When the returning NASCAR Legend Jimmie Johnson locked himself into the 2025 Daytona 500 on pure speed, it was a moment of relief for the seven-time champion. But for his Legacy Motor Club star, Erik Jones, the journey to the Great American Race was anything but straightforward. Jones found himself locked in a fierce battle with Austin Cindric during the second Daytona 500 qualifying duel—a race that ended in heartbreak, confusion, and a controversial finish that left everyone scratching their heads. Jones crossed the line first, celebrated like a winner, and then watched as NASCAR handed the victory to Cindric under peculiar circumstances. Johnson, ever the supportive team owner, had some poignant words for his driver, but the sting of what could have been lingered in the air.

Erik Jones’ near-miss and NASCAR’s controversial call

The second Daytona 500 qualifying duel was shaping up to be an absolute barnburner. Erik Jones, behind the wheel of the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, was locked in a side-by-side tussle with Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford as the laps ticked down. The two traded paint and positions, with Jones eventually nosing ahead by a razor-thin 0.004 seconds at the line. It was a photo finish, and Jones, convinced he’d won, did what any driver would: he celebrated. He parked his car on the front stretch, climbed out, and soaked in the cheers of the crowd. Even Jimmie Johnson, watching from pit lane, allowed himself a moment of pride. His team, Legacy Motor Club was heading to victory lane for the first time ever.

But then, the mood shifted. Unbeknownst to Jones and most of the fans, a multi-car crash involving Shane Van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, and Ty Gibbs had erupted just mere moments before the leaders crossed the line. NASCAR threw the caution flag a fraction of a second before the finish, freezing the field. According to the rules, the race winner is determined by the running order at the moment the caution is displayed—not at the finish line. And in that split second, Cindric was ahead.

The announcement came over the speedway intercom: Cindric, not Jones, was the winner. The look of elation on Jones’ face swiftly turned to disbelief. “I’ve never been in that spot,” Jones said afterward. “It’s a bummer. You get pumped up, you think you’re the winner, and then you’re not. It’s the rules, and that’s their call, but it’s frustrating.”

Cindric, for his part, was gracious in victory. “I feel bad for Erik having to go all the way over there,” he said, referring to Jones’ premature celebration. “They made a great move on the last lap. Joey [Logano] and I were sitting ducks with the middle lane fading there.” Cindric, who had started on the pole, led only six of the 60 laps but found himself in the right place at the right time when it mattered most.

For Johnson, the ruling was a bitter pill to swallow but he handled it with grace. “I haven’t seen the video, but I know the rule,” he said. “If everything is as they say, which it typically is, then no big deal. But we certainly had our hopes up for a minute there, and it’s a little disappointing.” Johnson, ever the supportive team owner, made sure to console Jones. “You’re still a winner to me,” he told his driver. “I can tell he wanted to win, of course. I hate that for him and his team and our sponsors, but it’s a good thing for Sunday.”

Despite the frustration, Jones will start fourth in Sunday’s Daytona 500, a strong position for the Great American Race. But the sting of what could have been will linger—especially for a team like Legacy Motor Club, which has been rebuilding and searching for momentum.

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Jimmie Johnson’s locked in and looking ahead to some Daytona redemption

While Jones’ duel drama unfolded, Jimmie Johnson was quietly securing his own spot in the Daytona 500. The seven-time champion, now a team owner and part-time driver, locked himself into the race on pure speed during Wednesday’s qualifying session. It was a moment of relief for Johnson, who admitted that the stress of racing his way into the 500 had been weighing on him. “It’s a big weight lifted off, to say the least,” he said. “The experience I had last year has been ringing through my brain at night. I’ve jumped out of bed a few times with some nightmares as the day got closer.”

Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota, fielded by Legacy Motor Club, showed impressive speed throughout the week—a fruit of the team’s labor and their recent switch from Chevrolet to Toyota. “We’re really encouraged by our pace in practice,” Johnson said. “The whole field picked up speed, so hats off to Toyota and JGR for what they’ve brought.”  Johnson’s partnership with Toyota is part of a longer journey to rebuild Legacy Motor Club into a competitive force. “We couldn’t have tried any harder this year,” he said. “It’s part of the journey. We won’t see the full impact of the change until next year.”

Johnson’s return to Daytona is a reminder of his enduring legacy in the sport. A two-time Daytona 500 winner already, he knows what it takes to succeed on NASCAR’s biggest stage. And while he may not be racing full-time anymore, his presence will definitely contribute to the prestige of Sunday’s iconic race. “You forget how special this race is when you have to race for it, when you have to earn it,” Johnson said. “It means so much.”

For Erik Jones and Jimmie Johnson, the focus will now shift to Sunday’s Daytona 500. Jones, starting fourth, has a prime opportunity to turn his near-miss in the duel into a breakthrough victory. Johnson, meanwhile, will look to prove that Legacy Motor Club’s switch to Toyota was the right move. The team’s strong showing in qualifying and the duels suggests that they’re heading in the right direction—but as Jones’ heartbreak reminded us, Daytona will forever remain a venue where anything can happen.

As Johnson put it, “There’s nothing like winning.” And for Legacy Motor Club, that first win—whether it comes on Sunday or later in the season—will be a moment worth celebrating.