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Logano, Elliott Win Duels at Daytona, 500 Starting Grid Set

Logano, Elliott win Duels at Daytona, 500 Starting Grid Set
Photo Credits to Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NASCAR

Logano, Elliott Win Duels at Daytona, Mears & Alfredo Make 500 Field

UPDATE: Anthony Alfredo’s car failed post-race inspection, BJ McLeod was retroactively inserted into the Daytona 500. 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Daytona Duels are in the books and the starting grid is set for the 68th Running of the Daytona 500. Joey Logano and Chase Elliott are the two drivers celebrating wins from Thursday night. All 41 teams’ attention now shift to Sunday’s Great American Race and outlasting the competition for 500 miles.

Making the Daytona 500 from Duel 1 was Casey Mears, who was the final open car left rolling after a last lap wreck. RFK Racing’s Corey Lajoie got squirrelly and lost it in turn three, allowing the seas to part for Mears. Garage 66 is the ultimate Daytona 500 underdog story, with 10 full-time employees on the No. 66 Ford. Mears rebounded from spinning on pit entry to make the ultimate transfer.

Up front meanwhile, Logano picked up Daytona Duel career win number four. This leads all active drivers, with Logano giving thanks to teammate Ryan Blaney for just enough drafting help. Both Team Penske Fords will start Sunday’s Daytona 500 in third and fifth.

“Just a lot of teamwork all the way through,” Logano said. “Yeah, I think about the 22 team in particular. Nick Hansley, our gas man, did a fantastic job getting us position off of pit road. Coleman Pressley up on the roof, giving me great information, and my teammate Ryan Blaney, being committed and working together. So the whole plans, everything’s nice and everything works out the way it’s supposed to, and it’s just got a great team around me, a great Ford Mustang, and it’s great to see this yellow and red and Ford Mustang in victory lane. It’s a lot of partners have been sticking with us for a long period of time, and have one back into the shop. It’s a great place to start the season here.”

“There’s definitely some things I want to work on. There’s no doubt, but it’s always like that. I do think we have a strong racecars, obviously a fast racecar. We proved that tonight, so that’s a good piece. 
You’re gonna have speed. We’ll work on some handling pieces, but I feel like we’re pretty close.”

RFK Racing dominated most of the opening Duel, but it would be a Team Penske 1-2 result when the caution and checkered flags waved.

“That was a great way to get the blood pumping for sure on Thursday night,” said Elliott. It was a lot going on that last run, really ever since we came off pit road after the cycle. Man, we were getting after it. It was a lot of fun, so I had some great support there. Carson [Hocevar] did a great job helping me control those lanes and helping get Team Chevy to victory lane tonight. So certainly, I owe him an appreciation for, you know, just kind of sticking with it and also pushing me well. It’s really easy to get people out of control, so appreciate that.”
“Nice to get the Napa Chevy a win, not a 500, I’ve been here before and not the other one. So you have to, you know, kind of learn to take it a day at a time. But look, great way to start this Speedweek for our team, really proud of all the effort, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. The boss, from top to bottom, their commitment and will to win is pretty darn high. So proud to be a part of their team, and good night, looking forward to Sunday.”
“It’s been a little bit of a rocky road. You know, we’ve had a couple of really close opportunities. 
Fortunately, we’ve won this race here tonight before, like I said. So I’m excited, but I’m also kind of cautiously realizing what Sunday brings. And obviously that’s that’s the big prize that we all want. So certainly one we’ll enjoy tonight, we’ll think about what we can do to be better. Definitely some things that I think our car can improve on before Sunday and the track is going to deteriorate. It’s going to be a bit warmer with the sunshine being out. So a lot of think about between now and then. But you know, appreciate the effort and we’ll be ready to go to work on Sunday.”
Both Logano and Elliott will start the Daytona 500 with 10 points apiece from their Duel win.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credits to Chris Graythen/Getty Images

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