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Should NASCAR Prioritize Its Legends? Daytona 500 Controversy Sparks Heated Debate

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
February 11, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Should NASCAR Prioritize Its Legends? Daytona 500 Controversy Sparks Heated Debate

Feb 7, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Banner of the 2025 inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame at Charlotte Convention Center Crown Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

NASCAR’s push for global expansion is running headfirst into a clash with tradition, and the Daytona 500 is at the center of it. The Open Exemption Provisional rule has become a lightning rod for controversy, with veteran drivers questioning NASCAR’s priorities as Helio Castroneves—who has never raced in a single NASCAR Cup event—has been granted a guaranteed Daytona 500 spot over past champions like Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr.

For many, it’s a slap in the face to NASCAR’s own history—and Corey LaJoie is among those voicing frustration.


LaJoie: NASCAR Is Ignoring Its Own Hall of Famers

Corey LaJoie, who lost his full-time ride at the end of 2024, has always been outspoken about NASCAR’s treatment of veteran drivers. In a recent discussion with Bob Pockrass, LaJoie kept his frustration in check—but made it clear that he believes past champions deserve more respect.

“It doesn’t matter what I think. I don’t like it, but it doesn’t matter,” LaJoie said.

Then, he made his case.

“I think having Helio as a part of the Daytona 500 is a huge draw. He’s a world-renowned racecar driver, but… so is Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. Those guys are past champions. So, I would almost like to see that rule adjusted.”

LaJoie believes that if NASCAR is handing out guaranteed spots, it should first go to those who helped build the sport, not an outsider making a one-off appearance.


A “Popularity Contest” or “Desperation”? NASCAR Faces Backlash

LaJoie isn’t alone in his criticism. NASCAR’s decision has drawn heavy fire from other veterans:

🔥 Jeff Gordon: Called the rule a “popularity contest.”
🔥 Denny Hamlin: Described it as “desperation” to attract mainstream attention.
🔥 Jimmie Johnson & Martin Truex Jr.: Both must fight for their spots in the Duels, despite being Cup Series champions.

Meanwhile, Castroneves has been handed a free pass into NASCAR’s biggest race—despite never racing a single Cup Series mile before.


Who’s Fighting for a Spot in the Daytona 500?

The Open Exemption Provisional means that only 40 cars make the field, with some huge names forced to qualify through the Duels:

  • Jimmie Johnson (7x NASCAR Cup Champion)
  • Martin Truex Jr. (2017 NASCAR Cup Champion)
  • Justin Allgaier
  • Corey LaJoie
  • Chandler Smith
  • JJ Yeley
  • Anthony Alfredo
  • B.J. McLeod

Meanwhile, Castroneves—a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner but with zero Cup Series experience—automatically gets in.

For veterans like LaJoie, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.


LaJoie’s Fix: A Guaranteed Spot for Past Champions

On his “Stacking Pennies” podcast, LaJoie offered a compromise:

“If there is one spot and there is a priority to who NASCAR feels like deserves a spot, past champions should get it. Be it MTJ or Jimmie Johnson—those guys have dedicated themselves to this sport, they’re Hall of Famers. They should get at least a spot made for them, in addition to somebody coming in for their first race.”

Rather than blocking Castroneves, LaJoie suggests that NASCAR should expand the exemption list to guarantee spots for past champions, too.


NASCAR’s Balancing Act: Growth vs. Legacy

NASCAR is clearly pushing to globalize, hoping to attract crossover fans by bringing in big names from outside disciplines like IndyCar, F1, and endurance racing.

But in doing so, is it undermining its own legends?

The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s crown jewel—a race that drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon built into a global phenomenon. Yet, past champions now have to fight for a spot, while a driver from another series gets a guaranteed ticket.

As LaJoie and others have pointed out—is NASCAR sacrificing its own identity in its quest for expansion?

The debate isn’t over. But if NASCAR wants to keep its longtime fanbase happy, it may need to rethink how it prioritizes its legends.

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