DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Already assured of a entrance row begin in Sunday’s 67th Daytona 500, 2022 Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric gained Thursday’s second Blue Inexperienced Holidays Duel at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
However the Group Penske driver needed to wait a number of minutes after the checkered flag earlier than he may have a good time as NASCAR officers reviewed the end due to an enormous 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 in need of the end line, Cindric was dominated to be in entrance by NASCAR.
Jones was celebrating the victory initially/end line earlier than he turned pensive, awaiting NASCAR’s determination.
When NASCAR’s determination was introduced, a dejected Jones acquired 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, nevertheless it’s a rule if the warning comes out, the race is over. I did all I may, 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 initially/end line. It’s unlucky. I hate that it didn’t work out. It might have been good to take footage with everyone in victory lane, however we’ll go for it on Sunday.”
Cindric was knowledgeable he was the race winner throughout a pit street interview.
“Cool,” stated Cindric. “I really feel dangerous for Erik having to go all the way in which over there (to the flag stand). They made a fantastic transfer on the final lap there. Joey and I had been sitting geese with the center lane fading there.
“We had a extremely 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, nevertheless it was his birthday. It is a good birthday current for him.
“Total, pleased with everyone at Group Penske getting lined up there, the execution of the cycle there. It’s cool, however there’s nonetheless loads to go for the race. I really feel so dangerous he needed to drive all the way in which over there. That’s horrible.”
Cindric was assured he was the successful driver earlier than NASCAR made it official.
“I truthfully thought I acquired 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 a fantastic present for the followers right here, and searching ahead to — oh, warning.
“These are the issues I don’t know. You need to educate me. However, no, superior. Superior outcome for everybody on the two automotive 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 approach into the Daytona 500 by the ultimate switch place.
“You neglect how particular this race is when you need to earn your place and race your approach into it,” LaJoie stated. “I’m pumped up and I’m tremendous relieved proper now.”
The second Duel included all three Group Penske entries together with three-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion Logano, 2023 NASCAR Cup Collection 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 concerning his gasoline, however his crew advised him he ought to have sufficient gasoline 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 gasoline 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 observe for another lap.
The Fords pitted on Lap 45 apart from the RFK duo of Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Cole Custer, Ware and Cindric.
Hamlin, Larson and John Hunter Nemechek had been all penalized for rushing on pit street by NASCAR, taking them out of competition for a prime 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 working 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 Group Penske drivers had been within the prime 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.
