DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Already assured of a entrance row begin in Sunday’s 67th Daytona 500, 2022 Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric received Thursday’s second Blue Inexperienced Holidays Duel at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
However the Staff Penske driver needed to wait a number of minutes after the checkered flag earlier than he might have fun as NASCAR officers reviewed the end due to a large crash as the sphere charged to the checkered flag.
Jones’ No. 43 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota completed forward of Cindric’s No. 2 Low cost Tire Ford by 0.004 seconds on the line. However as a result of the warning gentle got here on simply wanting the end line, Cindric was dominated to be in entrance by NASCAR.
Jones was celebrating the victory at first/end line earlier than he grew to become pensive, awaiting NASCAR’s choice.
When NASCAR’s choice was introduced, a dejected Jones bought again into the No. 43 and drove it again to the pit space.
“It’s a variety of feelings,” Jones stated. “It’s a bummer, but it surely’s a rule if the warning comes out, the race is over. I did all I might, it simply didn’t work out, however we’ll race for it on Sunday.
“I believe it’s pretty clear we had been behind when the yellow got here out. We had been setting ourselves up to have the ability to get him at first/end line. It’s unlucky. I hate that it didn’t work out. It might have been good to take footage with all people in victory lane, however we’ll go for it on Sunday.”
Cindric was knowledgeable he was the race winner throughout a pit highway interview.
“Cool,” stated Cindric. “I really feel unhealthy for Erik having to go all the best way over there (to the flag stand). They made an ideal transfer on the final lap there. Joey and I had been sitting geese with the center lane fading there.
“We had a very quick Low cost Tire Ford Mustang. Tremendous pleased with my workforce and everybody to exit right here and execute. Thanks to Brian (Wilson, crew chief) for letting me race. It was very tough to possibly persuade that, but it surely was his birthday. It is a good birthday current for him.
“General, pleased with all people at Staff Penske getting lined up there, the execution of the cycle there. It’s cool, however there’s nonetheless lots to go for the race. I really feel so unhealthy he needed to drive all the best way over there. That’s horrible.”
Cindric was assured he was the successful driver earlier than NASCAR made it official.
“I actually thought I bought him, however I wasn’t going to sit down there and argue about something,” Cindric stated. “However, yeah, it’s superior. Glad to placed on an ideal present for the followers right here, and searching ahead to — oh, warning.
“These are the issues I don’t know. It’s a must to educate me. However, no, superior. Superior consequence for everybody on the two automobile and searching ahead to beginning within the entrance row.”
Cindric was the winner adopted by Jones, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Corey LaJoie, who raced his means into the Daytona 500 by the ultimate switch place.
“You overlook how particular this race is when it’s a must to earn your place and race your means into it,” LaJoie stated. “I’m pumped up and I’m tremendous relieved proper now.”
The second Duel included all three Staff Penske entries together with three-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Logano, 2023 NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Ryan Blaney and Cindric.
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota took the lead on Lap 2 and Cindric settled into second place because the early portion of this race was a lot steadier than Duel No. 1
Hamlin led 15 of the primary 16 laps earlier than Jones motored the No. 43 Legacy Motor Membership Toyota into the lead bringing his workforce proprietor/driver Jimmie Johnson with him as much as second place.
Blaney led Lap 18 earlier than Jones regained the lead on Lap 19.
Daniel Suarez took over the lead on Lap 32 and held it for 2 laps earlier than Blaney moved again into the lead on Lap 34. In the meantime, Johnson was complaining of a warning gentle relating to his gas, however his crew informed him he ought to have sufficient gas to hit their pit technique, anticipated to open on Lap 40.
Suarez moved again into the lead on Lap 37.
With 18 laps to go, Suarez led Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Anthony Alfredo, Blaney, Cody Ware and Johnson.
The sector continued to stretch the gas mileage to implement the technique they hoped would repay in victory.
Lastly, the Chevrolets and Toyotas had been pitted on Lap 44 because the Fords stayed on monitor for yet another lap.
The Fords pitted on Lap 45 except the RFK duo of Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Cole Custer, Ware and Cindric.
Hamlin, Larson and John Hunter Nemechek had been all penalized for dashing on pit highway by NASCAR, taking them out of competition for a high end.
The primary yellow flag of the race concerned Suarez, who slammed into Keselowski throughout a block. Alex Bowman was additionally concerned as he hit the backstretch infield wall.
The primary 47 laps of the scheduled 60-lap Duel had been operating with no warning.
When the pit cease sequence, Buescher was scored because the chief forward of Cindric, Logano and LaJoie.
When the inexperienced flagged waved with seven laps to go, all three Staff Penske drivers had been within the high six with Blaney second, Logano fourth and Blaney sixth.
Cindric took the lead forward of Logano adopted by Buescher, Noah Gragson and LaJoie.
With 4 to go, it was Cindric, Buescher, Logano, LaJoie and Gragson because the battle to the end adopted.
The end:
Austin Cindric, Erik Jones, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Corey LaJoie, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Blaney, John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Riley Herbst, Anthony Alfredo, Shane van Gisbergen, Cody Ware, Cole Custer, B.J. McLeod, Noah Gragson, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Alex Bowman.
