both have had enough hype to justify this spot early on. After a great rookie season, Larson was getting preseason hype going into 2015 and most thought he would get his first win, if not two. He fell into a big Sophomore slump and now heads into 2016 with the pressure of winning as other young guns enter Cup (Elliott, Blaney, and Buescher). Out of anyone on this list I have the most confidence in Larson to break his streak in 2016. I am not positive it will happen, but he is the first on this list in my mind to get a win.

*The Streak Number is the number at the beginning of the 2016 season. All numbers have been extended once the season starts and some drivers may finally beat the streak. However, the article will not be updated every week to reflect the 2016 races that have gone by.