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By Richard Tix
After a weekend with the Sprint Unlimited and Daytona Qualifying to get race fans back into full swing, NASCAR dipped into the Duels this Thursday to round out the field for the Daytona 500. After Qualifying NASCAR was hit with a lot of heat on social media about the new group format. So, everything was on the line for amny drivers Thursday night, including some big names. So, who got in? How did they get in? Take a peak at the Duel reviews below if you missed anything Thursday.
Budweiser Duel One
Race Review
Kenseth lead the field to green after taking the Pole in Qualifying last Sunday. MK kept the lead for a good portion of the early laps (32 of 60 laps) and did it while looking just as strong as Saturday night (Sprint Unlimited win). Early on Trevor Bayne and Brad Keselowski followed him around up front and most of the field behind stayed three wide. The big mover early in the race was Dale Earnhardt Jr who started in the back after failing inspection for being to low in qualifying. By lap 12 Jr was up in the top 5 trying to track down Kenseth.
Lap 17 the first duel had its first caution flag fly when Casey Mears engine seemed to blow. It was a rough blow to Mears as his chanced at the 500 literally went up in smoke. Everyone came to pit lane and most teams only took fuel. With a lap 17 caution it meant everyone would be within the pit window and should make it on fuel.
Gordon moved up four spots to take the lead, meanwhile Jamie McMurray was the big mover gaining five spots to fourth place. Gordon led the field to the green on lap 23 and led a lap before Kenseth took the lead back on lap 25. Again, Matt stayed up front and led the field around with a dominant car while most of the field behind stayed three wide.
Lap 27 brought the second caution of Duel one when it looked like Allmendinger went up the track and got into Sauter causing Sauter to spin to the bottom of the track.
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Jr, who looked to have one of the strongest cars all weekend, took the lead back one last time lap 43 (while FS1 went to commercial). A nice surprise all race was Cole Whitt. Whitt stayed in the top 10 most of the second half of the race and stayed out of trouble (eventually raced his way in to the 500).
The third and final caution came with 9 to go when Trevor Bayne spun by himself while next to Larson (seemed like aero). Bayne tapped Larson, but Larson seemed to come out alright and his car was fine. Kenseth and BK pit after falling back some late in the race while racing the bottom line that lost momentum.
The duel got going again with 5 to go as Jr brought them to green . Joey Logano and Jeff Gordon tried to make a move late on Jr, but Jr stayed low on turn 4 to cut the draft and bring the #88 to the start finish line winning the first Duel and locking himself into the 2015 Daytona 500.
Duel One Results
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Joey Logano
4. Tony Stewart
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Jamie McMurray
9. Landon Cassill
10. Cole Whitt
11. Paul Menard
12. Michael McDowell
13. JJ Yeley
14. Michael Annett
15. Kyle Larson
16. Ty Dillon
17. Matt Kenseth
18. Justin Marks
19. Brad Keselowski
20. Aric Almirola
21. Ron Hornaday Jr.
22. Trevor Bayne- Crash
23. AJ Allmendinger (DNF)- Crash
24. Johnny Sauter (DNF)- Crash
25. Casey Mears (DNF)- Engine
Didn't get into the 500 from this group:
- Ron Hornaday Jr
- Justin Marks
Budweiser Duel Two
Race Review
After an interesting duel one where a few storylines came up with who is on the bubble duel two started and ended with even more fireworks. Jimmie Johnson brought everyone to the green and Kyle Busch took the lead early. Josh Wise never got out to the pack as he had car troubles on pit road (will miss the 500).
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The whole field came to pit road for the first caution. Carl Edwards (who reported brake issues early) slid through his pit box, meanwhile JGR teammate and leader Kyle Busch was caught speeding on pit road. He came out first but had to serve a drive through penalty that sent him to the back.
JJ and Austin Dillon took over the front row and on the restart JJ took the lead (lap 25). JJ kept the lead while staying out front and dominating. In the mean time Truex, Carl, and Kurt fought behind him trying to gain an advantage. Kyle Busch also started to make his come back from the back of the field (4th by lap 36).
Lap 36 brougt the second yellow of the duel when Jeb Burton got into Hornish (who also took out Alex Bowman). The caution put Ragan back on the led lap and new life to make it into the 500. JJ again led us to green after the caution with Truex following but soon fading to the back when he lost the draft.
When the GWC flew Danica and Kurt Busch (who was in the back because of a penalty for going below the double yellow on a pass) made a move towards the front of the main pack and both ended up making the 500. Still, no one had enough for Jimmie Johnson who's car looked as strong if not stronger than Matt Kenseths Sprint Unlimited car.
All in all the second duel brought the fireworks to end the night and leave fans waiting for this Sundays Daytona 500.
Duel Two Results
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kyle Busch
3. Carl Edwards
4. Greg Biffle
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Reed Sorenson
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Mike Wallace
9. Justin Allgaier
10. Danica Patrick
11. Ryan Newman
12. Kurt Busch
13. David Gilliland
14. David Ragan
15. Austin Dillon
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17. Brian Scott
18. Denny Hamlin
19. Michael Waltrip
20. Bobby Labonte (DNF)- Crash
21. Sam Hornish Jr. (DNF)- Crash
22. Jeb Burton (DNF)- Crash
23. Alex Bowman (DNF)- Crash
24. Josh Wise (DNF)- Car
Did not get into the 500 from this group:
- Alex Bowman
- Josh Wise
- Jeb Burton
- Brian Scott
