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Dale Earnhardt Jr. comforts JJ Yeley after Justin Allgaier beats him out for Daytona 500 spot

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/13/25•

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Phoenix
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Thursday night, Justin Allgaier looked to get JR Motorsports into the Daytona 500. To do so, he had to beat out the other open cars – and he did just that as he held off JJ Yeley in Duel 1.

Allgaier will make history for JR Motorsports, becoming the first driver to run in a NASCAR Cup Series race during Sunday’s Daytona 500. It’s a landmark moment for owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who saw just how close things were with Yeley.

After the Duel, he found Yeley and comforted him about the loss. Yeley also had to beat out the open cars to make it to Sunday, and Earnhardt said he was nervous as he looked on.

“Had me f***ing shaking, buddy,” Earnhardt said in the middle of Yeley’s interview with Bob Pockrass. “Hell of a job. Good effort, man.”

Allgaier finished ninth in Duel 1 while Yeley came in 17th in the No. 44 car. Afterward, Yeley reacted to the race and said even though it was close, he was still disappointed he couldn’t quite sustain it enough to qualify for the 500.

“Disappointment,” Yeley said. “What else can you ask for? You’re close, and then it was just a few laps to go. … I didn’t have quite the car that the 40 and the 56 did. I just couldn’t make things happen.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: ‘I’m so proud of Justin, man’

Dale Earnhardt Jr., of course, knows what it’s like to qualify for the Daytona 500 as a driver. But Thursday marked the first time he did so as an owner as Justin Allgaier qualified for JR Motorsports.

Afterward, the emotions flowed. Earnhardt got choked up reacting to Allgaier’s Top-10 finish to seal his spot in Sunday’s race.

“First off I’m so proud of Justin, man,” Earnhardt said. “He put the whole team on his back those last couple of laps, and he got to the top, and I did not think that was possible, but he got up there and made something work. And it was his only shot and got some help so we’ve got some people to thank.

“Just a great racecar, Greg Ives has put a group together that is motivated. Some special people on this team I’ve worked with all the way back to 1998, but I’ma tell you, man, this sport’s amazing. Everything about it. I’ve seen it from so many different lenses. I love the challenges, I wouldn’t want it any other way. This was hard emotionally, but I can’t believe that we get to race on Sunday. I just can’t believe it!”