The NASCAR Cup Series is set to return to Michigan International Speedway for its next weekend of competition, and the entry list reveals a notable anomaly: a single non‑chartered entry will be on the grid.
A Rare Non‑Chartered Entry
The car in question is the No. 44 Chevrolet fielded by NY Racing Team, a program that last saw action at Talladega Superspeedway in late April. Veteran driver J.J. Yeley has been tapped to take the wheel, bringing his experience to a program that typically operates outside the charter system.
While the No. 44 entry prepares for its Michigan debut, two other entries that were part of the recent Nashville weekend will be absent. The No. 66 Garage 66 Ford and the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota will not travel to Michigan, but the latter will make a later appearance on the street‑course layout at Qualcomm Circuit on the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California.
Corey Heim will be behind the wheel of the No. 67 Toyota for that San Diego event, continuing a partnership that has seen the team experiment with different drivers across the schedule. The move underscores the fluid nature of the non‑chartered roster, where drivers often shift between programs.
The No. 66 Ford, fielded by Garage 66, is slated to return later in July at North Wilkesboro Speedway, keeping the team active later in the season. Meanwhile, the presence of NY Racing Team and its partners highlights the collaborative ecosystem that includes MBM Motorsports and other support organizations within the sport.