Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will participate in his 68th Daytona 500 by utilizing the Open Exemption Interim System (OEP), a method introduced last year to help non-regular teams with top-tier drivers secure a spot in races where entries exceed the 40-car limit. Johnson’s use of the OEP will increase the field to 41 cars for the season-opening race next month.
Under the updated rules, drivers who choose a guaranteed position via OEP will not earn prize money or points from the event. Previously, drivers could try to qualify normally and then fall back on the OEP if needed, but that option has now been removed. This leaves four unclaimed spots still open on the Daytona 500 grid. The OEP system has only been used once before, by four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Project 91 Trackhouse Racing at last year’s Daytona 500.
In the upcoming race, Johnson will pilot the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, joining teammates Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. A NASCAR Hall of Famer and two-time Daytona 500 winner (2006 and 2013), Johnson stepped away from full-time racing after the 2020 season but has maintained an active presence through Legacy Motor Club as both driver and team owner. Last year, he narrowly avoided a serious crash during the final lap to finish third in the Daytona 500.
Fan Take:
Jimmie Johnson’s return to the Daytona 500 grid, even through the Open Exemption system, is a thrilling reminder of his enduring appeal and skill in NASCAR. His presence not only boosts the excitement surrounding the Daytona 500 but also highlights the innovative pathways NASCAR is creating to keep legendary drivers involved, which benefits both fans and the sport’s competitive landscape.
