2 NASCAR Cup Series champions lock into Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two past NASCAR Cup Series champions each posted a qualifying lap fast enough to lock themselves into the Daytona 500.
Martin Truex Jr. posted a lap of 49.641 seconds, about a tenth faster than Jimmie Johnson (49.783 seconds). Truex and Johnson were the two fastest open entries in Daytona 500 qualifying, locking them into Sunday’s race.
Truex, the 2017 champion, will race in the Daytona 500 for the 21st time in his Cup Series career, still looking for his first Harley J. Earl trophy. It is the first time his team, TRICON Garage, will race in the Daytona 500 — or any NASCAR Cup Series race.
Johnson, a seven-time champion, will race in his 22nd Daytona 500 as he chases his third crown. It is also his third Daytona 500 as an owner-driver.
The Toyota drivers shut out all other manufacturers from having any of their drivers get an easy pass into the Daytona 500.
Justin Allgaier was fastest among Chevrolet’s five open entries while Corey LaJoie was fastest among Ford’s two open entries.
- Justin Allgaier – 49.86 seconds – Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie – 49.87 seconds – Ford
- Helio Castoneves – 50.06 seconds – Chevrolet
- Anthony Alfredo – 50.09 seconds – Chevrolet
- Chandler Smith – 50.35 seconds – Ford
- B.J. McLeod – 50.62 seconds – Chevrolet
- J.J. Yeley – 51.05 seconds- Chevrolet
Castroneves is locked into the Daytona 500 with the Open Exemption Provisional. If he isn’t the top-finishing open entry in his Duel, he will have to use that provisional, which will mean the Daytona 500 will have 41 cars.
If he is the top-finishing open entry in his Duel, he will get in based on that, meaning the Daytona 500 will have 40 cars and more open entry will miss the race.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com