DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- His former team owner, Felix Sabates, gave him a thumbs-up and a smile. His wife Buffy greeted him with a big hug. His crew chief Scott Eggleston was moved nearly to tears.

Hours after debating whether to even compete in the first of Thursday's twin 150-mile qualifying races, the driver at the center of NASCAR's cheating controversy finished eighth at Daytona International Speedway to secure a spot in the Daytona 500. But Michael Waltrip did more than that -- he led all three cars from Michael Waltrip Racing into the sport's biggest event.

"As bleak as everything might have looked, right now we're on top of the world," Dale Jarrett said. "I told Michael before this race that if anybody could drive it in, it would be him. He went out and did it. This is just huge for our entire race team. When the boss of your company isn't happy, things aren't looking too good for everybody else. He just took a tremendous load off himself and everybody else."

Jarrett will race Sunday using a past champion's provisional. Waltrip, needing to finish in the top two among the drivers not already qualified, came from the rear of the field to place first among the non-qualifiers. And Boris Said's second-place finish among non-qualifiers opened another Daytona 500 starting spot based on qualifying times, letting David Reutimann slip in before his 150-miler even began.

"I didn't want to taint this wonderful race," Waltrip said. "I just didn't know if going on the track would be right. I missed all of practice and started last and still made it. All three of our Toyota Camrys are in the race, and that's cool. I'm probably the most depressed guy you've ever seen make the Daytona 500."

Added Lee White, vice president of Toyota Racing Development: "Michael Waltrip carried two cars on his back. That's 7,000 pounds, a pretty heavy load for a guy."

Reutimann needed the help. He conservatively retired his No. 00 car early in the second qualifier because of an engine issue.

"I was on top of my trailer with my head in my hands just praying, man. That's all I could do to keep from going nuts," Reutimann said. "They say its official, but I'm hoping there isn't a recount or anything. It is Florida, after all."

This entire week has been a heavy load for Waltrip, whose crew chief and director of competition were suspended after what appeared to be an illegal fuel additive was found in the manifold of his No. 55 car after front-row qualifying Sunday. David Hyder was fined $100,000 -- a record for a crew chief -- while Waltrip was docked 100 driver points and 100 owner points.

Waltrip woke up Thursday wondering if he should even race. His wife, NASCAR president Mike Helton and Toyota senior VP Dave Illingworth convinced him otherwise. In a backup car, with no practice laps, and starting at the rear of the field, Waltrip needed to finish in the top two among non-qualified drivers to make the race he's won two times.

And he did just that, staying out during a pit stop to gain track position, falling to the back after spinning former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., and rallying from the back to secure a qualifying spot.

"I don't know how to put it into words," said Eggleston, also Waltrip's crew chief when the driver first won the Daytona 500 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2001. "I don't cry hardly at all, and I almost cried today."

Even after making the race, Waltrip remained as contrite as he appeared in a Thursday morning press conference, where he took the blame for the infraction that cast a pall over his first Daytona 500 as a team owner.

"It was just a terrible mistake," he said. "I didn't need to cheat to win this race. I've done it before. I'm just embarrassed for my organization."

Michael Waltrip Racing drivers claimed three of the eight Daytona 500 starting spots available to those who finished outside of the top 35 in owner points last season. Said, Sterling Marlin and Johnny Sauter secured spots through their front-row qualifying speeds Sunday, while Mike Wallace and Joe Nemechek raced their way in through Thursday's second 150-miler.

"This is the most stressful Daytona 500 I've ever been in," said Nemechek, who used a two-tire pit stop to improve his track position and secure his 13th consecutive berth in the Daytona 500.

But, as has been the case throughout these Speedweeks, everything comes back to the beleaguered Waltrip. The Toyota driver said that once he slipped into his car Thursday afternoon, his focus was on the race and not the controversy surrounding him. Tony Stewart, for one, believed him.

"When it came time and he made the decision and got in the car today, he showed like he always does. You make it sound like he's one step away fro the psycho ward. That's not what we're dealing with here. We're dealing with a guy who was extremely embarrassed," said Stewart, who won the first 150-miler.

"I'll bet he feels like he's been here a month, whereas I feel like I've been here three days. I'm sure it's been a real long week for him. I'm sure even when Sunday's over, it's not totally going to be over for him. He's a great person, he's great for NASCAR, and nobody wants him to go away by any means. He'll rebound from all this."

Then there's the other camp which believes Waltrip got off easy, and maybe shouldn't be in Daytona at all. "As big as this race is, and as many guys as we have trying to make this race, with the new brands coming in ... if someone gets caught that blatant, no, they probably shouldn't be in the Daytona 500," Nemechek said. "That's a blatant deal."

Jeff Gordon points out that the 100-point deduction will continue to cost Waltrip long after Speedweeks is over. And even he admits to being hooked on the saga. "Between that and Anna Nicole Smith," he said, "I haven't been able to tear myself away from the TV."