NASCAR tells Marcos Ambrose he’s in the Daytona 500

JTG Daugherty Racing’s Marcos Ambrose will have a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500 and the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup race, but Phoenix Racing’s Brad Kesolowski will have to race his way into the events, NASCAR sources said Thursday morning.

Sanctioning body officials decided that allowing the transfer of a car number for a rookie to run a fifth car wasn’t the intent of the points-transfer rules and won’t allow a transfer of Chip Ganassi Racing points from last season to Phoenix Racing’s Keselowski. The move will lock Ambrose into the season’s opening five events.

Ambrose was told of the situation Thursday morning, and NASCAR sources confirmed that Ambrose will be among the top 35 cars from owner points last year that get locked in the first five races this season.

“It is with caution that I say that it looks like we are in the 500," Ambrose said Thursday. “NASCAR spoke to us this morning and yesterday. If nothing changes, we’re going to be lining up for the 500, which is a huge relief."