It’s official. Jimmie Johnson and Travis Pastrana have locked into the 2023 Daytona 500.
Johnson, piloting the No. 84 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for his own team, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, will make his first start as an owner-driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, after putting down the fastest lap of the six open entries.
The Carvana-sponsored entry posted a time of 50.202 seconds (179.276mph) to put himself in the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel and give him a guaranteed spot in the 65th Annual Daytona 500.
Pastrana, a globally recognized motorsports figure, will officially make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, after putting down the second-quickest lap of the six open entries on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old driver posted a lap time only six-one-thousandths of a second slower than the quickest unchartered entry, Jimmie Johnson, with a time of 50.208 seconds (179.254mph).
By virtue of being the second-quickest open entry in qualifying, Pastrana will start highest up of the open entries in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel.
Zane Smith and Chandler Smith, each piloting an extra entry for their respective organizations, will be put into the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel.
Austin Hill and Conor Daly, both attempting to make their first start in the Daytona 500, will be placed in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel with Travis Pastrana.
Daly, driving the No. 50 for TMT Racing, was unable to make a lap after a mechanical issue prior to bringing the car to the grid for Wednesday’s single-car qualifying session.
Open Entries – Qualifying Results:
- #84 – Jimmie Johnson (50.202)
- #67 – Travis Pastrana (50.208)
- #36 – Zane Smith (50.318)
- #62 – Austin Hill (50.375)
- #13 – Chandler Smith (51.422)
- #50 – Conor Daly (NO TIME)
