Floyd Mayweather hopes to field a car in the Daytona 500 for a second successive year with IndyCar star Conor Daly driving for the boxing legend's racing team.
After several attempts to begin competing in NASCAR, Mayweather's The Money Team Racing [TMT Racing] finally attempted to make their Cup Series debut last year. Kaz Grala was successful in qualifying for the Daytona 500 in the No.50 car.
Grala lost his right rear wheel on the 40th lap of the race, but still managed a 26th-placed finish, nine places higher than where he began. He raced twice more for the team before Daly took over to make his debut in Charlotte last October.
On Tuesday, TMT announced they would again attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500, known as The Great American Race. He will be up against several other entrants all vying for one of the four 'open' spots within the 40-car field.
"The Money Team Racing shocked the world by making the Daytona 500 last year and I believe in this team and know we will prepare a great car for this year's race," said Mayweather. "Like a fighter who's always ready to face the best, Conor has the courage to buckle into this beast without any practice and put that car into the field.
"Conor is like a hungry fighter and my kind of guy. I sure wouldn't bet against him." Mayweather's team also plans to field Daly in six other NASCAR events this year, to go along with the 31-year-old's IndyCar schedule.
Willy Auchmoody, who co-owns the team with Mayweather, added: "Conor is a talented driver who performed well in his first Cup race for us last fall and, together with BITNILE.COM, we believe he has what it takes to compete at the highest level in NASCAR's premier event."
Daly finished 34th out of 39 cars on his NASCAR debut in Charlotte last year. In IndyCar, his best result is a second-placed finished in Detroit back in 2020, while last year he posted a career-best result in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 of sixth.
"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to attempt to run in the Daytona 500," he said. "It is the most prestigious race in NASCAR and to have the chance to compete in it is truly an honour. I am also excited to be running the entire IndyCar Series season and select NASCAR Cup events."
