“I Just Didn’t Have Enough Friends”- JJ Yeley Painfully Concedes Defeat as Jimmie Johnson Steals Daytona 500 Spot

When Jimmie Johnson entered the Daytona International Speedway for the Bluegreen Vacations Duels, it was a rather strange feeling for the 7x Cup Champ. He was in a position where, it seemed like for the first time, he would not make it to the Great American Race.

With a plan to make it past the other open cars to secure his spot at the Daytona 500, Johnson was holding his own until a spin triggered one of the most intense battles between Johnson and veteran JJ Yeley. While Johnson eventually came out on top and made it through, Yeley pointed out how the Hall of Famer’s stature played a role in their drag race to the finish.

Martin Truex Jr helped Jimmie Johnson secure the spot in the Daytona 500 over JJ Yeley

Even with an unfavourable starting position, Jimmie Johnson had managed to get his car up with the lead draft within a few laps of the race, sticking with them until pit stop cycles divided the pack into four groups. While the groups were reconnecting, Johnson suffered a major setback. On lap 11, Daniel Hemric got loose. Soon enough, Austin Dillon was tagged and rubbed paint with Johnson, eventually spinning him out.

This meant Johnson was now in a position that could be stolen from JJ Yeley at any second, and the two continued to trade paint, throw blocks and overtakes throughout the remainder of the race. With Lap 60 fast approaching, it was Yeley ahead of Johnson, but a last-minute incident would once again change their fortunes around. Reflecting on the ordeal, Yeley shared his disappointment with FrontStretch after the race.

“I had to stay on the top the whole time and obviously caught a break with that caution, Jimmie getting stuck with what he was in there. I was just trying to protect the best I could. Once I went into [turn] 3, I thought, ‘Man, I’m in good shape.’ I had blocked Jimmie for about a lap and a half and kind of screwed up his momentum.” Trailing Ross Chastain, JJ Yeley and Jimmie Johnson had to throw in decisive moves to secure the final spot.

While Yeley thought his best option was to take the high line around the outside, Johnson pushed Chastain in the hopes of drafting both the cars through, and that’s exactly what happened. However, Johnson was also being pushed by Martin Truex Jr, who was trailing close behind.

Yeley stated, “[Johnson] went to the middle, the No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.) pushed him, [and] I just didn’t have enough friends coming to the checkers.”

Although Jimmie Johnson made it through with support from Truex Jr, JJ Yeley himself had outdone himself as a last-minute replacement for Greg Biffle, but disappointment from such narrow margins left a sour taste in his mouth. He concluded, “It’s definitely [tough], especially for these [NY Racing] guys. I mean, I got the call Monday night to come drive a race car. Obviously disappointed.”

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It’s safe to say NY Racing could not have chosen a better candidate for the Daytona 500 than JJ Yeley, who put up a valiant effort against one of the Cup Series’ greatest. As a matter of fact, Yeley’s challenge was so arduous it even made the 48-year-old feel he was crossing fifty.

“Never had that level of anxiety and fight for a Duel” – Johnson has nothing but praise for JJ Yeley after an intense showdown

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At the end of lap 60, Jimmie Johnson and Kaz Grala had sealed the open spot to secure a place in the Daytona 500. While the #84 garage was all smiles, Johnson had never faced such an ordeal at a Daytona qualifying before. He was quoted by NASCAR, “I’ve never been through anything like this. 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.”

After the race, Johnson shared that the two shook hands, and that was the end of the Duel. Throughout the ending laps, Johnson and Yeley were on the edge, battling as hard as the frontrunners chasing down Tyler Reddick. Johnson reflected on Yeley’s performance. “It was like being on a short track, but we’re here at Daytona. He raced as hard as he could, and I respect the effort he put out, and everything they did to try to make the race. We just cycled ahead there at the end.”

Johnson was also verbal about how the race made him feel he had aged two years owing to all the pressure and anxiety. Eventually, it all worked out as we will once again witness Jimmie Johnson start the Great American Race in two days.

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