Jimmie Johnson wasn’t going to race in the Daytona 500.
At least that’s what the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion told himself as he saw J.J. Yeley’s bumper in front of him on the final lap of Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel race. Yeley held the final transfer spot into the Daytona 500, keeping Johnson at bay over the final laps through blocks and keeping with the draft.
Johnson had no help from behind to challenge Yeley. It left him thinking about how he’d spend his Sunday afternoon instead of competing for a third Daytona 500 win in his No. 84 Carvana Toyota.
“I’m literally going down the back straightaway knowing it’s the white flag, I can see the 44 car [Yeley] in front of me,” Johnson said. “The 19 [Martin Truex Jr.] has pulled out to help me, but he’s so far back, he’s not going to get to me in time. I’m like, ‘I’m not going to make it. I’m not going to make the Daytona 500. I’m going to have to call all our partners. I’m going to have to stand in the suite and shake hands during the 500 and not drive a car.’
“This is running through my mind as I’m catching him. I’m like, ‘I got to figure out a way.’ And then an almost wreck happens and leave it (the pedal) on the floor and hope for the best. Just went the other direction than JJ’s car and it worked out.”
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Johnson went to the middle through Turn 4 when the field stacked up and Yeley chose the outside. It cost Yeley his momentum, and Johnson took the draft behind Chastain to go around Yeley and finish 12th. Yeley crossed the finish 16th.
It was a survive-and-transfer moment for Johnson, who had never experienced having to race his way into the Daytona 500. Thursday, leading into the race, Johnson kept his emotions in check by focusing on his Legacy Motor Club team’s strategy, knowing that he had Toyota teammates in the race and every other detail he needed.
“As I put my suit on in my bus before I walked out, the weight of the situation hit me, and the butterflies started to kick up,” Johnson said. “Once we settled in at the start of the race, I felt really good with my car. We had a really fast car and I was able to drive from the back to the front.
“(But) something just ran through my mind. I’m like, ‘It’s not over. We have a pit stop, we have the end of the race, who knows what’s going to happen?’ I just keep my guard up and sure enough, I had two or three different moments that were quite challenging that maybe put a year or two on me.”
The most significant incident came with 11 laps to go. Johnson was collected in an accordion-effect crash started three cars in front of him as Daniel Hemric got sideways from contact by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The incident collected Hemric, Stenhouse, Austin Dillon and Johnson. Johnson spun and needed four fresh tires.
Johnson restarted 18th with six laps to go. Yeley restarted 14th.
“I needed a pusher,” Johnson said. “Anybody does in that back lane. When it comes to the end of the race, it’s tough to get people to pull out or try to find a way to you. I could have used a little help there — didn’t get it, which is fine. We figured out how to do it on our own.
“All the best plans that you set into place before the race starts, they always seem to go out the window when the race is taking place.”
Sunday will be the 21st time Johnson has competed in the Daytona 500, which he’s won twice. Johnson will make his second consecutive start in the event as owner/driver for Legacy Motor Club, doing so in the organization’s third entry.
Toyota will have nine entries in the field with Johnson qualifying for the Daytona 500.