Traveler vs. Green River: One Whiskey Falls Short of Daytona 500 Debut

It was a tale of two whiskeys in a duel for a qualifying spot in the 2025 Daytona 500, but unfortunately for one, things didn’t quite work out.

The week before the Daytona 500 is always a busy one for NASCAR teams. Drivers face a stacked schedule, balancing practice, qualifying, and media interviews before competing in the Super Bowl of motorsports. Qualifying took place Wednesday, with Indiana native Chase Briscoe securing the pole position in his No. 19 Toyota.

On Thursday, the Duels at Daytona saw drivers divided among two 60-lap, 150-mile races. The results of both duels determined the full starting lineup for the 67th annual Daytona 500, giving race fans a sneak peek of what to expect on Sunday. The final lap of both races was equally entertaining, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out for everyone.

How Does Qualifying Work at the Daytona 500?

In 2016, NASCAR issued 36 charters, guaranteeing those 36 cars a spot in every race and providing them with a base amount of revenue for the season. Non-chartered cars must compete for a spot in each race during qualifying. For the 2025 Daytona 500, there were 40 spots available, leaving four open spots up for grabs. Nine cars competed for those spots over the past few days, including one sponsored by Chris Stapleton's Traveler Whiskey and another by Owensboro, Kentucky’s own Green River Whiskey.

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NY Racing Team's No. 44 Loses Duel 1 at Daytona

Two of the four open spots were filled Wednesday during qualifying by Martin Truex Jr.'s No. 56 and Jimmie Johnson's No. 84. The remaining drivers competing for open spots would have to race for theirs during one of the Duels. The Traveler Whiskey No. 40, driven by Illinois native Justin Allgaier, and the Green River Whiskey No. 44, driven by J.J. Yeley, squared off in the first duel, which remained tight until the end. With three wide down the front straightaway on the final lap, Allgaier outpaced Yeley.

JR Motorsports' No. 40 Secures Entry into Daytona 500

Personally, I was really looking forward to seeing a local brand at the Daytona 500. However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see JR Motorsports make it in. It’s safe to say the team was more than a little excited, with co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller on-site, beaming ear to ear after the duel. You can see their car race for yourself at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m. (CST) on Fox.