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Sixty-one cars were officially entered for the Daytona 500,[{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Joy |date=December 30, 2023 |title=49 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 49th (2007) Daytona 500 |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/12/30/49-days-til-daytona-the-49th-2007-daytona-500/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720212936/https://frontstretch.com/2023/12/30/49-days-til-daytona-the-49th-2007-daytona-500/ |archive-date=July 20, 2025 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=Frontstretch.com}}] representing four different manufacturers and 29 teams.[{{Cite web |title=Entry List - Daytona 500 |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/1/data/entry_list.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219022345/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/1/data/entry_list.html |archive-date=February 19, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |publisher=[[NASCAR]]}}][{{Cite web |title=2007 Daytona 500 |url=https://motorsportstats.com/results/nascar-cup-series/2007/daytona-500/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115015757/https://motorsportstats.com/results/nascar-cup-series/2007/daytona-500/info |archive-date=January 15, 2025 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=MotorsportStats.com}}] Among the many stories heading into the event was the Cup Series debut of [[Toyota]], which became the first foreign car manufacturer to compete in the series since [[Alfa Romeo]] in 1962.[{{Cite web |last=Florea |first=Ciprian |date=September 30, 2023 |title=Foreign Carmakers in NASCAR: Failed European Attempts and Japanese Successes |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/foreign-carmakers-in-nascar-failed-european-attempts-and-japanese-success-222017.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930142901/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/foreign-carmakers-in-nascar-failed-european-attempts-and-japanese-success-222017.html |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=AutoEvolution.com}}] Toyota supplied their [[Toyota Camry|Camry]] vehicle for [[Bill Davis Racing]], [[Michael Waltrip Racing]], and the newly-formed [[Red Bull Racing Team]].[{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2007 |title=Daytona 500: Toyota teams day one quotes |url=https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-toyota-teams-day-one-quotes/2124748/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260418181409/https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-toyota-teams-day-one-quotes/2124748/ |archive-date=April 18, 2026 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=[[motorsport.com|au.motorsport.com]]}}] High expectations surrounded [[Juan Pablo Montoya]], a winner in [[Formula One]] and the [[Indianapolis 500]], as he was set to begin his highly publicized [[NASCAR Rookie of the Year|rookie]] season with [[Chip Ganassi Racing]].[{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2007 |title=Daytona 500: Chip Ganassi Racing preview |url=https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-chip-ganassi-racing-preview/2126060/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260418183130/https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-chip-ganassi-racing-preview/2126060/ |archive-date=April 18, 2026 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=[[motorsport.com|au.motorsport.com]]}}] Former [[Champ Car World Series]] driver [[A. J. Allmendinger]] also prepared for his series debut as he was teamed with [[Brian Vickers]] at the Red Bull Racing Team;[{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2007 |title=Allmendinger prepared for bumpy road in NASCAR |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6433168 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205042119/http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6433168 |archive-date=February 5, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |publisher=[[Fox Sports]] |place=[[Charlotte, North Carolina]]}}] Vickers' former seat at [[Hendrick Motorsports]] was taken by [[Casey Mears]].[{{Cite web |last=Peltz |first=Jim |date=February 10, 2007 |title=A season of change arrives for NASCAR |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-10-sp-motors10-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260420212821/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-10-sp-motors10-story.html |archive-date=April 20, 2026 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}] [[Mark Martin]]'s 19-year partnership with [[RFK Racing|Roush Fenway Racing]] ended as [[David Ragan]] replaced him in the {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} 6 car, leaving him to race part-time with [[MB2 Motorsports|Ginn Racing]] beginning at Daytona.[{{Cite news |last=Zyla |first=Greg |date=February 11, 2007 |title=Martin Has History with 01 Chevy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oukfAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=mark+martin+ginn+racing&article_id=1634,2222497&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRuPrWtf2TAxXJlokEHV0kCEMQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q=mark%20martin%20ginn%20racing&f=false |url-status=live |access-date=April 20, 2026 |work=[[The Nevada Daily Mail]] |pages=10}}] [[James Hylton]], the [[1966 NASCAR Grand National Series|1966]] Rookie of the Year, hoped to become the oldest driver to start a Cup Series race at 72 years old with his self-owned [[Chevrolet]].[{{Cite web |last=Fryer |first=Jenna |date=January 16, 2007 |title=At 72, Hylton sets sights on making Daytona 500 |url=https://eu.poconorecord.com/story/sports/2007/01/16/at-72-hylton-sets-sights/52851292007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819115629/https://eu.poconorecord.com/story/sports/2007/01/16/at-72-hylton-sets-sights/52851292007/ |archive-date=August 19, 2025 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |publisher=[[Pocono Record]]}}] |
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Sixty-one cars were officially entered for the Daytona 500,[{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Joy |date=December 30, 2023 |title=49 Days ‘Til Daytona: The 49th (2007) Daytona 500 |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/12/30/49-days-til-daytona-the-49th-2007-daytona-500/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720212936/https://frontstretch.com/2023/12/30/49-days-til-daytona-the-49th-2007-daytona-500/ |archive-date=July 20, 2025 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=Frontstretch.com}}] representing four different manufacturers and 29 teams.[{{Cite web |title=Entry List - Daytona 500 |url=http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/1/data/entry_list.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219022345/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/1/data/entry_list.html |archive-date=February 19, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |publisher=[[NASCAR]]}}][{{Cite web |title=2007 Daytona 500 |url=https://motorsportstats.com/results/nascar-cup-series/2007/daytona-500/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115015757/https://motorsportstats.com/results/nascar-cup-series/2007/daytona-500/info |archive-date=January 15, 2025 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=MotorsportStats.com}}] Among the many stories heading into the event was the Cup Series debut of [[Toyota]], which became the first foreign car manufacturer to compete in the series since [[Alfa Romeo]] in 1962.[{{Cite web |last=Florea |first=Ciprian |date=September 30, 2023 |title=Foreign Carmakers in NASCAR: Failed European Attempts and Japanese Successes |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/foreign-carmakers-in-nascar-failed-european-attempts-and-japanese-success-222017.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930142901/https://www.autoevolution.com/news/foreign-carmakers-in-nascar-failed-european-attempts-and-japanese-success-222017.html |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=AutoEvolution.com}}] Toyota supplied their [[Toyota Camry|Camry]] vehicle for [[Bill Davis Racing]], [[Michael Waltrip Racing]], and the newly-formed [[Red Bull Racing Team]].[{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2007 |title=Daytona 500: Toyota teams day one quotes |url=https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-toyota-teams-day-one-quotes/2124748/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260418181409/https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-toyota-teams-day-one-quotes/2124748/ |archive-date=April 18, 2026 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=[[motorsport.com|au.motorsport.com]]}}] High expectations surrounded [[Juan Pablo Montoya]], a winner in [[Formula One]] and the [[Indianapolis 500]], as he was set to begin his highly publicized [[NASCAR Rookie of the Year|rookie]] season with [[Chip Ganassi Racing]].[{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2007 |title=Daytona 500: Chip Ganassi Racing preview |url=https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-chip-ganassi-racing-preview/2126060/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260418183130/https://au.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-chip-ganassi-racing-preview/2126060/ |archive-date=April 18, 2026 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=[[motorsport.com|au.motorsport.com]]}}] Former [[Champ Car World Series]] driver [[A. J. Allmendinger]] also prepared for his series debut as he was teamed with [[Brian Vickers]] at the Red Bull Racing Team;[{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2007 |title=Allmendinger prepared for bumpy road in NASCAR |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6433168 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205042119/http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6433168 |archive-date=February 5, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2026 |publisher=[[Fox Sports]] |place=[[Charlotte, North Carolina]]}}] Vickers' former seat at [[Hendrick Motorsports]] was taken by [[Casey Mears]].[{{Cite web |last=Peltz |first=Jim |date=February 10, 2007 |title=A season of change arrives for NASCAR |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-10-sp-motors10-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260420212821/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-10-sp-motors10-story.html |archive-date=April 20, 2026 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}] [[Mark Martin]] ended his 19-year tenure with [[RFK Racing|Roush Fenway Racing]] to race part-time with [[MB2 Motorsports|Ginn Racing]] beginning at Daytona, leaving [[David Ragan]] to replace him in the {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} 6 car.[{{Cite news |last=Zyla |first=Greg |date=February 11, 2007 |title=Martin Has History with 01 Chevy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oukfAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=mark+martin+ginn+racing&article_id=1634,2222497&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRuPrWtf2TAxXJlokEHV0kCEMQ6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q=mark%20martin%20ginn%20racing&f=false |url-status=live |access-date=April 20, 2026 |work=[[The Nevada Daily Mail]] |pages=10}}] [[James Hylton]], the [[1966 NASCAR Grand National Series|1966]] Rookie of the Year, hoped to become the oldest driver to start a Cup Series race at 72 years old with his self-owned [[Chevrolet]].[{{Cite web |last=Fryer |first=Jenna |date=January 16, 2007 |title=At 72, Hylton sets sights on making Daytona 500 |url=https://eu.poconorecord.com/story/sports/2007/01/16/at-72-hylton-sets-sights/52851292007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819115629/https://eu.poconorecord.com/story/sports/2007/01/16/at-72-hylton-sets-sights/52851292007/ |archive-date=August 19, 2025 |access-date=April 20, 2026 |publisher=[[Pocono Record]]}}> The No. 37 entry, driven by two-time Daytona 500 winner [[Bill Elliott]], was originally fielded by [[John Carter Racing|R&J Racing]], but went to [[Front Row Motorsports]] after the two teams formed a partnership.][>] |
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