By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – Kevin Harvick led the last 44 laps on Thursday night to win the first Gander RV Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying race for Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Harvick finished .165 seconds ahead of fellow Ford driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who edged Paul Menard at the line for the runner-up position. Matt DiBenedetto ran fourth, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace.
With a late pass of Tyler Reddick, who had already qualified for the Daytona 500 based on qualifying speed, Parker Kligerman earned the transfer spot into Sunday’s race.
With two Mustangs behind him, Harvick didn’t expect any outlandish moves in the closing laps.
“I’m just glad we finally came out on the right side of this, and everything’s not tore up,” said Harvick, who had finished fourth, third and second in his previous three Daytona qualifying races.
A two-time Duel winner, and the 2007 Daytona 500 champion, Harvick will start third in Sunday’s race, with Stenhouse behind him in fifth and Menard in seventh.
In a three-wide situation on Lap 26—with Jimmie Johnson on the inside, Kyle Busch in the middle and Tyler Reddick on the outside—Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet moved up the track into the left rear quarter panel of Busch’s Toyota Camry, sending Busch spinning into the infield to cause the 60-lap race’s only caution.
After pitting with a flat tire and exiting alone, Busch soon lost a lap and ultimately finished 18th. But he teamed with Kligerman, a fellow Toyota driver, to make the crucial pass of Reddick.
Daytona 500 pole winner William Byron, who did not compete in last Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts Clash, dropped to the back mid-race and used the final lap for a practice pit stop before coming home 16th—and preserving his car for the top starting spot in Sunday’s Great American Race.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – Gander RV Duel 1
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
Thursday, February 14, 2019
1. (8) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 60.
2. (10) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 60.
3. (6) Paul Menard, Ford, 60.
4. (16) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 60.
5. (4) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 60.
6. (17) Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet, 60.
7. (12) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 60.
8. (2) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 60.
9. (13) Ryan Newman, Ford, 60.
10. (15) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 60.
11. (11) Daniel Suarez, Ford, 60.
12. (19) Parker Kligerman(i), Toyota, 60.
13. (9) Tyler Reddick(i), Chevrolet, 60.
14. (14) Ryan Truex(i), Chevrolet, 60.
15. (20) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 60.
16. (1) William Byron, Chevrolet, 60.
17. (3) Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 59.
18. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 59.
19. (18) Matt Tifft #, Ford, 59.
20. (5) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 58.
21. (21) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 58.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 177.749 mph.
Time of Race: 0 Hrs, 50 Mins, 38 Secs. Margin of Victory: .165 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 1 for 3 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: W. Byron 1-15;L. Cassill 16;K. Harvick 17-60.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kevin Harvick 1 time for 44 laps; William Byron 1 time for 15 laps; Landon Cassill 1 time for 1 lap.
I’ve read some of the glowing expectations for Preece with a great deal of skepticism. I hope there is no disappointment in this result.
Given the team and it’s funding level this is at or near the best case scenario in my view. Starting 21 is completely in the mix to garner a great finish with some smart driving and a ton of luck.
Throwback 500 gathering this weekend for one reason……..Preece.
J J STILL WRECKING OTHER CARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya you could say it was a joyous day at the Daytona 500 gathering I was at today. First for dodging mayhem by going low on three occasions. More importantly finishing in 8th, totally exceeding any reasonable expectation and keeping all the wheels on.