Top Dog: Jimmie Johnson
Did you ever think you would see a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as the top dog in this column?
Neither did I, but here we are at this moment in time regarding Jimmie Johnson‘s illustrious career.
Assuming a majority stake in the ownership of Legacy Motor Club during the off-season, Johnson returned to the high banks of Daytona Beach for the 2025 Daytona 500 (Feb. 16) as an owner-driver once again.
A two-time champion of The Great American Race, Johnson’s expectations in his 22nd Daytona 500 appearance clearly distinguish where he was during the height of his career compared to his current chapter. Hence, the fact that he is being listed in this column may signify that more than ever.
Despite his never ending list of accolades, there is validity to the demotion of Johnson’s standing among the current Cup roster.
In 12 starts since retiring from full-time competition in 2020, Johnson had never finished higher than 28th, which included five DNF’s in that time. His struggles to acclimate to the Next Gen car, combined with Legacy’s overall struggles the past two years, produced a recipe for low expectations entering the 67th running of NASCAR’s Super Bowl.
However, regardless of the performance downfall of a legend who seemed invincible in his prime, that championship pedigree still runs through Johnson’s veins, and that shone through with a third-place finish in Daytona.
After those dozen races of misery, there were plenty of smiles to go around on the 49-year-old’s face during the excitement of Speedweek.
Johnson quickly quelled concerns that he may even miss the race, with 45 drivers entered for 41 spots. He immediately opened the week by advancing on speed in Wednesday night’s qualifying session (Feb. 12), cutting much of the stress he would have faced otherwise.
The anticipation of the race was quickly impacted by the always uncertain weather conditions of Florida, with rain delaying the race by nearly four hours. Once action finally cranked up under the lights of the 2.5-mile behemoth, Johnson was patient to find the balance of his car while trying to gain track position.
After quiet stage finishes of 37th and 34th, Johnson finally made his presence known in the final stage, running as the third car in the middle line of three-wide planes throughout the field. A debris caution on lap 162 brought the field to pit road for the final time, with the No. 84 sitting in sixth.
Adversity struck Johnson in between the eyes during the stop when he was boxed in by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., costing him 23 spots on pit road. That severely limited Johnson’s options, forcing him to stay calm and hope for disaster to strike ahead of him.
That is exactly what he got on three separate occasions, with the last crash being the most rewarding for his evasive actions. Contact at the front of the field during the final lap ignited a backstretch full of calamity and smoke. Reminiscent of one of his greatest qualities that propelled his run to seven titles, Johnson pulled out a vintage trick by slipping through it all to reach third.
Take a look at how William Byron snuck through the chaos to become a back-to-back #Daytona500 champion.
— Anthony Damcott (@AnthonyDamcott) February 17, 2025
(Shoutout to Riley Herbst for an incredible save in the trioval!)#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/pXkxpsCnCY
While a seemingly shocked William Byron celebrated his second consecutive 500 triumph on the frontstretch, Johnson had the same look of awe on his face as he climbed from his car.
Yet, likewise, it was the face of a driver whose persona and appreciation for the sport made him well respected among his peers.
Given what had happened the past two years, many may have written Johnson off from giving us a new moment to celebrate. As a true champion and legend, however, the NASCAR Hall of Famer reminded us that he still has some fuel in the tank.
Still got it. 👏 pic.twitter.com/tE1SGkJNA0
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 17, 2025
Notable Underdog Runs
Johnson led a night full of memories for LMC. Just two spots behind him in fifth was John Hunter Nemechek, his first career Cup Series top-five finish.
Nemechek’s night took an eventful turn to begin stage two when a stack-up ensued on the restart, causing Nemechek to hook Ross Chastain while avoiding the accordion effect. The No. 42 suffered slight damage, but Nemechek returned with a car very much capable of competing up front.
A stack-up on the restart!
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 17, 2025
Multiple cars are collected. pic.twitter.com/2Ck5laV1ED
The 27-year-old entered the top 10 late in the race, getting as high as third when the Big One struck with 14 laps to go. After getting shuffled back by the time the white flag waved, Nemechek navigated the parting seas of the last-lap wreck to give LMC its first race with two top five finishers.
One of the headlines entering the race was the debut of JR Motorsports at the premier level. Following an emotional night in the Duel races where Justin Allgaier advanced his way into the main event, the team was ready for the momentum to keep rolling.
Allgaier was also involved in the lap 71 restart stack-up, damaging the fender of his No. 40. Fortunately, the team was able to make sufficient repairs and improve the balance throughout the night. “Lil’ Gator” snuck through the lap 187 melee, only to sustain nose damage in another accident with four laps to go. Still, Daytona is a game of survival, and Allgaier was able to do just that to earn team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. his first top 10 as a Cup owner.
That’s one happy Cup owner. pic.twitter.com/Jz0FfrqDxV
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) February 17, 2025
New team, no problem for Michael McDowell. The 2021 Daytona 500 champion kicked off the regular season with his new team, Spire Motorsports, falling just short of the top 10 in 11th.
McDowell’s night was quiet overall, part of a strategy for Spire Motorsports to hang back, with the exception of Carson Hocevar‘s fuel pressure issues. McDowell diced it up with the leaders in stage two, leading four laps before ultimately retreating out of the lead pack. That remained the strategy for much of the race, and while it didn’t net him the win, the 40-year-old brought home a clean race car, something many drivers couldn’t lay claim to.
Erik Jones completed the trifecta in LMC’s organizational success, finishing 12th. Motivated by a controversial photo finish loss in his Duel race, Jones asserted himself as a threat plenty of times throughout the night.
The Byron, Mich. native logged top-10 finishes in both stages, earning five points as a result. Just as he did in his Duel race, the No. 43 driver flashed plenty of speed before his race was derailed with four laps to go.
Christopher Bell got turned into the wall while leading, funneling back into traffic as the field took evasive maneuvers. Bell was then clobbered by an innocent Ryan Preece, whose car went airborne in a bizarre, frightening crash. As Preece’s nose lifted off the ground, it made contact with Jones’ right front fender, causing noticeable damage. However, Jones was able to recover and complete a strong night for LMC, a team that needs to get out to a quick start this season.
Rounding out the top 15 for the underdogs was Ty Dillon, recording a 14th-place showing in his return to full-time Cup competition. Dillon was a pleasant surprise throughout the weekend, flexing speed from the moment his No. 10 Kaulig Racing machine unloaded.
Like so many drivers in NASCAR’s biggest race, Dillon was forced to overcome an obstacle late in the race. With just over 30 laps remaining, the Welcome, N.C., native made an unscheduled pit stop for a loose wheel, eventually relegating him to two laps down in 30th. But with the late flurry of cautions, Dillon was able to get back on the lead lap and guide his way to his first top 15 since the 2023 Daytona summer race.
What They’re Saying
Johnson (third) & Nemechek (fifth):
Allgaier (ninth):
Stenhouse Jr. (18th):
Corey LaJoie (22nd):
Stat To Chew On
The third-place run was Johnson’s best Daytona 500 performance since he won the 2013 running to claim his second Harley J. Earl Trophy. Additionally, it was his best finish overall since the second race of a doubleheader at Dover Motor Speedway in 2020, where Johnson finished third as well.
Johnson’s only other confirmed race for 2025 is the Coca-Cola 600, another race in which he is no stranger to success.
Small Team Scheme of the Week
Green flag is back out on lap 23! pic.twitter.com/8eiWlpuKII
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) February 16, 2025
Not only was he the top underdog finisher, but Johnson also came out on top for his scheme. After losing a free throw contest to Shaquille O’Neal following playful social media beef, the Shaq-inspired No. 84 sported the vintage pinstripes and royal blue colors of the Orlando Magic, O’Neal’s first team in the NBA.
Luken Glover joined the Frontstretch team in 2020 as a contributor, furthering a love for racing that traces back to his earliest memories. Glover inherited his passion for racing from his grandfather, who used to help former NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey in his Richmond, Va. garage. A 2023 graduate from the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is the author of "The Underdog House," contributes to commentary pieces, and does occasional at-track reporting. Additionally, Glover enjoys working in ministry, coaching basketball, playing sports, and karting.
How many damaged cars did it take for Legacy to get this blessed finish? Back to normal next event!
Look at the finishing order of every RP/pack race for the last 25 years and there are always 2 or 3 “Johnsons” in the top 10.
It’s the inherent randomness of RP/pack racing. You should expect it, not be surprised when it happens.
That was my point! For years how many “underdog” cars get the finish they don’t deserve at Daytona, Talladega and now the new and improved Atlanta and get all kinds of flowers? Next event, not so lucky!
Yep, lol, back to normal. I forget how many positions JJ and jh each gained when the sea parted. A sizeable number. They both know it too. JJ saw bigger checks and very happy sponsors..had to laugh. How many years has Joey been racing Ricky lol he knows he’s not going to lift or let it happen , yet Joey boxed himself into the middle and it was the only chance he had. Saw it coming easily lol
i have zero interest in Johnson and his team.