DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Already assured of a front row start in Sunday’s 67th Daytona 500, 2022 Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric won Thursday’s second Blue Green Vacations Duel at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
But the Team Penske driver had to wait several minutes after the checkered flag before he could celebrate as NASCAR officials reviewed the finish because of a massive crash as the field charged to the checkered flag.
Jones’ No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota finished ahead of Cindric’s No. 2 Discount Tire Ford by 0.004 seconds at the line. But because the caution light came on just short of the finish line, Cindric was ruled to be in front by NASCAR.
Jones was celebrating the victory at the start/finish line before he became pensive, awaiting NASCAR’s decision.
When NASCAR’s decision was announced, a dejected Jones got back into the No. 43 and drove it back to the pit area.
“It’s a wide range of emotions,” Jones said. “It’s a bummer, but it’s a rule if the caution comes out, the race is over. I did all I could, it just didn’t work out, but we’ll race for it on Sunday.
“I think it’s fairly clear we were behind when the yellow came out. We were setting ourselves up to be able to get him at the start/finish line. It’s unfortunate. I hate that it didn’t work out. It would have been nice to take pictures with everybody in victory lane, but we’ll go for it on Sunday.”
Cindric was informed he was the race winner during a pit road interview.
“Cool,” said Cindric. “I feel bad for Erik having to go all the way over there (to the flag stand). They made a great move on the last lap there. Joey and I were sitting ducks with the middle lane fading there.
“We had a really fast Discount Tire Ford Mustang. Super proud of my team and everyone to go out here and execute. Thank you to Brian (Wilson, crew chief) for letting me race. It was very difficult to maybe persuade that, but it was his birthday. This is a good birthday present for him.
“Overall, proud of everybody at Team Penske getting lined up there, the execution of the cycle there. It’s cool, but there’s still a lot to go for the race. I feel so bad he had to drive all the way over there. That’s terrible.”
Cindric was confident he was the winning driver before NASCAR made it official.
“I honestly thought I got him, but I wasn’t going to sit there and argue about anything,” Cindric said. “But, yeah, it’s awesome. Glad to put on a great show for the fans here, and looking forward to — oh, caution.
“These are the things I don’t know. You have to educate me. But, no, awesome. Awesome result for everyone on the 2 car and looking forward to starting in the front row.”
Cindric was the winner followed by Jones, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Corey LaJoie, who raced his way into the Daytona 500 through the final transfer position.
“You forget how special this race is when you have to earn your position and race your way into it,” LaJoie said. “I’m pumped up and I’m super relieved right now.”
The second Duel included all three Team Penske entries including three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Logano, 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney and Cindric.
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota took the lead on Lap 2 and Cindric settled into second place as the early portion of this race was much steadier than Duel No. 1
Hamlin led 15 of the first 16 laps before Jones motored the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota into the lead bringing his team owner/driver Jimmie Johnson with him up to second place.
Blaney led Lap 18 before Jones regained the lead on Lap 19.
Daniel Suarez took over the lead on Lap 32 and held it for two laps before Blaney moved back into the lead on Lap 34. Meanwhile, Johnson was complaining of a warning light regarding his fuel, but his crew told him he should have enough fuel to hit their pit strategy, expected to open on Lap 40.
Suarez moved back into the lead on Lap 37.
With 18 laps to go, Suarez led Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Anthony Alfredo, Blaney, Cody Ware and Johnson.
The field continued to stretch the fuel mileage to implement the strategy they hoped would pay off in victory.
Finally, the Chevrolets and Toyotas were pitted on Lap 44 as the Fords stayed on track for one more lap.
The Fords pitted on Lap 45 with the exception of the RFK duo of Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Cole Custer, Ware and Cindric.
Hamlin, Larson and John Hunter Nemechek were all penalized for speeding on pit road by NASCAR, taking them out of contention for a top finish.
The first yellow flag of the race involved Suarez, who slammed into Keselowski during a block. Alex Bowman was also involved as he hit the backstretch infield wall.
The first 47 laps of the scheduled 60-lap Duel were running without a caution.
When the pit stop sequence, Buescher was scored as the leader ahead of Cindric, Logano and LaJoie.
When the green flagged waved with seven laps to go, all three Team Penske drivers were in the top six with Blaney second, Logano fourth and Blaney sixth.
Cindric took the lead ahead of Logano followed by Buescher, Noah Gragson and LaJoie.
With four to go, it was Cindric, Buescher, Logano, LaJoie and Gragson as the battle to the finish followed.
The finish:
Austin Cindric, Erik Jones, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Corey LaJoie, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Blaney, John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Riley Herbst, Anthony Alfredo, Shane van Gisbergen, Cody Ware, Cole Custer, B.J. McLeod, Noah Gragson, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Alex Bowman.
