Mahindra Tractors will attempt to qualify for their first Sprint Cup race on board the No. 23 R3 Motorsports Chevrolet, with Mike Skinner behind the wheel.

Should the team qualify, it would also be the first taste of Cup action for R3 Motorsports.

"I first want to thank R3 Motorsports and Mahindra Tractors for this opportunity to race," Skinner said. "The Daytona 500 is one of those things, that as a racer, it is an honor to be able to compete in. The crew has been busy working back at the shop to put a car out there that will be strongly competitive and qualify for the big show. Even though the team is very young and it is their first Cup race, there is a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise at R3 Motorsports. I hope with my veteran status that I can lend a hand and produce strong results at Daytona."

The No. 23 will utilize the Gatorade Duels to put the team on the map for the Daytona 500. Slugger Labbe will call the shots for the No. 23 team, Labbe is up for the challenge that awaiting the team.

"Being a single-car team in the Cup Series is a challenge," stated Labbe. "But that is one challenge that I want to accept. The No. 23 Mahindra Tractors Chevy is strong and I think our performance during the Duels will prove that we are a serious competitor who can win Cup races. Having Mike Skinner behind the wheel is an added bonus. He has a great depth of knowledge of the Daytona International Speedway and that only adds to making us a stronger team."