NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson will compete in the Daytona 500 this spring, at the age of 50.
Johnson will the Open Exemption Provisional, a slot in the race created last year which can be used to give a world-class driver without a full-time NASCAR charter a spot in the historic race, expanding the field of starters to 41.
Last year, that spot was given to Helio Castroneves, driving the Project91 No. 91 car for Trackhouse Racing, although the four-time Indy 500 winner only completed 70 laps of the race after being caught up in a Stage 2 wreck.
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Johnson will drive the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, the team that he is a majority owner of.
Johnson set for Daytona return
Johnson has raced at the season-opener at Daytona in each of the last three years (following his 2020 retirement), taking a shock third place last spring, leaping up a dozen places as he picked his way through a wreck on the back straight on the final lap.
Fellow Legacy Motor Club drive John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top five, with Johnson saying at the time: "It's been an interesting couple of years. To have cars come out and be this strong ... I'm just smiling inside now."
He added: "I've never been in this position as an owner. It's really opened up a different set of emotions, and the pride that I have in this result, and the pride that I have in this company, and all that we're trying to achieve and the journey we're on. I'm satisfied, so happy right now."
This year's Daytona 500 will be held on Sunday, February 15, opening the 36-race NASCAR Cup Series season.
NASCAR TODAY: Kyle Larson denied trophy as historic Cup Series track set for name change
