Heartbreaking News: About a minute ago, Chase Elliott die in a Car Crash…….
In the Daytona 500 qualifying races, it wasn’t the thrill of victory that brought the most joy.
It was the thrill of not going home following the duels, which set the lineups for the Daytona 500 (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX).
Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson barely got into the Daytona 500 field, needing a last-lap pass during his duel Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway. Kaz Grala also needed a last-lap move to earn a spot in the sport’s biggest event Sunday.
“I just would have been really disappointed,” said the driver and team co-owner Johnson about the possibility of missing the 500.
“I think I’m identifying with the fact that there’s a lot more riding on my performance in the car these days than when I was a full-time driver — not only my own personal goals of being a driver, but what’s going on as being a team owner, trying to help grow a race team.”
Johnson more or less had to beat JJ Yeley in his duel to make the 500 field. Johnson was ahead of Yeley for much of it until Johnson got collected when a couple of cars spun in front of him.
“I thought I was going to get cleaned out,” Johnson said. “I didn’t see what started it. … Just a huge scare.”.
Entering the final lap, Yeley was ahead of Johnson and Johnson didn’t appear to have any help to get past Yeley, who was driving for an underfunded NY Racing organization.
