LaJoie uses wreck, Johnson pitch to land Daytona 500 spot (The Associated Press)

Corey LaJoie's pitch to BK Racing for a ride in the Daytona 500 was going nowhere. LaJoie texted a friend - just seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson - to help give his cause a needed boost. Johnson was happy to put in a good word and called the decision-makers at BK Racing to lobby on LaJoie's behalf.