DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Jimmie Johnson learned firsthand what go-or-go-homers experience trying to lock into the Great American Race.
As a driver without owner points—and unable to lock himself into to race on speed through qualifying on Wednesday—the seven-time champion was forced to finish ahead of J.J. Yeley to make the show.
Johnson, 48, pulled off the feat but admitted the 60-laps he raced in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona were some of the most stressful of his career.
“I just have such a better appreciation for what many have gone through to race in,” Johnson said with a sigh of relief. “I was so fortunate for so many years to not have to worry about getting in on speed for a variety of different reasons.
“Last year went well. We got in on speed. To go through that just now, literally, have it come down to the last hundred yards of the Duel that wasn’t in my playbook.”
Johnson believes that preparation was key—for both him and the No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team. He started 18th out of the 21 cars in the first Duel. He raced to 11th in the first four laps and climbed to sixth 10 circuits in. Johnson rose as high as third on Lap 13 before riding comfortably in the top 10.
Just prior to Lap 30, Johnson’s long-time spotter Earl Barban told the driver, “You’re managing very well. Keep it up.”
Pit stops started on Lap 33. Johnson came in for fuel seven laps later with fellow Toyota drivers Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones. While Johnson had no issues getting down unto the apron and onto pit road, there was contact behind him.
Once the Toyotas eased back onto the track again for the final 20 laps, Johnson was searching for a little help from his LEGACY M.C. teammate Jones to draft towards the front.
As flames flew out of the No. 54 Toyota of Gibbs coming to Lap 50—the field checked up behind. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., plowed into Daniel Hemric and Stenhouse, Austin Dillon and Johnson went synchronized spinning onto the apron in Turn 4. Hemric’s race ended on Lap 49. Johnson restarted 15th for the final run.
“We had a very fast car,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately with the crash that took place that I was caught up in, pitting, just had us in an awkward position at the back of the field, the last car in either lane. Just tough to make something happen.”
With six laps remaining, Johnson said it was elbows out against Yeley to outrun him to the checkers.
“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 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 good. 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.”
Yeley elected to take the outside lane to gain momentum and attempt to block Johnson.
“Coming through three and four, there was almost a wreck again,” Johnson said. “JJ chose one lane, I chose the middle lane. The middle lane prevailed by the time we got to the start/finish. Just as simple as that.”
With a push from Martin Truex Jr., Johnson held onto 12th. Yeley finished 16th. After Johnson pulled onto pit road, he climbed from his car and immediately offered his condolences to Yeley.
“JJ is a champion,” Johnson said. “He has raced his whole life. I remember watching him in sprint cars and Champ Cars. A lot of different things climbing the ropes coming up. We kind of entered the sport together. He was a Gibbs driver. He’s a champion. He knows what he’s doing. He’s a real racer.
“When it came down to it with three laps to go, we’re door-to-door, I’m like, How does this always happen in the Duels? The two cars racing to get in end up by each other. Here is JJ and JJ banging doors, trying to figure it out (smiling).”
Still, the two-time Daytona 500 winner admits there were doubts—not just before but during the race. He contemplated what it would be like to miss the show.
“I’m going to have to call all our partners,” Johnson said. “I’m going to have to stand in the suite during the 500 and shake hands, not drive a car. This is running through my mind as I’m catching him. I have to figure out a way.”
And he did. On Sunday, Johnson will roll off 23rd in his 21st Daytona 500.
“I’ve never been through anything like this,” Johnson said. “In my first year down here, we fortunately won the pole. I had exposure to racing my way in. It was pretty stress-free after qualifying.
“To fight like we did in those closing laps, I mean, I’ve only done that for a race win here. Never had that level of anxiety and fight for a Duel or anything else except for a proper win.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
