Former Cup champions Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson relieved to qualify into 2025 Daytona 500
Today at 10:53 PM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It‘s rare that a pair of former NASCAR Cup Series champions aren‘t guaranteed a spot into a race. This year‘s Daytona 500 entry list is stacked with quality teams that could contend to hoist the Harley J. Earl Trophy on Sunday. Nine teams are vying for just four — potentially five if Helio Castroneves takes a provisional — open starting positions.
This meant seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has experienced having to race his way into the 2023 and 2024 Daytona 500s, needed to either qualify on speed Wednesday evening or race his way in via Thursday‘s Duels.
In addition to Johnson, recent full-time retiree and 2019 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. also needed to grab one of the four open spots. Collectively, their nerves were shot entering Wednesday‘s Daytona 500 qualifying session, though Truex admitted he wasn‘t as nervous as the last time he had to qualify into the Great American Race in 2005 with Dale Earnhardt Inc.
During a 50-minute practice session on Wednesday morning, Truex and Johnson were mired deep on the scoring chart, ranking 31st and 32nd, respectively. The No. 56 Tricon Garage Toyota ran a single lap, while Johnson‘s No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota made 18 single-car laps.
Ten hours later under the Daytona twilight, Truex soared as the top of the open cars, slotting in 22nd overall. Johnson clocked in 29th, four positions higher than JR Motorsports‘ Justin Allgaier, who was the next best open car.
The two champions locked their spots into the Great American Race.
"It’s a big weight lifted off to say the least," Johnson, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, said. "The experience I had last year, it’s been ringing through my brain at night. I’ve jumped out of bed a few times with some nightmares as this day got closer.
"We’re doing so much to turn Legacy Motor Club around, have it point in the right direction. Obviously, there’s still a chance to race in tomorrow (through the Duel), but so happy to have this behind us and not have to worry about it."
The attention now turns to the Duels and Sunday‘s Daytona 500. Truex has never won the Great American Race in 20 attempts, though he finished runner-up to Denny Hamlin in the closest Daytona 500 finish in history (2016).
"A lot of people put a lot of effort and hard work into doing this," Truex said. "You always like to see them enjoy the fruits of their labor. "Get everybody at Tricon coming together with Toyota and JGR support, good collaboration. A lot of fun guys on our team that have been around a while. It’s going to be a fun week racing with them. Hopefully, we can have a good week and be prepared for a great Sunday."
Cole Pearn is making his return to the pit box this weekend on the No. 56 Toyota, calling his first race in over five years. He admits that the pressure is off now that Truex is locked into the race.
"It‘s a huge relief," Pearn told Jayski.com after qualifying for the Daytona 500. "We didn‘t know what to expect. There are a lot more good cars than there normally are. To not have that pressure tomorrow night is a big difference."
The initial game plan for Thursday‘s Duel races for both Truex and Johnson is to race competitively in an attempt to learn what their cars can do in the draft come Sunday.
