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Erik Jones’ Daytona Duel Heartbreak: Celebration Turns to Controversy in Wild Finish

Miguel Cunha by Miguel Cunha
February 14, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Erik Jones’ Daytona Duel Heartbreak: Celebration Turns to Controversy in Wild Finish

Feb 13, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones (43) reacts after winning Duel 2 but after video replay the win was awarded to NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (not pictured) at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

For a fleeting moment, Erik Jones thought he had pulled off the ultimate Daytona Duel victory. After an intense, edge-of-your-seat battle with Austin Cindric, the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota crossed the finish line a hair ahead—0.004 seconds, to be exact. Jones, a winner at NASCAR’s most famous track in 2018, had every reason to believe he was heading to victory lane.

But Daytona doesn’t care about fairy-tale endings.

In a stunning turn of events, NASCAR officials reversed the outcome, declaring Cindric the winner under the sport’s controversial caution freeze rule. Jones went from celebrating with his team to staring in disbelief at the leaderboard, watching his first big moment with Legacy Motor Club slip away.

The Chaos That Changed Everything

The second Daytona 500 qualifying duel was everything fans love about superspeedway racing—high-speed chess, aggressive blocking, and an all-out sprint to the finish. Jones and Cindric traded the lead multiple times, each driver refusing to back down as the laps wound down. As they roared out of Turn 4, Jones nosed ahead, seemingly securing his spot in Daytona 500 history.

But as the field thundered toward the line, chaos erupted behind them.

A multi-car wreck involving Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, and Ty Gibbs triggered a late-race caution flag. Under NASCAR’s rulebook, when the yellow flag flies, the field is immediately frozen, meaning the running order at that exact moment determines the results—not the finish line.

And in that frozen moment, Cindric was ahead.

What followed was one of the most bizarre post-race moments in recent memory. Jones parked his car on the front stretch, soaking in the cheers, believing he had won. His team erupted in celebration, and even Jimmie Johnson—his team owner and mentor—allowed himself to believe in the victory.

Then, the crushing news hit.

Jones had been stripped of the win. Cindric, rather than Jones, was declared the rightful winner.

Jones: “I’ve Never Been in That Spot”

The aftermath was a gut punch. Jones, standing on pit road, still trying to process what had just happened, could only shake his head.

“I’ve never been in that spot,” he admitted. “It’s a bummer. You get pumped up, you think you’re the winner, and then you’re not. It’s the rules, and that’s their call, but it’s frustrating.”

Cindric, for his part, understood the awkwardness of the situation.

“I feel bad for Erik having to go all the way over there,” Cindric said, referencing Jones’ mistaken victory celebration. “They made a great move on the last lap. Joey [Logano] and I were sitting ducks with the middle lane fading there.”

Jimmie Johnson: A Tough Pill to Swallow, But Looking Ahead

For Jimmie Johnson, this was supposed to be a night of triumph. His Legacy Motor Club team had worked tirelessly, and this was their moment to shine. Instead, he was left trying to find the positives in an otherwise crushing turn of events.

“I haven’t seen the video, but I know the rule,” Johnson said. “If everything is as they say, which it typically is, then no big deal. But we certainly had our hopes up for a minute there, and it’s a little disappointing.”

Still, the seven-time Cup Series champion made sure to console his driver.

“You’re still a winner to me,” he told Jones.

Despite the heartbreak, there’s still a silver lining—Jones secured a strong P4 starting position for the Daytona 500. He’ll have a fast car, a determined team, and, perhaps, a chip on his shoulder as he looks to exact revenge on Sunday.

Daytona gave, and Daytona took away. But Jones and Legacy Motor Club aren’t done yet.

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