Justin Allgaier Locks Into Daytona 500 With Fast Qualifying Run
Justin Allgaier punched his ticket to the 68th running of the Daytona 500 with a blistering single-car qualifying effort Wednesday night (ET), emerging as one of the fastest non-chartered entries and easing JR Motorsports' path into the season-opening classic.
Qualifying night: Allgaier among fastest open cars
In Wednesday night's single-car qualifying session (ET), Allgaier posted one of the two quickest times among the eight open, non-chartered cars competing for the limited available spots. That speed immediately secured his spot in the 200-lap Daytona centerpiece, putting him ahead of a tense two-day fight for the remaining open berths.
Field expanded to 41 after exemption move
The entry list for the season opener was altered before qualifying when the sanctioning body granted an Open Exemption Provisional to a high-profile team and driver, expanding the field from 40 to 41 cars. Even with that bump, eight open entries still battled for just four available positions — two through single-car qualifying and two more the Duel races.
Duels decide the final open spots; Mears survives calamity
The six open cars that didn’t lock in on speed split into Thursday night's (ET) two 60-lap Duel races, with the top finisher in each three-car group earning the remaining Daytona 500 berths. Veteran Casey Mears managed to overcome early trouble in the first Duel: after a pit entry incident that cost him a lap, he used the wavearound to regain track position and then avoided a last-lap multi-car pileup to finish eighth and secure his spot.
Late incidents dash hopes for several hopefuls
Not every contender found the finish line they needed. Two drivers who looked poised to qualify were undone by late-race incidents in the Duels. Chandler Smith finished 16th and failed to make the field after involvement in a late altercation, while Corey LaJoie, who had been in position to lock himself in, was shuffled back to 19th following a last-lap overtime incident that wiped out his shot.
What Allgaier’s qualifying run means for Daytona
Allgaier’s speed provides JR Motorsports and their fans breathing room heading into Sunday’s Great American Race. Securing a spot on speed removes the pressure of Duel-game tactics and late-race gambles, allowing Allgaier and his team to focus on race trim and pack strategy. With unpredictable restrictor-plate style racing and big wrecks commonplace at Daytona, starting the race knowing the entry is secured can be a tactical advantage over those who had to race their way in.
The final lineup for Sunday’s Daytona 500 will reflect both raw speed and Gate-style Duel performance, a blend that rewarded Allgaier’s lone-lap pace while producing dramatic qualifying heartbreaks for several hopefuls who chased the final open berths on-track.
