Legacy Motor Club has applied for and received the “Open Exemption Provisional” for the 2026 Daytona 500. Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of Legacy and 7x NASCAR Cup Series champion, will be given the 41st starting position for next month’s season opener at Daytona. Johnson is a two-time Daytona 500 champion, winning the Great American Race in 2006 and 2013. He will take to the banks of the Daytona oval once more for the fourth time in a row and his third 500 in a Toyota Camry XSE.

The Open Exemption Provision is a rule put in place by NASCAR to allow the guaranteed entry of a high-profile racing driver to enter a NASCAR-sanctioned race, no matter the number of drivers attempting to qualify. This can even add a 41st spot to a 40-car field.

The OEP was used for the first time last in season’s Daytona 500 by TrackHouse Racing’s Project 91 team for IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves to guarantee him a spot in the 2025 Daytona 500. The Open Exemption Provision was introduced last season and implemented after Helio failed to qualify for the race. However, for 2026, the rules have been changed a bit. Now, teams must apply in advance and cannot wait to see if the provision is needed.

The downside of the provision? If a driver is entered using the Provision, the team forfeits all Purse winnings and points for the finish, even a win.

Should Jimmie manage to finish two places better than last year’s 3rd, this would be Jimmie’s first Cup Series win in nine years, and his third Daytona 500 trophy. (Without the dough)

Image Credit: Patrick Vallely