DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — When Jimmie Johnson retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2020 season, he wanted to experience items on his “Bucket List.”
That included racing in the NTT IndyCar Series, competing in the Indianapolis 500 and running in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It’s doubtful what he went through Thursday night in the first Bluegreen Vacations Duels qualifying race for the Daytona 500 was something he wanted to experience. It certainly wasn’t on his “Bucket List.”
Johnson, now an owner of the Legacy Motor Club, was one of just a few “Open” drivers who had to race his way into the starting lineup for Sunday’s 66th Daytona 500. To do so, he would have to finish ahead of both J.J. Yeley and Anthony Alfredo, who was already locked into the race based on his qualifying time.
For most of the race, it appeared near certain that Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota would easily race into the starting lineup.
After making his single pit stop of the race, Johnson was just seven laps from completing his mission before fate intervened.
Daniel Hemric checked up in Turn 3 and defending Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse ran into the back of him, triggering a crash. Johnson, who had dropped to the rear of the field to protect his car as he was safely ahead of Yeley, was involved in the crash.
Although the Toyota did not incur much damage, he had to make an extra pit stop for fresh tires. That put him behind Yeley when the race restarted with only a few laps to go.
Johnson’s mission was clear — he had to finish ahead of Yeley, or the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, who is also a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, would not be racing in Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The final laps were side-by-side “Elbows Up” racing at its best between two veteran drivers.
It was pressure personified.
The outcome wasn’t determined until Johnson was able to pull ahead of Yeley coming out of the last turn of the last lap of the race. He finished ahead of Yeley, whose 16th place finish means Johnson will get to make another start in the Daytona 500.
Johnson was asked afterwards to describe the pressure of the moment — something that he had not experienced before as a NASCAR Cup Series driver who was the best of the best during his prime.
“I can’t,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been in a position like this before. I have such a greater appreciation for everyone that’s tried to race their way in. Although there’s only six more cars, I know at one time there were many more.
“Stressful. Very thankful we got this Carvana Toyota in the race. I knew the first half of the race was going too easy. I knew there would be a challenge thrown at us. We got it just in time. Hats off to J.J. Yeley. Put up a fight. Heck of a car. We were in the right place when the checkered fell.”
Johnson will make his 21st start in the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
Yeley was trying to make the Daytona 500 field for the seventh time in his career. His last Daytona 500 start was in 2015.
“Obviously it was exciting,” Yeley said. “I was worried when they dropped the green, we were going to have a hard time keeping up with the draft. Hendrick put this car together, had a lot of speed in the draft. We were just riding, taking my time. I had to be on the outside, inside. I killed my momentum.
“Then obviously what happened with the 84 there, got a caution, got a break. The car just didn’t have good acceleration on restarts. Side by side coming to two, three to go, I thought we were in really good job. Going into turn three, I’m not counting my chickens, but I was getting close. Saw there was some contact. Someone in the middle lost a lot of momentum.
“I made a split-second decision to go to the outside, carry the momentum, clear him, make the race track two-wide where he couldn’t pass. He stayed in the middle. The 19 pushed him. The momentum carried him all the way to the checkered flag.
“It sucks. Two years ago, we were close. Just couldn’t get it.”
Johnson’s 12th-place finish means he won the battle and gets to advance into the biggest NASCAR race of the year. He is confident that he has a fast Toyota for the 500 scheduled miles of competition.
“It’s just a really competitive car,” Johnson said. “This Carvana Toyota Camry was very, very capable in the draft. It was pretty easy to get up to the front and kind of maintain. And, while I was enjoying my position on track, I just knew it was too early. I knew stuff was coming and I knew something would happen. A few things happened after the pit stop that were quite exciting.
“Thankfully, we were in the right spot at the right time at the checkered flag.”
Johnson said the stress that came in the Bluegreen Vacation Duels was a new experience.
“It was intense,” Johnson said. “With probably three to go he (Yeley) threw a great block on me on the front stretch and it kind of perked me up and I realized just what kind of battle I was in for in the closing laps. Hats off to them for the hard effort they put into this. This is not easy, and it stinks that a car has got to go home.
“They put up a heck of a fight and we’re fortunate to get in.”
Coming off Turn 4 heading to the checkered, Johnson was prepared to do whatever it took to make the race in a fair fight.
“I was just scrambling for anything,” Johnson said. “The way things worked out, I found myself at the tail end of the two lines. I just didn’t have anyone to push me and get going. And I just saw some things developing and there was some contact and J.J. (Yeley) moved to the outside to avoid a crash. I don’t know how they didn’t crash, and I chose the lane where the crash was taking place.
“I just had to pick the opposite lane and Days of Thunder action. That lane recovered and recovered quicker to the start finish and I got there to the checkered flag.”
It was a new experience, but not something Johnson had on his “Bucket List.”
“I have such a deeper appreciation and respect for everyone before me that’s had to race in like this,” he concluded.