2015 Sprint Unlimited boosts star power with rules tweaks

NASCAR's season-opening Sprint Unlimited exhibition race will have more star power after officials tweaked the rules Monday to include drivers such as Danica Patrick, Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards.

The Unlimited, which is Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway, was previously open to pole winners from the most recent season and past winners of the race.

Starting in 2015, that list also will include all Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers from the previous season and any former Daytona 500 pole winner.

That put eight drivers into the race who might not have been in otherwise next year: Chase drivers Kahne, Ryan Newman, AJ Allmendinger and Aric Almirola and past 500 pole winners Patrick, Edwards, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr.

Another tweak: There now will be a minimum of 25 drivers in the field and 25 are eligible for next year's race. But with Brian Vickers set to miss the start of the season after heart surgery, his spot could go to the next highest driver in points who is not already eligible. That would be Clint Bowyer.

"The 2015 Sprint Unlimited has potential to be one of the most competitive ever," NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell said via release. "With more drivers eligible, the intensity level increases for our fans and competitors, making for a compelling start to the 2015 season."

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2015 Sprint Unlimited eligible drivers

Kyle Busch (2014 pole winner)

Austin Dillon (2014 pole winner)

Jeff Gordon (2014 pole winner)

David Gilliland (2014 pole winner)

Denny Hamlin (2014 pole winner)

Kevin Harvick (2014 pole winner)

Jimmie Johnson (2014 pole winner)

Matt Kenseth (2014 pole winner)

Brad Keselowski (2014 pole winner)

Kyle Larson (2014 pole winner)

Joey Logano (2014 pole winner)

Jamie McMurray (2014 pole winner)

Brian Scott (2014 pole winner)

Tony Stewart (2014 pole winner)

Brian Vickers* (2014 pole winner)

Kurt Busch (former Unlimited winner)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (former Unlimited winner)

Carl Edwards (former D500 pole winner)

Danica Patrick (former D500 pole winner)

Greg Biffle (former D500 pole winner)

Martin Truex Jr. (former D500 pole winner)

Ryan Newman (2014 Chase driver)

AJ Allmendinger (2014 Chase driver)

Kasey Kahne (2014 Chase driver)

Aric Almirola (2014 Chase driver)

*-Vickers had heart surgery and will miss the start of the 2015 season