2016 Daytona Weekend

Sprint Unlimited and Qualifying News and Results

By Richard Tix

NASCAR is back. That was the theme of the night during the Sprint Unlimited. Yes, we were officially back on track yesterday during Unlimited practice, but to finally see cars side by side going all out for a win was a nice sight to see.

So, what did we learn? Well, not much as is always the case at Daytona. However, it looks like Ricky Stenhouse Jr is in mid season form (spinning out on a downed tire). We also learned that Brad Keselowski is again a trash magnet in 2016, and that 2016 is already starting up where 2015 left off with JGR and Penske battling it out. Other then it was in fact an exhibitionist race at the hardest track to get a grasp on how good anyone is, we still really don't know much more then we did before Saturday night.
We do know Denny Hamlin won and that JGR must have this Unlimited thing figured out after winning four of the last five. We also know the finishing order after another wreck fest. Check out the results below and get ready for qualifying:

Full Sprint Unlimited Results:

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Joey Logano
3. Paul Menard
4. Kyle Larson
5. Casey Mears
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

7. Kurt Busch
8. Austin Dillon
9. Brad Keselowski
10. Greg Biffle
11. Danica Patrick
12. Matt Kenseth
13. Martin Truex Jr
14. Jamie McMurray
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr
16. Carl Edwards
17. Kyle Busch
18. Aric Almirola
19. Ryan Newman
20. Kasey Kahne
21. AJ Allmendinger
22. Jimmie Johnson
23. Clint Bowyer
24. Brian Vickers
25. Kevin Harvick

Qualifying Results: (Coming after Qualifying)

1. Chase Elliott
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr
4. Kyle Busch
5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Ryan Blaney (locked into 500 on qualifying)
8. Austin Dillon
9. Carl Edwards
10. Denny Hamlin
11. Kurt Busch
12. Joey Logano
13. Casey Mears
14. Kasey Kahne
15. Ryan Newman
16. Kevin Harvick
17. Paul Menard
18. Ty Dillon
19. Brad Keselowski
20. Aric Almirola
21. Brian Vickers
22. Greg Biffle
23. Jamie McMurray
24. Brian Scott
25. Kyle Larson
26. Matt DiBenedetto (locked into 500 on qualifying)
27. Michael McDowell (needs to race in)
28. Regan Smith
29. Michael Waltrip
30. Chris Buescher
31. Danica Patrick
32. Bobby Labonte
33. AJ Allmendinger
34. Trevor Bayne
35. Michael Annett
36. Clint Bowyer
37. Landon Cassill
38. Robert Richardson Jr (needs to race in)
39. Cole Whitt (needs to race in)
40. David Gilliland (needs to race in)
41. David Ragan
42. Josh Wise (needs to race in)
43. Reed Sorenson (needs to race in)
44. Martin Truex Jr

Qualifying Notes:

Well, the NASCAR Daytona 500 streak continues. Danica Patrick (rookie season), Austin Dillon (rookie season and return of the 3), Jeff Gordon (last Daytona 500), and now Chase Elliott (rookie season and new driver of the 24) are the past three pole winners for the Daytona 500. The headlines never stop amazing us and just leads to the 500 conspiracies to continue.

Past Chase Elliott winning the pole and Matt Kenseth also locking in a front row spot, the next biggest news is who the two drivers on "Open Teams" were. Ryan Blaney and Matt DiBenedetto locked themselves into the Daytona 500 by being the top two qualifying "Open" drivers in qualifying. The only other way for a non charter driver to get the final two spots in the 500 are to be the best finishing drivers in the duel (after Blaney and DiBenedetto).

The guys to watch will be Michael McDowell, Robert Richardson Jr, Cole Whitt, David Gilliland, Josh Wise, and Reed Sorenson. All six drivers will compete in the Duel for the remaining two open spots in the Daytona 500. If both duel had to be canceled McDowell and Richardson both sit in spots to run in the 500 based on qualifying time.

The last headline was that Martin Truex Jr didn't run his qualifying lap. He had a roof flap issue during tech and they pulled him off the grid. He is a Charter driver (team) and will have a shot to better his starting position during the Daytona Can-Am Duel.