By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – High drama and big celebration marked the NASCAR Cup Series Duel at DAYTONA on Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway – and that wasn’t even in the track’s famous Victory Lane.

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 SUNNYD Chevrolet and JJ Yeley, driver of the #44 Green River Whiskey Chevrolet race during the NASCAR Cup Series Duel 1at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

A bold move forward in the final laps of the first 60-lap qualifying race provided an emotional berth into the DAYTONA 500 for reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier and a first-time appearance for his JR Motorsports’ team owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller. Allgaier will start 19th in the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

Corey Lajoie earned the other “open” position up for grabs in Thursday’s second Duel 150-miler, finishing sixth in the No. 01 Rick Ware Racing Ford – ahead of Anthony Alfredo and BJ McLeod who were also vying for the final “open” position on the DAYTONA 500 grid. He’ll start 12th.

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves joined Allgaier advancing out of the opening Duel – officially scored as 22nd among the 24 cars after his No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet was collected in a multi-accident on Lap 13. He will start last on Sunday’s 41-car starting grid by virtue of using a new provisional starting position offered by NASCAR to “world class drivers” wanting to compete in the big event.

TRICON Garage’s Martin Truex Jr. and Legacy Motor Club owner-driver Jimmie Johnson – a two-time DAYTONA 500 winner – earned the other two “open positions” in pole qualifying on Wednesday – filling out the field. They will start 39th and 40th on Sunday.

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet is hugged by NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. for qualifying fot the Daytona 500 after the NASCAR Cup Series Duel 1at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Three-wide coming to the white flag Thursday night,  Allgaier, 39, ultimately benefitted from a huge push from Michael McDowell and Josh Berry, able to pull away from J.J. Yeley, the one driver he had to beat for the final transfer position. As dramatic as the winning move was on-track, it was the emotional significance for the team that punctuated the achievement and really made the night feel so special for the decorated JR Motorsports team’s NASCAR Cup Series race debut.

Earnhardt – a two-time DAYTONA 500 winner – and his sister Kelley lost their father, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt in a fatal last lap crash of the 2001 DAYTONA 500. But instead of holding onto any negative thoughts about NASCAR’s most famous speedway, the siblings insisted Thursday night that they honestly harbor no ill will toward the track itself despite the tragedy they endured here.

On the contrary, Earnhardt said he has made peace with the venue and judging by the smiles, hugs and back slaps he so generously passed around following Thursday’s race, this was one of the more significant triumphs of his NASCAR Hall of Fame career.

Justin Allgaier, driver of the #40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet celebrates after making the Daytona 500 during the NASCAR Cup Series Duel 1at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

“Daddy loved Daytona and he loved to win here, he loved to win any race,” Earnhardt said, adding, “And gosh, I loved coming here as a kid, just a lot of great memories.

“So, when he passed away I had to make a decision. I had a career in front of me. I was coming back [to the track] multiple times and had to figure out a way to be okay with it. I knew it wasn’t the track that took him. I knew wherever he was, he still felt the same about Daytona.

“And so, I’ve embraced it and him losing his life in this property brought this property closer to me. Now that doesn’t work the same for other people with tragedy, but for me, knowing I had to keep coming here I made some peace with it, and embraced the track and love it. Add on top of that I love the history of the sport and add on top of the fact this is like the cornerstone and foundation of the sport between Darlington (S.C. Raceway), here and a few other tracks, this is really what helped us launch ourselves off the beach and dirt tracks and bullrings and make us a genuine sport.

“All the historic moments that have happened here, and getting to win here myself, I think we should celebrate this track and this race. Where else do you go and barely make the field and cry tears of joy? No where. This is incredible and that’s what helps you measure the importance of the race and how big it is to me.

“I love coming here.”

This will be the first DAYTONA 500 start for the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Allgaier in 10 years – his best finish in the Great American Race is 27th (2014) in two previous DAYTONA 500 starts.

NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates Justin Allgaier, driver of the #40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet qualifying for the Daytona 500 after the NASCAR Cup Series Duel 1at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

“Dale told me before the race – if it’s meant to be, it will happen, and it did,” said Allgaier, who is driving No. 40 JRM Chevrolet.

“Just really proud. This might seem like not that big of a deal to a lot of people, but when I think about our small team at JR Motorsports –- as big as it is, it really is a small family team. To see this happen tonight, it takes a lot of weight off my shoulders.”

Lajoie shared similar feelings of relief and optimism. Finding himself without a fulltime ride this season, he was ready to put up his own money to help fund his ride, only to land sponsors at the “11th hour” who wanted to partner with the Rick Ware team and Lajoie.

“I’m pumped up, man,” Lajoie said. “I wasn’t that stressed going in, but I am super relieved right now.”

Castroneves was understandably frustrated with the result of his first opportunity to turn some race laps in a stock car, but remained upbeat about his chances come Sunday in his official NASCAR debut with Trackhouse Racing.

“It’s disappointing because the No. 91 Wendy’s Chevy was really good,” the 49-year old Brazilian said. “The boys on the PROJECT91 team did an amazing job. They have a little bit of work to do, unfortunately. It wasn’t the night that we wanted, but we’ll take the provisional. So many people have been talking about it, but we will take it and we will learn more for the race.”

His participation along with LaJoie and Allgaier leading the anticipated JR Motorsports team debut partnered with a pair of former NASCAR Cup Series champions in Johnson and Truex – absolutely adds a dramatic chapter of competition to the sport’s most anticipated race.

“I’m going to tell you, man, this sport is amazing, everything about it,” Earnhardt said. “I’ve seen it from so many different lenses. And 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.”

Two more practice sessions – one each Friday and Saturday – complete the week before cars line up for Sunday’s 67th running of the DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). William Byron is the defending race winner.

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