The Great American Race is upon us as the 2025 Daytona 500 qualifiers give fans several twists and turns. Qualifying for the Daytona always brings in drama and intense competition and this year is no different.
5 Surprises Leading Up to the 2025 Daytona 500
Bubba Wallace’s Duel Victory
23XI Racing’s No. 23 driver Bubba Wallace clinched his first victory at Daytona by securing the first Duel race. Teammate Tyler Reddick played a pivotal role in this victory by giving Wallace a crucial push, helping him surge past 2024 Daytona 500 champion William Byron by 0.082 seconds to claim the win.
New Milestone for JR Motorsports Team
After a strong run in the final two laps, Justin Allgaier clinched a spot in the Daytona 500 by finishing in the top two among open cars in the Duels. This marked the first time in history a JR Motorsports Chevrolet will compete in a NASCAR Cup Series race.
Austin Cindric’s Awkward Win
Erik Jones thought he had won when he edged past Penske’s Austin Cindric in the second Duel race. He even celebrated near the flag stand, waiting to be handed the checkered flag.
However, NASCAR had thrown a caution a little ahead of the finish line due to cars wrecking behind the leaders, meaning Jones had narrowly missed out on winning, and Cindric had to do the long and awkward walk back to the flag stand to collect his checkered flag, only to discover the flagman had left.
Hélio Castroneves Pushed To Use OEP Rule
A dramatic eight wreck on Lap 14 eliminated the unchartered cars of Chandler Smith and Hélio Castroneves in the first Duel. Smith collided with Justin Haley’s Chevrolet while moving down the track, who in turn went into Castroneves’ Chevrolet, sending it into the wall. Castroneves will still qualify for Sunday’s race thanks to the new OEP rule.
Corey LaJoie’s Impressive Road to Qualifying
As a part-time driver for Rick Ware Racing Ford, Corey LaJoie earned himself a sixth-place finish in Duel 2, securing a spot in The Great American Race. This achievement underscored the significance of the Daytona 500 for unchartered cars.
This is just a glimpse into the exciting 2025 Daytona 500 season, with fans looking forward to seeing many more unexpected outcomes and standout performances. The 2025 Daytona 500 sets off on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 pm ET.
