Provisional in Play as Johnson and Legacy Motor Club Target Daytona 500
The scent of race fuel and the roar of engines at Daytona International Speedway stir something primal in race fans, but nothing quite matches the sight of a living legend suiting up for one more run at glory. NASCAR officials confirmed on Wednesday that seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will be on the starting grid for the 68th running of the “Great American Race.”
“For fans holding their breath about whether the Hall of Famer would make the field, you can exhale. Johnson and his team, Legacy Motor Club, will utilize the Open Exemption Provisional to guarantee the No. 84 Carvana Toyota a spot in the 2026 Daytona 500.
Johnson Avoids the Stress of the Duels
Usually, the path to the Daytona 500 for a non-chartered car is paved with anxiety. Drivers have to race their way in during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel, a high-speed game of musical chairs where a single mistimed block or a mechanical failure can send a team packing before the big show even starts. It is heartbreak city for those on the outside looking in.
But Johnson won’t have to sweat it out on Thursday night. By invoking the Open Exemption Provisional, the No. 84 team bypasses the jeopardy of the qualifying races. He is locked in. NASCAR confirmed that this move guarantees Johnson will roll off the grid as the 41st car in the field on Sunday, February 15.
This rule, often referred to as a “promoter’s choice,” was designed exactly for this scenario: to ensure that the sport’s biggest icons are present for its biggest stage. It keeps the star power on the track where it belongs, rather than risking a seven-time champ missing the cut due to a bad aero push in a qualifying race.
How the Provisional Changes the Field Size
The Open Exemption isn’t brand new, but its application has evolved. NASCAR introduced this safety net ahead of the 2025 season to accommodate world-class talent from NASCAR and other motorsport disciplines. We saw it used last year by Trackhouse Racing to get four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Hélio Castroneves into the show for his NASCAR debut.
However, the rulebook has seen some tweaks. In 2025, the provisional was a backup plan; Castroneves still had to see where he fell after the Duels to determine if the field would expand. For 2026, the application is more direct. When the provisional is granted, it mandates a 41-car field.
This means Johnson is essentially an addition to the traditional 40-car grid. While 40 drivers will battle for position and points, Johnson enters as a special attraction—a titan of the sport, measuring himself against the next generation one more time.
Racing for the Trophy, Not the Paycheck
There is a catch to this guaranteed entry, one that speaks volumes about why Johnson is doing this. Because he is entering via the provisional, Johnson is not eligible for championship points or the race purse.
Let that sink in. He isn’t doing this for the money. He isn’t doing it to pad a stats sheet for a season-long campaign. Johnson is strapping into a 3,400-pound stock car at 200 miles per hour purely for the love of competition. He is eligible to win the race, eligible to hoist the Harley J. Earl trophy, and eligible to earn a spot in the All-Star Race.
For a driver who has already accomplished everything there is to do in stock car racing, the drive to simply win remains the ultimate motivator. It brings a pure, grassroots feel to the highest level of motorsport, a legend racing just to see if he can still beat the best.
A Homecoming on the Horizon
The 2026 schedule holds more than just Daytona for Johnson. While the high banks of Florida are familiar territory, his calendar also circles a historic event closer to home. Following the season opener, Johnson is slated to compete in the June 21 race at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego.
This event marks NASCAR’s first foray onto an active United States military base, and for Johnson, it is deeply personal. Hailing from El Cajon, California, racing in San Diego is a homecoming.
It bridges his past as a dirt bike kid from Southern California with his status as one of the greatest asphalt racers in history. But first, eyes are on Daytona. Come February, the No. 84 will be on track, the engine will fire, and fans will get to witness greatness once again.
