Joey Logano secured a win in the 150-mile, 60-lap Duel race at Daytona International Speedway, edging out 22 other competitors. This victory guarantees him the third starting position for the upcoming Daytona 500 scheduled for Sunday, February 15.
Driving the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, Logano started the race sixth and utilized the high line to overtake rivals, clinching his fourth Duel win, the most among current drivers. His teammate Ryan Blaney, piloting the No. 12 Ford, finished closely behind in second place.
“It was great teamwork all the way through,”
Logano said. “Ryan Blaney was a fantastic teammate there, which is expected. He’s always been that for us and we try to work together the best we can and when we’re able to do that correctly. We can see success together like this. First of all, I’ve got to thank him.
“Obviously, Nick Hensley, my gas man, that gave us position off of pit road to where we could defend and not have to try to move forward, so he did a great job. Coleman Pressley (spotter) up on the roof did a fantastic job with the info.
“It’s all the things you work on over the offseason, but it’s awesome when it all comes together and you’re able to actually work out the plan. A lot of times people say there’s a plan and it goes out the window on lap one, but for us we were able to work it all the way to the end.”
Casey Mears Earns Spot in Daytona 500 Amid Challenging Race Conditions
Among the eight non-chartered drivers vying for qualification during Daytona Speedweek, Casey Mears managed to secure entry into the Daytona 500 with an eighth-place finish in the Duel. After an early incident that left him a lap down, Mears leveraged a timely caution to regain position on the lead lap and advance toward the front.
“When I was sitting there spinning in the grass I was worried about going two laps down,”
Mears said. “Once we got back on the lead lap, I just worked my way up front.
“When they all wrecked, I got around everybody but the No. 99, and fortunately, I hit him so square that my car didn’t get too tore up. I was able to get it back.
“So, just super happy. I can’t believe we made it. It is just absolutely amazing.”
Corey LaJoie and Chandler Smith Eliminated After Crashes
Corey LaJoie and Chandler Smith were among the drivers who failed to qualify for the Daytona 500, as both were involved in accidents late in the Duel race. LaJoie, driving the No. 99 RFK Ford and a top open car contender, was spun into the outside wall on the final lap, ending his chances.
Smith, driving the No. 36 Ford, was caught in a multi-car collision with five laps remaining, which also involved other drivers and left his hopes to compete in Sunday’s race dashed.
Multiple Cautions Impact Race Flow and Strategy
The Duel race was slowed by several caution periods that affected team strategies and the race tempo. One caution occurred on Lap 45 when Noah Gragson locked up his brakes entering pit road, colliding with Casey Mears and causing both to slide into the infield grass. Gragson managed to recover onto pit road, but Mears remained stuck, triggering a caution that allowed teams to pit under yellow flag conditions.
With only five laps left, a significant incident unfolded on the backstretch involving Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Chris Buescher, Chandler Smith, and William Byron. Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota spun, leading to a crash that heavily damaged Byron’s car, the reigning Daytona 500 champion, while ending the race for several others.
Anticipation Builds for the Daytona 500 Starting Lineup
Joey Logano’s strong performance in the Duel confirms his front row start position, while Casey Mears’ perseverance secured one of the key open spots in the field. The elimination of drivers like Corey LaJoie and Chandler Smith highlights the high stakes and unpredictable nature of these qualifying races.
Sunday’s Daytona 500, the 68th running of the iconic race, will be broadcast live on FOX-TV, MRN Radio, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET, marking a highly anticipated event at Daytona International Speedway.
