DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Racing legends Jimmie Johnson and Helio Castroneves stood next to each other on pit road as the sporadic roar of single-car qualifying runs flew by at Daytona International Speedway.
But a particular car, the No. 66 of Chandler Smith, completed his lap on Wednesday night (Feb. 12) and was greeted by the smile of both the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and his open-wheel legend friend. Only a few yards away from them, former Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. joined them in glee.
Smith was the last of the open-entry cars for this year’s Daytona 500, and his failure to out qualify Johnson and Truex locked the duo into Sunday’s (Feb. 16) 67th running of the Great American Race.
Relief.#DAYTONA500 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/07rwPfwwG2
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) February 13, 2025
“A great relief,” Johnson told Frontstretch. “The last few times down here, I’ve had to qualify my way in. Last year was really, really, stressful. So, to have it on speed — really proud of everybody at Toyota and Legacy Motor Club.”
While the two-time Daytona 500 champion is no stranger to feeling the pressure of qualifying for the Daytona 500 the last two years, Johnson’s Toyota pseudo-teammate and 2017 Cup champion Truex is.
“I’m happy to get that done and not have to sweat it out tomorrow night,” Truex told Frontstretch. “We’ve seen the Duels get a little crazy before. … We don’t have to worry about any of that. We can just focus on getting ready for Sunday and have a good week.”
Indeed, both drivers have lost a huge weight on their shoulders heading into the week. It was a weight that was not shared by Johnson’s friend Castroneves.
While the four-time Indianapolis 500 champion didn’t qualify his way into the Daytona 500, he already has a certified lock into the main event thanks to the Open Exemption Provisional rule that allows prominent drivers from outside motorsports an automatic 41st-place entry into a race.
It was a rule both drivers had their gripes about earlier during Media Day interviews.
“I really don’t understand it,” Truex said. “I don’t see a reason why (Castroneves) should be in the race and Jimmie Johnson shouldn’t be. It’s a little weird to me, but I don’t make the rules.”
Johnson, ever the neutral-voiced athlete, somewhat agreed.
“The part I have a problem with is that provisional will take up one of the 40 spots,” said the seven-time champion during media day. “It should be a 41st starting position.
“It’s waived his points, waived the cash that can come with winning the race,” Johnson continued. “Start at the back of the field or maybe let him have a spot in the field, but don’t let that take away from the others that are trying to qualify their way in. That would be the twist that I would like to see change in the future and kind of building off of that a little bit.”
However, in the end, neither driver needed that extra position from Castroneves.
Both past champions will race in Thursday night’s (Feb. 13) Duels pressure free — the envy of six other drivers that will join them in the field in their last chance to qualify for stock car racing’s biggest event.
Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loudcolumn, co-host of the Happy Hour podcast, and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army.
Follow Dalton on Twitter @PitLaneCPT
I’ll be, I didn’t think JJ would make it. But I’m happy for him.
How many laps until J-Jo spins out? Prop bet?
Uhm, Jimmie, it *IS* a 41st starting position if Castroneves doesn’t race his way in.