With the highest number of open cars we have seen in years, huge names could not race in Sunday’s Daytona 500. With two cars locking into the race tonight, the Last Word on Motorsports NASCAR Team makes our predictions on who will make the show and who will be sent packing.
Which Open Cars Make The Daytona 500? LWOS Makes Our Predictions
Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex, Justin Allgaier, and more are fighting to make the 67th Daytona 500 as open cars. Open cars are from teams who do not have charters. Charters are like franchises and guarantee a starting spot and prize money. But when you do not have a charter, you have to qualify or race your way in.
This year, we have nine cars racing for four spots. We will not be considering Helio Castroneves as an open car, as the newly implemented Open Exemption Provisional will allow him to take a 41st spot in the race.
Read More: Daytona 500 Qualifying Explained
We have eight cars, and they are Jimmie Johnson with Legacy Motor Club. Martin Truex Jr. with TRICON Garage. Justin Allgaier with JR Motorsports. Corey Lajoie with Rick Ware Racing. J.J. Yeley with NY Racing. Anthony Alfredo with Beard Motorsports. Chandler Smith with Garage 66. And last, BJ McLeod is driving for himself, BJ McLeod Motorsports.
Who makes the Daytona 500:
Myself and Kaleb Kraus have made our picks on who makes the Daytona 500 and who packs it up and heads home:
Justin Allgaier and Martin Truex Jr:
The two picks we both agree on are Allgaier and Truex. We both believe that Allgaier and Truex have the equipment: a Hendrick Chevy for Allgaier and a Joe Gibbs Camry. Hendrick has a long-time standing of great runs in qualifying for the Daytona 500, and Joe Gibbs Racing has won more Daytona 500s in the last decade than any other team. Both these teams will make it in on speed Wednesday night.
First laps for JRM in Cup – ✅ pic.twitter.com/WKf5n7ba0p
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) February 12, 2025
Kaleb’s Picks: Jimmie Johnson and Anthony Alfredo
Kaleb picked Jimmie Johnson and Anthony Alfredo to race into the Daytona 500 in the duels. It is hard to bet against a seven-time champion and two-time winner of this race. He narrowly snuck into the race in 2024, passing JJ Yeley on the last lap in the duels last year.
Good to be back. pic.twitter.com/opkEeQQtkL
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) February 12, 2025
Anthony Alfredo has raced into the 500 with the Beard Motorsports team. He did it last year on qualifying lap speed. Expect him and the #62 Chevrolet to make the show in 2025.
Hayden’s Picks: Corey LaJoie and Jimmie Johnson
Again, you cannot bet against one of the greatest of all time in, Jimmie Johnson. My only point of contention is Legacy Motor Club. I don’t believe they have the pace for three cars, and Jimmie gets the short end of the deal with equipment. I think that Jimmie Johnson’s talent will overcome the shortcomings of the car, and he will make the show.
Corey LaJoie is running part-time in the Cup Series with Rick Ware Racing in 2025. RWR has taken up a technical alliance with RFK Racing, and the speed from those Fords has been fast. With three RFK Fords and another Rick Ware car, I think they will link up and get Corey into another Daytona 500.
Be sure to tune into Fox Sports One to watch the Daytona 500 Single Car Qualifying tonight at 7 PM ET. Stay connected to Last Word on Motorsports for all the news around the 67th running of the Daytona 500
Featured Image Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
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