Jimmie Johnson to become first NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee to make Cup start
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. — Jimmie Johnson will become the first NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee to make a start in the Cup Series this Sunday in the Daytona 500.
Johnson finished 12th in his Bluegreen Vacations Duel. That locked his No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE into the 500.
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion had to avoid calamity to get in.
With 10 laps to go, a check-up fell back to Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who bumped Daniel Hemric into the wall. Stenhouse spun with Austin Dillon and Johnson, who was behind him.
Johnson had slight fender damage but the team only put four tires on and let him go restart 18th – behind Toyota teammate Martin Truex Jr. and J.J. Yeley.
If Johnson finished behind Yeley, he would miss the Daytona 500, barring help in the second Duel.
Coming into turn three on the final lap, Johnson was behind Yeley. Then, a check-up up front accordioned back to them, forcing Yeley to go to the outside of Ross Chastain.
No one went with Yeley, which let Johnson scoot by him to get into the Daytona 500.
“I have never been in a position like this before and I have such a greater appreciation for everyone who has ever tried to race their way in before. Hats off to JJ Yeley, he put up a great fight and had a very competitive car until the very end,” Johnson said, still shaky with adrenaline.
Just under a month after his NASCAR Hall of Fame induction, Johnson will start 23rd in his 21st Daytona 500.
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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