The 2025 NASCAR season has kicked off at the Daytona International Speedway. There were 45 cars aiming for the prestigious spot in the race, which is often referred to as the Great American Race. Among these was the No. 40 Chevrolet, driven by Justin Allgaier, and representing Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports.

With a full moon overhead and the sun yet to crest the horizon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stood near his team’s hauler Wednesday morning and watched as JR Motorsports’ first Cup car was unloaded in the Daytona International Speedway garage.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a two-time Daytona 500 champion. He’s competing in the race in a new way in 2025, and the entire sport is excited for it.

There will be no agonizing wait for Jimmie Johnson to make the Daytona 500 this year. A year after a white-knuckle trip into the field through a harrowing qualifying race, the seven-time Cup Series champion had an easier time in qualifying Wednesday night for the 67th edition of the Great American Race.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr. both ran lap times fast enough to lock themselves into the season opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway. Allgaier’s No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet narrowly missed locking in on speed by 0.080 seconds, which was a difference of 0.290 MPH.

Legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. floated a "crazy" idea for drivers ahead of the Daytona 500 set to run on Sunday afternoon. Earnhardt Jr responded a

Justin Allgaier and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are disappointed that qualification for the Daytona 500 couldn't be secured on Wednesday, meaning a Duel is required.