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Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson lock into Daytona 500 as two fastest open cars in qualifying

JHby:Jonathan Howard•about 21 hours•

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Jimmie Johnson NASCAR Daytona 500
Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Good news for all of you Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson fans out there. Both are in the field for the Daytona 500 on speed as open cars. Nothing is guaranteed at Daytona, it doesn’t matter if it is qualifying, the Duel, or the race itself. These two NASCAR veterans went out and earned it.

Tricon Garage put together a great Toyota Camry XSE along with Joe Gibbs Racing. It looks like the Fords remain the fastest group on average. Toyota is the second fastest. Then you have the Chevys with the exception of RCR (including Ty Dillon).

As for Jimmie Johnson, I owe him an apology. I was so sure that his Legacy Motor Club team would not have the speed to do what they did. He had to race his way into the field a year ago.

This time around, Seven-Time had a Toyota with a little giddy-up in it. Truex and Johnson will lock into the Daytona 500 field on speed. Two more open cars will have to race their way in. Helio Castroneves may have to use that provisional after all.

Truex was the faster of the two former NASCAR champions.

All of the talk and conjecture about Helio Castroneves and his provisional and former champions being left out to dry, well, that’s gone. It won’t matter now. Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson got the job done.

Neither Truex nor Johnson will make the final round of qualifying. But both will be relieved just to have a spot in the race.

Jimmie Johnson reflects on qualifying for Daytona 500

A year ago, Jimmie Johnson had to race JJ Yeley to the line in his Duel race to qualify for the Daytona 500. This year, he will be at ease on Wednesday night and moving forward until Sunday.

For Legacy Motor Club and Johnson, now as majority team owner, this is a big deal.

“Oh my gosh, very, very proud of everybody at Legacy Motor Club and the effort they put into this car and the evolution we’ve been on to the end of 24 to now,” Johnson said after his lap. “So, very excited. Thankful to have Carvana on board. Jack, we’re in the big show, buddy.”

Jimmie Johnson and that Shaq/Carvana car are in the big race. They will battle with Martin Truex Jr. and the 36-car field of chartered cars. Tomorrow night, two more open cars will race their way into the Daytona 500.