Articles by Heather, Sprint Cup

Looking in the Rearview Mirror: Daytona Duels

Thursday, February 23, 2012 36 reads
Heather Meyer

Let’s take a look in the rear view mirror back at the Daytona Duels.

Duel Race 1

Robby Gordon tire rub first lap.

Lap 8 Wreck took Menard, Gilliland and Montoya out. McDowell got into Menard. Keselowski got right side damage trying to avoid wreck.

Earnhardt Jr was the first off pit road but his crew got eager for the stop and was over the wall to early.

Lap 13 restart has Ambrose, Hamlin, and Stremme

Terry Labonte and Landon Cassil start and park to protect their cars to race on Sunday. David Stremme joins them a few laps later.

Lap 20 Hamlin, Stewart, Harvick, Stenhouse JR, Ambrose

Mike Wallace out, black flagged as he can’t keep up minimum speed.

Lap 30 Hamlin, Stewart, Harvick, Stenhouse Jr

Lap 40 Hamlin, Stewart, Harvick, Stenhouse Jr

8 laps to go Michael Waltrip crashes coming off pit road all by himself, Will be the first time since 1972 that a Waltrip won’t be in the 50.

Burton first off pit road but Stewart, Havick and Hamlin stayed out.

4 wide on final lap with Danica taking a hard lick when McMurray got into Almirola.

McDowell and Gordon race their way into the 500.

Stewart wins followed by Ambrose.

During Robby Gordon’s media session he states he would like Penske to sell him an engine for the 500.

Then says if Waltrip wants to buy his ride it’s for sale.

Duel Race 2:

Lap 6 Yeley to the garage with no power.

Lap 10 Kenseth, Johnson, Biffle, Truex Jr, Mears, and Kyle Busch

Ruetimann and Raines start and park to protect their cars.

Lap 15 Logano, Kyle Busch, Kenseth, Blaney, and Johnson

Lap 21 Ky Busch, Johnson, Logano, and Biffle

Mid way and Biffle leading. This race is a lot calmer than the first.

Lap 40 Biffle, Johnson, Smith, Sadler, Kahne

Kurt Busch got a speeding penalty on his pit stop.

Green flag stops cycle through with Biffle leading Smith

Lap 59 Johnson pushed Kenseth to the lead, while steaming.

Kenseth, Smith, Johnson, Sadler, Biffle.

Blaney and Nemechek raced into the 500.

This was Rousch Fenway Racing’s 1st Duel win.

MRW reports that Waltrip will not be racing Gordon’s car. That means he will be assisting the Fox TV crew.

Many cars ran hot. Waiting to see if there will be any changes before Sunday

I say roll the dice and see who wins….