Grala Upsets McLeod to Get Into Daytona 500
BJ McLeod captured the hearts of NASCAR fans Thursday night but it was Kaz Grala who captured the final spot in the Daytona 500.
McLeod, Grala and David Ragan were the open entries Thursday night in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel. Ragan was already locked into the 500 on his qualifying lap the night before.
If Ragan or McLeod were the highest-finishing driver in the Duel, McLeod would get into the 500. If Grala was the highest-finishing driver, he would get in.
Grala didn’t get to turn a lap Wednesday night after missing a shift and blowing the engine.
His No. 36 Front Row Motorsports Ford rolled to the grid in 21st – last – right behind McLeod.
For most of the race, it was either McLeod or Ragan leading Grala. McLeod even climbed to third at one point and attracted TV time touting his independent effort.
Then, a bobble right before green-flag pit stops shuffled McLeod back to 20th and racing Grala to get in the Daytona 500.
It also put McLeod in a wreck that collected half of the field with 13 laps to go.
McLeod slid sideways, hitting the side of his car against Ryan Blaney who had already taken a hard hit into the outside wall exiting the tri-oval.
McLeod’s Hendrick Motorsports-supplied pit crew confirmed no tire rubs and no damage that would hamper his chances of making the 500.
On the restart with nine laps to go, McLeod restarted 13th with Grala in seventh and Ragan in 10th.
As the pack stirred up with every frantic move ticking down the opportunities and laps left for the Duel win and to get into the 500, Grala found himself in McLeod’s clutches.
On the final lap, Grala and McLeod found themselves racing each other closely, ahead of Ragan and setting up for a side-by-side run to the finish.
In the end, Grala edged McLeod out by just a car length, getting into his third Daytona 500.
“Really proud of Front Row Motorsports to work for the last 24 hours. I’m glad to get this car into the show,” Grala said.
Grala will start 26th. That is his best starting position in the Great American Race and his first start in the race since 2022.
He finished 26th that year and 28th during his 500 debut in 2021.
Meanwhile, McLeod will not be in the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2018.
“Most people would be let down. I’m just happy with what this little team could do. We got 9 full-time people between Xfinity and Cup. We got no manufacturer support, only ECR engine support. The way it drove in the draft, it proved we’re here. Whenever the 78 is here from now on, we’re here with good equipment. We showed what we can do,” McLeod said.
McLeod is expected to enter into the drafting track races this season.
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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