46 Sprint Cup cars on preliminary entry list for Phoenix
Forty-six teams are on the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
TRG Motorsports will once more bring a second Cup car to the track. Although Andy Lally is listed to drive the No. 70, it will actually be driven by Kevin Conway with sponsorship from ExtenZe. Other drivers who are competing part time or sharing rides entered are Brandon Ash (No. 02 Brandon Ash Racing Dodge), David Gilliland (No. 09 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet), Max Papis (No. 13 Germain Racing Toyota), Michael McDowell (No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Toyota), Tony Raines (No. 37 Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet), Bobby Labonte (No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet), Regan Smith (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet) and Erik Darnell (No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford).
Labonte will be eligible for the past champion’s provisional, should he need it, as the most recent past champion driving for a team outside the top 35 in owners points. Others needing to make the race based on qualifying speed are Ash, Gilliland, Papis, McDowell, Raines, Dave Blaney (No. 66 Prism Motorsports Toyota), Conway, Smith, Scott Speed (No. 82 Red Bull Racing Toyota) and Joe Nemechek (No. 87 Nemco Motorsports Toyota).
Practices for the race begin Friday at noon EST with qualifying slated for 5:45 p.m. The race is scheduled to begin shortly after 3:15 p.m. Sunday.
