Whereas Bubba Wallace earned a victory within the first Duel race earlier than the 2025 Daytona 500, all eyes — notably Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s — had been on the center of the sector because the motion got here to a head.
That is as a result of Justin Allgaier, piloting the No. 40 Chevrolet co-owned by Earnhardt and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, was operating three-wide and driving the race of his life in opposition to the skin wall. For some time, the reigning Xfinity Sequence champion had struggled to make up floor. However within the waning moments of the race, the third lane fashioned up and he pushed his method into NASCAR’s greatest race, ending ninth — forward of J.J. Yeley, the motive force he needed to beat to make it to Sunday’s race.
Watch: Dale Jr. talks relationship with Daytona: ‘May want a psychiatrist to elucidate it’
“This man proper right here [Earnhardt Jr.] — we get to race on Sunday,” mentioned Allgaier. “His lip was quivering and his arms had been shaking earlier than the race. I do not suppose I’ve ever seen that out of Dale Jr. He instructed me earlier than the race, he mentioned, ‘I am nervous. I do not wish to make you nervous, however I am actually nervous.'”
Dale Jr. “cannot imagine it”
Earnhardt was simply as emotional after Allgaier’s drive, although in a complete totally different method. He brushed tears apart because the crew embraced. The NASCAR Corridor of Famer has been part of each facet of JR Motorsports’ Cup debut, even exhibiting up earlier than dawn to look at the crew unload the automobile.
“First off, I am so pleased with Justin, man,” mentioned Earnhardt Jr. “He put the entire crew on his again these final couple of laps. He obtained to the highest, and I didn’t suppose that was doable, however he obtained up there and made one thing work. It was his solely shot and he obtained some assist. So we obtained some individuals to thank. Only a nice race automobile. Greg Ives [crew chief] has put a bunch collectively that’s motivated. There’s some particular individuals on this crew that I’ve labored with all the way in which again to 1998. However I am going to inform you, this sport is wonderful — every little thing about it. I’ve seen it from so many various lenses and I like the challenges. I would not need it some other method.
However extra to the purpose, Earnhardt Jr. continued:
“This was onerous, emotionally. I am unable to imagine we obtained to race on Sunday. I simply can’t imagine it.”
Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
J.J. Yeley was left on the opposite facet, reflecting on what may have been. “I simply wanted extra tempo, sadly,” he mentioned. Yeley has didn’t make the five hundred in his final 5 makes an attempt; he misplaced out final yr in a nailbiter with Jimmie Johnson, who made this yr’s Daytona yesterday.
“I simply did not have that pull to the place I may make one thing occur,” mentioned Yeley. “Seven to go, and I obtained by the 40 [Allgaier], and 56 [Truex] glided by us on the skin. I simply dedicated to the underside and put all my whiskey in a single glass, hoping that was the place I wanted to be. Three to go, it appeared like that was going to work out. I do know with two to go, it simply form of goes into full chaos … However I misplaced a little bit of my assist, and at that time I hoped there can be extra carnage off of 4. Did not get it.”
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